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MEET A GUARANTEED WINNER

Saturday, May 6, 2023

In today’s newsletter, we look at coronations around the world, cheer on winning horses at the Kentucky Derby, scuba alongside undersea volcanoes, have a sleepover in a royal bed ... and take a trip with a therapist.

a painting of men in top hats standing around a horse

IMAGE VIA EDWARD TROYE, PAUL MELLON COLLECTION, VIRGINIA MUSEUM OF FINE ART

Even before America’s top horserace begins this evening, a legend will come out on top.

Every horse in the race is descended from Lexington, a 19th century record-breaking bay stallion. How did one horse become such a giant in the field, a subject of best-sellers, and enduring lessons in collaboration between Black and white Americans?

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a painting of horses racing

ILLUSTRATION VIA GRAPHICAARTIS / BRIDGEMAN IMAGES

A horse for the ages: In the popular illustration above, Lexington is shown racing. Pictured at top, Harry Lewis, in top hat and coat, lovingly trained Lexington while enslaved on a Kentucky plantation. Lewis, who won his freedom in 1850, is shown with a later champion horse, Richard Singleton, in this painting. Read more.

KING ME! CORONATION EDITION

a red canopy bed used during the coronation in a red room

PHOTOGRAPH BY DANIEL LEAL, AFP/GETTY

Behind the scenes: Among the objects you did not see at today’s coronation: The Coronation Bed (pictured above) was built in 1859, and is slightly bigger than a standard king size you'll find today. It disappeared in the 1940s, was bought in an auction a few years later, and is now restfully back to Parliament. Read about more coronation objects here.

Related: Coronations around the world
See: ‘Charles in His Own Words’

WHAT ABOUT THE ORB?

STORIES WE’RE FOLLOWING

a stack of dark chocolate surrounded by blueberries

PHOTOGRAPH VIA FASCINADORA / SHUTTERSTOCK

These foods can help you de-stress—for real (Blueberries pictured with dark chocolate above)

Who wore this pendant 20,000 years ago? DNA can now tell us

Why is Mounjaro such a great weight loss drug, and how does it compare to others?

‘Stone of Destiny’ being revived for King Charles’s coronation

Should you get tested for a genetic mutation related to breast cancer?

How a wild river became a national park—and sparked a movement

Hungover after Cinco de Mayo celebrations? Read how a Mexican holiday became a party in the USA

Psychedelic medicine is coming—but who’s going to guide your trip?

Meet Nat Geo adventurers: ski mountaineers Ed Salisbury & Jon Moy on the Last Ride

WHAT IN THE WORLD?

a glass model of a sea pansy

PHOTOGRAPH BY GUIDO MOCAFICO

Do you know? Made in the late 1800s, a father-son team created these models to be used in classrooms. Do you know what the above is, and what it’s made from?

CLICK TO FIND OUT

LAST GLIMPSE

Elephants

PHOTOGRAPH BY LAURENT BALLESTA

An undersea secret: “The small glowing light on the distant horizon is ... fiery lava explosions,” writes Nat Geo Explorer Laurent Ballesta. “Though this flickering glow is barely perceptible from afar, it has persisted for thousands of years—and we’re headed straight for it.” (Pictured above, the “Valley of 200 Volcanoes.”)

SEE UNDER THE SEA

Today’s soundtrack: King, Florence + The Machine

This newsletter has been curated and edited by David Beard, Hannah Farrow, Mallory Benedict, and Jen Tse. Amanda Williams-Bryant, Alisher Egamov, Rita Spinks, and Jeremy Brandt-Vorel also contributed this week. Thanks for reading!

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