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THE ARK? MUHAMMAD’S LAST MOMENTS?

Wednesday, August 16, 2023

In today’s newsletter, we explore inside the Dome of the Rock, question what antifreeze and ice cream have in common, gaze at the brightest blast ever seen in space ... and look to South Korea for how to fight ecological disasters. Plus, remembering Elvis.

Crowning Jerusalem’s sacred mount, the Dome of the Rock is a place of both prayer and protest.

PHOTOGRAPHS AND VIDEO BY ZIYAH GAFIĆ

This is the site from which Muhammad is said to have ascended to heaven. It is also the mount under which centuries of explorers believed that the Biblical Ark of the Covenant was buried.

For more than 13 centuries, the Dome of the Rock (above) has been the jewel in the crown of Jerusalem’s sacred acropolis. It ranks with the neighboring Church of the Holy Sepulchre in spiritual importance and the Taj Mahal in grace.

And Nat Geo’s Andrew Lawler made some discoveries on his unprecedented tour of what one 12th century traveler described as “the most fantastic of all buildings.” What did he find?

COME INSIDE THE DOME

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At the heart of the Dome of the Rock is a limestone outcrop revered by Muslims as the place from which Muhammad ascended on his mystical journey into heaven.

At the heart of the Dome: This limestone outcrop is revered by Muslims as the place they believe from which Muhammad ascended to heaven. One of the world’s largest collections of Islamic mosaics covers some 13,000 square feet of the shrine’s interior. Read more.

Related: Dissecting the Dome of the Rock’s centuries of history

STORIES WE’RE FOLLOWING

Staff at a sleep clinic in France place monitor leads on a patient in preparation for a polysomnography.

PHOTOGRAPH BY BSIP, UNIVERSAL IMAGES GROUP/GETTY IMAGES

What does sleep apnea do to the body? (Above, a patient is prepared for an exam to diagnose sleep apnea)

Should you mask up again? What you need to know about the new COVID variant

Hidden details from the Battle of the Bulge come to light

Did ancient Romans love French bulldogs as much as we do?

These 12 men shaped Christianity—but did they really exist?

The brightest blast ever seen in space continues to surprise scientists

Antifreeze in ice cream? These unusual ingredients are found in everyday products

Why your mental map of the world is (probably) wrong

Diana Nyad says the seas are now too hot for humans to replicate her Cuba-to-Florida swim. Here’s how she did it, at age 64, way back in 2013.

Some of the most resilient trees on Earth are dying in droves

IN THE SPOTLIGHT

Seen here at low tide, tidal channels criss cross an exposed tidal flat neighboring a residential neighborhood in Muan, South Korea.

PHOTOGRAPH BY YOUNGRAE KIM

The downside to reclaimed land: Die-offs of millions of shellfish and endangered birds. That's been one cost of an ambitious plan by South Korea to fill in environmentally sensitive tidal flats (photographed above by Nat Geo Explorer Youngrae Kim) for new land (and a possible new airport). What lessons—and effects—does this massive effort have for the rest of the world?

PHOTO OF THE DAY

Mario Kombou, an Elvis tribute artist from London, England prepares to perform at the Daisy Theater during the Images of the King showcase during Elvis Week in Memphis, Tennessee.

PHOTOGRAPH BY LANDON NORDEMAN, NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC

Paying tribute to The King: Today marks the 46th anniversary of Elvis Presley’s death. In 2017, mourners from all over the world gathered to celebrate the pop icon’s legacy—and the tributes were what you’d expect and more. (Above, an Elvis tribute artist.)

THANK YOU VERY MUCH

WHAT IN THE WORLD?

the Hoba meteorite

TOP: PHOTOGRAPH BY TONI ANZENBERGER, REDUX; BOTTOM: PHOTOGRAPH BY GRANT CORNETT, NAT GEO IMAGE COLLECTION

No-cow beef: Plant-based, regular beef, lab-grown—you can order a burger in several different formats. Can you tell which burger above, if either, was grown in a lab?

A. The top one
B. The bottom one
C. Neither
D. Both

CLICK FOR THE ANSWER

Today’s soundtrack: Half Dome, Toro y Moi

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

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