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IN LAND OF HISTORY,
THIS KEY PIECE IS LOST

Monday, May 29, 2023

In today’s newsletter, we search for the battlefield on which England was born, discover deep-sea at-risk creatures ... and learn about Fukushima wastewater. Plus, here are the facts behind Memorial Day’s controversial history.

an illustration depicting a battle

PAINTING BY ALFRED PEARSE, THE STAPLETON COLLECTION/BRIDGEMAN IMAGES

The Beatles’ “Strawberry Fields Forever” carried a particularly English note of permanence. However, historians haven’t been able to find another field central to England itself—the site upon which the nation was created.

Five kings, seven earls, and “an uncountable army” perished on the battlefield of Brunanburh nearly 1,100 years ago (illustrated above). The Anglo-Saxons emerged victorious, taking control of what would be a nation.

For decades, historians and archaeologists have chased clues about the battle site (depicted above). One unproven claim puts it outside the Beatles hometown of Liverpool, where Strawberry Fields was the Salvation Army children’s home and garden where John Lennon played as a kid.

WHERE WAS ENGLAND BORN?

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STORIES WE’RE FOLLOWING

a sea urchin

PHOTOGRAPH BY SMARTEX PROJECT/NATURAL ENVIRONMENT RESEARCH COUNCIL, UK/SMARTEXCCZ.ORG

These deep-sea animals are new to science—and already at risk (A sea urchin pictured above)

Rovers spot evidence of ancient rivers and snows on Mars

Murder, mutiny, slavery: 'World’s worst shipwreck' was bloodier than we thought

He may have found the key to the origins of life. So why have so few heard of him?

How a poor gel manicure can lead to lifelong health issues

These green books are poisonous—and one may be on a shelf near you

The facts behind Memorial Day's controversial history

Are you a stress eater? Here’s how to retrain your brain.

Cystic fibrosis often goes under-diagnosed—unless you’re white

WHAT IN THE WORLD?

orcas

PHOTOGRAPH BY PAUL NICKLEN, NAT GEO IMAGE COLLECTION

Why are orcas coordinating attacks on boats? Is it vengeance—or playtime? Tabloids are taking turns demonizing and lionizing White Gladis, a killer whale believed to be behind the attacks, Nat Geo reports.

ORCAS ON THE LOOSE!

IN THE SPOTLIGHT

Fukushima plant

PHOTOGRAPH BY THE ASAHI SHIMBUN/GETTY

Should we be worried? Japan is likely to release teated nuclear wastewater (stored in tanks pictured above) from the Fukushima Daiichi power plant into the ocean. The country claims the water is safe. But neighboring countries and other experts say it poses an environmental threat “that will last generations.” Here’s what we know.

PHOTO OF THE DAY

In Petra, Jordan, a Bedouin examines a Roman mosaic found in the floor of a fifth-century Byzantine church. The ancient city is Jordan's most-visited tourist attraction.

PHOTOGRAPH BY ANNIE GRIFFITHS, NAT GEO IMAGE COLLECTION

The Lost City: For centuries, explorers did not see the magnificent ruins of Petra, today Jordan’s most-visited tourist attraction. Then came the archaeologists—and later, Steven Spielberg and Harrison Ford, who used Petra at the end of 1989’s Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade. In the image above, a Bedouin examines a fifth-century Byzantine church mosaic floor.

BEYOND INDIANA JONES

Today’s soundtrack: Strawberry Fields Forever, The Beatles

Thanks for reading today’s newsletter! It was curated and edited by Jen Tse, Hannah Farrow, and David Beard. Want to let us know your thoughts? Send away: [email protected]. Happy trails!

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