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THE POWER OF CURLY HAIR

Wednesday, June 28, 2023

In today’s newsletter, we discover how curly hair helped our ancestors, examine the enigmatic founder of the A-bomb ... and learn of the unlikely ruler who united Europe. Plus, how much water must you drink for good skin?

the Titan submersible

PHOTOGRAPH BY REBECCA HALE, NAT GEO IMAGE COLLECTION

If humans knew the importance of curly hair to our evolution, maybe we wouldn’t be spending a gazillion dollars a year on hair-straightening products.

Turns out, curly hair may have given our prehistoric ancestors an advantage. It shielded their heads and protected expanding brains. And that’s not all.

HOW CURLY HAIR HELPS

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STORIES WE’RE FOLLOWING

Tasmanian tigers

PHOTOGRAPH BY CORBIS HISTORICAL, GETTY IMAGES

Who was J. Robert Oppenheimer? (Above, a portrait of the complex man who launched the Atomic Age.)

Will rising heat levels kill us?

The unlikely king who united Europe

Why you don’t need to drink lots of water for good skin

Are you a mosquito magnet? Here’s what to do.

Has science figured out the mystery of the severed feet that washed up in the Pacific Northwest?

With ticks on the rise, here’s how to protect yourself

This fearsome shark was the biggest ever. What doomed it?

They are a nutritional powerhouse. Do you eat enough of them?

Where to travel if you like Indiana Jones

IN THE SPOTLIGHT

a tick

PAINTING BY GYULA BENCZUR VIA BRIDGEMAN IMAGES

Who needs a crown? French royal mistresses often wielded more power than queens. The union of Louis XV and his powerful last mistress, Madame du Barry (shown above) was so strong they were depicted in this painting nearly a century after their deaths.

BEHIND THE THRONE

PHOTO OF THE DAY

PHOTOGRAPH BY LUISA DÖRR

Ready for the festival: The Spanish city of Valencia has an annual festival where some participants wear elaborate skirts and bodices. Two sisters, Emma Xifeng Abril and Eva Lanhan Abril, pose (above) in their fallera gowns.

WHERE IN THE WORLD?

A majestic train restaurant

PHOTOGRAPH BY JORGE GARRIDO / ALAMY STOCK PHOTO

Beyond pizza: If your plane or train is delayed, why not relax—and sample finer food while you're waiting? We munch at a collection of Michelin-starred and destination restaurants in airports and train stations worldwide, such as this gilded treasure dating to 1901. Where is it?

A. Vienna
B. Montreal
C. Chicago
D. Paris

CLICK FOR THE ANSWER

Today’s soundtrack: Hielo Seco, Adrian Quesada

This newsletter has been curated and edited by Jen Tse, Hannah Farrow, Nancy San Martín, and David Beard. Want to say hello? Have a story idea? We'd love to hear from you: [email protected]. Thanks for reading!

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