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National Geographic

THESE BOOKS COULD KILL YOU

Tuesday, May 30, 2023

In today’s newsletter, we take these poisonous books off our shelves, stare at see-through frogs, visit the world’s highest garbage dump ... and finally overcome our fear of flying.

green books

PHOTOGRAPH BY REBECCA HALE, NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC

Like books? Don’t like banning books? Maybe you’d make an exception for these emerald green books.

Still haunting bookshelves, these antique tomes could poison you. They’ve got arsenic in their spines. And researchers don’t know how many are still around.

HERE’S WHAT WE KNOW

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STORIES WE’RE FOLLOWING

officers destroy ivory

PHOTOGRAPH BY ANDREW BURTON, GETTY IMAGES

Wildlife crime is a national security issue—and Homeland Security is on the case (Above, officers destroy confiscated ivory)

‘The world’s highest garbage dump’

Has science solved one of history’s greatest adventure mysteries?

Vengeance—or playtime? Why orcas are coordinating attacks against sailboats

How a poor gel manicure can lead to lifelong health issues

Ötzi the Iceman: What we know 3 decades after his discovery

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

Where is England’s first battlefield? Near where the Beatles grew up?

How to overcome a fear of flying

WHAT IN THE WORLD?

Josephine Baker

PHOTOGRAPH BY POPPERFOTO/GETTY

A common thread: Noor Inayat Khan was a soft-spoken children’s book author. Josefina Guerrero used her leprosy to her advantage. Josephine Baker (above) was a dancer, singer, and actress. What did they all have in common?

CLICK FOR THE ANSWER

PHOTO OF THE DAY

a frog next to its eggs

PHOTOGRAPH BY JAIME CULEBRAS

What are you seeing? There are 156 known species of glass frogs living mainly in the northern Andes and Central America—some of which are smaller than a paper clip, Nat Geo reports. Their lives are intricate—and surprising. (Above, one male glass frog hangs upside down next to its eggs.)

SEE SEE-THROUGH FROGS

WHERE IN THE WORLD?

a Roman official washing his hands

PHOTOGRAPH BY DEAGOSTINI, GETTY IMAGES

Surprise! Did people bathe and wash hands? Were all women confined to menial work? Did everyone believe the Earth was flat? Why everything you know about the “Dark Ages” is probably wrong. Yes, that includes notions about gender and even sexual diversity, Nat Geo reports. (Above, a 14th century painting of Roman official Pontius Pilate washing his hands before, according to the Bible, the crucifixion of Jesus.)

Today’s soundtrack: Sent From Above, River Tiber

Thanks for reading our newsletter! It was edited and curated by Jen Tse, Hannah Farrow, and David Beard. We'd love to hear from you: [email protected]. Keep shining!

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