National Geographic | National Geographic

National Geographic

WHY ROME GAVE UP KINGS

Thursday, July 13, 2023

In today’s newsletter, we find out the cost of unruly kings, discover the new test that could save a child-bearing woman’s life, see the toad that can get you high ... and learn that laughter can reduce inflammation.

Violence played a part in the reigns of Rome's last last three kings, starting with Tarquin the Elder who fell victim to an assassination plot and was murdered with an axe

AKG/ALBUM

What is it about absolute power? And what happens after it is misused? The last three Roman kings, long before Rome became an empire, made “king” a bad word. One was felled by ax-wielding shepherds (shown above). The next also met a violent end, at the hands of his daughter and her husband, who wanted the throne for themselves.

The third royal did something so horrid that Rome would bring down the monarchy.

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.

STORIES WE’RE FOLLOWING

a family plays in the water next to the Santa Monica Pier

PHOTOGRAPH BY DAVID GUTTENFELDER, NAT GEO IMAGE COLLECTION

Laughter can strengthen your immune system? Here's what science says (Above, a family plays in the water next to the Santa Monica Pier)

The new test that could save the life of a pregnant mother

Malaria cases in Florida and Texas could presage deadlier era

A dinosaur ‘belly button’? This 130 million-year-old fossil reveals that—and more

How Oppenheimer guarded WWII’s biggest secret

Latest eruption in line with predictions of renewed Iceland volcanic activity

New anxiety unlocked: Ticks can 'fly'

Here’s the scoop: where to find Italy’s most authentic gelato

A spectacular celestial event seemed like a remarkable find. But was it real?

Ozempic was tested on monkeys IUCN listed as endangered. Here’s what we know

Nat Geo conservation education project expands to 15,000 students in India

WHAT IN THE WORLD?

a woman plays tug-of-war with a bear

PHOTOGRAPH BY REBECCA HALE

Where’s Elmo? The Smithsonian’s collection is spread over 20 museums and galleries. But only a small percentage is on display at one time, leaving millions of unseen treasures (such as these Muppets, above) hidden in high-security storage facilities. How small a percentage?

A. 10 percent
B. 5 percent
C. 2 percent
D. 1 percent

CLICK HERE FOR THE ANSWER

IN THE SPOTLIGHT

The June 2023 die-off in Texas, seen here from Quintana Beach, was caused by warmed shallow waters, few waves to oxygenate the water, and cloudy days, which prevented underwater plants from photosynthesizing

PHOTOGRAPH BY QUINTANA BEACH COUNTY PARK, HANDOUT/ANADOLU AGENCY/GETTY IMAGES

1 fish, 2 fish: Massive fish kills are happening more often around the world, with dead carcasses washing up on shores to rot, like the one above in Texas last month. Reasons being: nutrient overload, interrupted flows, higher temperatures, and poisoned waters.

Related: How soaring ocean temperatures are affecting corals

WHAT’S GOING ON?

LIKE, REALLY, REALLY HIGH

A pair of Sonoran Desert toads, Incilius alvarius, mating

PHOTOGRAPH BY JOHN CANCALOSI/NATURE PICTURE LIBRARY

Am I seeing things? Kiss this toad and you might actually see Prince Charming! That's because Sonoran Desert toads (two pictured above, mating) have a strong psychotropic compound in their bodies. Inhaling the hallucinogen through a pipe can deliver a powerful, and some say therapeutic, high.

Today’s soundtrack: I Like The Things About Me, Mavis Staples

We hope this newsletter brightened your Thursday! It was curated and edited by David Beard, Hannah Farrow, and Jen Tse. Have a story idea? Let us know here. Know a friend who might want our newsletter in their inbox? Here’s the signup. See you tomorrow!

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.

Manage all email preferences with the Walt Disney Family of Companies.

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