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OUR FORGOTTEN SUPERPOWER

Monday, June 5, 2023

In today’s newsletter, we remember when we were once mermaids, explore the history of modern day drag, avoid being duped by AI “hallucinations” ... and examine prehistoric cave art that sparked a scientific sensation.

a baby in the womb

PHOTOGRAPH BY LENNART NILSSON, TT/SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY

Before you dismiss Ariel and The Little Mermaid as a fairy tale, consider this: We once could breathe through water, too.

Of course, we ditched that superpower suddenly. In a complicated maneuver, the moment we emerged from the watery womb (pictured above), we switched to our lungs to frantically gulp in oxygen.

HOW DID WE SWITCH?

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STORIES WE’RE FOLLOWING

people in drag

PHOTOGRAPH BY BRUNO BARBEY/MAGNUM

Who was the first drag queen? Inside the early history of drag balls (Above, people celebrating in drag in 1980 Brazil)

Not everyone should be taking multivitamins

AI can help you plan your next trip—if you know how to ask

He returned to the ‘cave of bones’ to solve the mysteries of human origins

What happens when you touch wild baby animals? Here's what you need to know

What sunscreens are best for you—and the planet?

Coldest case: This 5,200-year-old iceman was murdered

How aromatherapy can help kids breathe in some mental goodness

This mysterious cat is threatened. A deceptively simple plan could save it.

At 64, Diana Nyad swam from Cuba to Florida. How'd she do it?

PHOTO OF THE DAY

people sleep while an orchestra plays

PHOTOGRAPH BY MAGNUS WENNMAN

Advice for a good night’s sleep: Dark, cool room, no blue light, no food before bed. But the science of sleep—and why a solid rest keeps us healthy—reveals a much more in-depth journey. Above, people sleep while composer Max Richter leads a performance of Sleep, an eight-hour, scientifically informed piece that guides listeners through a rejuvenating rest.

IN THE SPOTLIGHT

an x-ray of a front-fact pelvic

PHOTOGRAPH BY GJLP - CNRI, SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY

No, you can’t detox your uterus: Misinformation regarding polycystic ovary syndrome is abundant on social media, so we busted some myths. Like: no, women with PCOS don’t need to cut out gluten and dairy, and no, women can’t detox their PCOS uterus with tea. (Above, an X-ray showing calcified cysts in a woman's ovary.)

WHAT IN THE WORLD?

etched caves with prehistoric art

MIKE P. SHEPHERD/AGE FOTOSTOCK

A Stone Age surprise: Medieval accounts hinted at an oasis of treasures in the vast, forbidden desert of present-day southwestern Egypt. Instead of gold and jewels, explorers found ancient etchings in the caves of Gilf Kebir (above, giant beasts that some believe are elephants). Alongside those etchings, myriad pieces of prehistoric art, Nat Geo reports.

Today’s soundtrack: Growing Up, The Linda Lindas

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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