National Geographic | National Geographic

National Geographic

THE ORANGE HAZE WILL BE BACK

Monday, June 12, 2023

In today’s newsletter, we examine the future of orange skies, try to figure out why dead whales are washing ashore, dig into the dangers of horse racing ... and celebrate Loving Day.

orange smoke over New York City

PHOTOGRAPH BY JAKE PRICE

A repeat of the smoke-filled air that recently turned the sky orange and forced many to stay indoors is likely to get even worse as our planet continues to warm. As climate change drives conditions—such as heat, drought, and the increasingly important vapor pressure deficit—that promote large wildfire growth, records for the number of acres burned, homes destroyed, or lives lost are set and then re-broken time and again.

Our photographer, who has covered more than 125 wildfires, shares tips on how to prepare for the smoky environment—from the best masks to jury-rigging your own air filtration system.

Unlock this article with Nat Geo Premium! Get access now to exclusive stories, plus a century of archives, photos, and videos. See subscription options starting at just $19/yr.

dark orange smoke over San Francisco

PHOTOGRAPH BY GABRIELLE LURIE, THE SAN FRANCISCO CHRONICLE/GETTY IMAGES

Shrouded in dark orange smoke: Above, a view of the Presidio in San Francisco in 2020. Top, a lone ship travels on the East River in New York City last week. Read more.

STORIES WE’RE FOLLOWING

horse racing

PHOTOGRAPH BY ROB CARR, GETTY IMAGES

Why horse racing (pictured above) is so dangerous

The end of inflammation? New approach could treat dozens of diseases.

2,000 years of shipwrecks discovered on treacherous ancient sea route

Does it really matter if you buy organic produce? Here’s what the science says

How a new pope is elected

Could colossal crabs hold the clue to Amelia Earhart’s fate?

Is there a better way to get rid of old clothes?

Today is Loving Day. Here’s a look at the many colors of matrimony

How ice cream became a Prohibition-era craze

Sugar doesn’t actually make kids hyper—here’s why so many believe it does

WHAT IS THIS THING?

an ancient letter

BRITISH MUSEUM/SCALA, FLORENCE

Can you decipher it? Letters discovered at Vindolanda, England, gave first-hand accounts of everyday life inside a Roman fort. What do these letter fragments (above) contain?

A: A birthday party invitation
B: A request for warm socks
C: A love letter

CLICK FOR THE ANSWER

THE WAY WE EXPLORE

a photo collage

PHOTO COLLAGE BY NEIL JAMIESON. SOURCE PHOTOS: NEIL M. JUDD (CHACO CANYON SURVEYOR); LEAKEY FAMILY COLLECTION (LOUIS LEAKEY, CENTER, AND COLLEAGUES WITH PREHISTORIC ELEPHANT BONES); FROM HARRIET CHALMERS ADAMS (ADAMS WITH CAMEL); RICK SMOLAN (ROBYN DAVIDSON WITH CAMEL ON 1,700-MILE AUSTRALIA TREK); JOHN STANMEYER (SALOPEK AND ETHIOPIAN GUIDE AHMED ELEMA); CORY RICHARDS (EVEREST); STEPHEN ALVAREZ (PETRA)

Beyond exploration: “The history of exploration is often told in the binary. Explorer and high mountain. Explorer and remote island. Explorer and uncontacted tribe. The conqueror and the conquered. Today the definition of exploration is more expansive. We explore our bodies, our ancestry, the capacity of our brains, the idea of home. We explore history and who gets to tell it,” Nina Strochlic writes for Nat Geo. (Above, a photo collage of moments from Nat Geo Society’s underwater storytelling.)

WHY DO WE EXPLORE?

WHAT IN THE WORLD?

a dead whale on the beach

PHOTOGRAPH BY SETH WENIG/AP IMAGES

What’s really killing the whales? Many people, including politicians, are blaming offshore wind turbines for the number of dead whales washing ashore along the U.S. East Coast (above, a carcass of a dead humpback whale in New York). But researchers and scientists say that doesn’t quite add up.

WHAT’S GOING ON

Today’s soundtrack: Wildfire, John Mayer

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

SHARE YOUR THOUGHTS

We'd like to hear from you! Tell us what you think of our emails by sharing your feedback in this short survey.

TAKE THE SURVEY

Clicking on the Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and National Geographic Channel links will take you away from our National Geographic Partners site where different terms of use and privacy policy apply.

This email was sent to: [email protected]. Please do not reply to this email as this address is not monitored.

This email contains an advertisement from:
National Geographic | 1145 17th Street, N.W. | Washington, D.C. 20036

Stop all types of future commercial email from National Geographic regarding its products, services, or experiences.

© 2023 National Geographic Partners, LLC, All rights reserved.