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LOVE YOUR PET? DOES IT MAKE YOU HEALTHIER?

Tuesday, September 19, 2023

In today’s newsletter, we find out why we love our pets so much, learn the history of postpartum depression, question if the last two northern white rhinos can be saved from extinction … and recall the stories behind Ruth Bader Ginsburg’s iconic collars.

Research shows that playing with a dog can improve one's mood, help children with learning development issues, and increase one's physical activity levels.

PHOTOGRAPH BY JUSTIN JIN, NAT GEO IMAGE COLLECTION

A pet like a dog gets an owner out and moving, and can have beneficial effects simply in interacting with another living thing.

But are the benefits of pet ownership all they’re cranked up to be? We take a look at the science.

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

Physicians have recorded symptoms of postpartum depression since as far back as ancient Greece, yet the common condition has been little understood throughout history. In 1899, the artist Gertrude Käsebier painted this shadowy portrait of a mother and child.

PHOTOGRAPH BY GERTRUDE KÄSEBIER

It’s the most common complication of childbirth. It went untreated for millennia. (Above, a woman holds a baby in 1899.)

The Freemasons have inspired centuries of conspiracy—this is their real history

The moon’s darkest corners are a mystery. This image offers a stunning new glimpse.

In the hunt for alien life, this planet just became a top suspect

What ever happened to cursive writing?

Which cities will still be livable in a world altered by climate change?

Amid protests, here’s how you can advocate for the planet

This crumbling dam could wipe out cultural treasures

Multiple COVID infections can lead to chronic health issues. Here’s what to know.

IN THE SPOTLIGHT

Fatu, one of the last two northern white rhinoceros on Earth, rests on the savannah of Kenya's Ol Pejeta Conservancy. Northern white rhinos once roamed much of Africa, but widespread poaching and habitat loss has brought them to the razor's edge of extinction.

PHOTOGRAPH BY AMI VITALE

They once used to roam Africa in abundance: The last male northern white rhino is gone. Now, only two female rhinos (pictured above) are left on Earth. A company has launched a controversial effort to bring the species back.

WHAT IN THE WORLD?

Rita Smith, an Osage Nation American, and her husband William E. Smith were killed when their house exploded in March 1923. More than 60 Osage people were murdered for their wealth around this time.

PHOTOGRAPH BY BETTMANN ARCHIVE, GETTY IMAGES

Killed for their oil: More than 60 people were murdered for their wealth a century ago after oil was discovered on their land, including two killed when this house exploded in 1923. The unsolved killings are the subject of an upcoming Hollywood blockbuster. What community did the victims belong to?

CLICK FOR THE ANSWER

PHOTO OF THE DAY

This collar made for the late Ruth Bader Ginsburg is imbued with personal meaning: Each of the four layers of fabric represents one member of her immediate family.

PHOTOGRAPH BY ELINOR CARUCCI, COLLAR BY M.M.LAFLEUR

Judicial style: This collar made for the late Ruth Bader Ginsburg is imbued with personal meaning: Each of the four layers of fabric represents one member of the Supreme Court justice’s immediate family. While some of her collars are in museums, another is being auctioned on Thursday. Here’s more on the collars.

WHAT THEY SIGNIFY

Your take: Readers, how have pets affected you in your life? Have they significantly affected your well-being? Let us know!

Today’s soundtrack: Damned Old Dog, The Roches

Thanks for reading our newsletter! It was edited and curated by Jen Tse, Hannah Farrow, Nancy San Martín, and David Beard.

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