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National Geographic

‘A GIRL TEETERING
ON THE EDGE OF ETERNITY’

Tuesday, October 24, 2023

In today’s newsletter, we put a face to a mountaintop teen sacrifice, see rare details of a manta ray courtship ritual, explore a jump in shingles cases among the young ... and discover a reason for seemingly whimsical strains of cannabis.

A reconstruction of a 14-year-old girl who was was escorted up an Andean peak and sacrificed to Inca gods more than 500 years ago.

PHOTOGRAPH BY DAGMARA SOCHA

More than 500 years ago, a 14-year-old girl was escorted up an Andean peak and sacrificed to Inca gods. Buried on the mountain, this body was mummified, preserving her hair, fingernails, and the colorful robes she wore on her last day.

But her face ended up exposed to the elements. Only now, after a painstakingly researched facial reconstruction, can we see what Juanita, the Ice Maiden, looked like.

HOW THIS WAS DONE

STORIES WE’RE FOLLOWING

An oceanic manta ray outfitted with a video camera known as a Crittercam, seen off the coast of Mexico's San Benedicto Island.

PHOTOGRAPH BY GUY STEVENS, MANTA TRUST

Watch a manta ray courtship ‘train’—the deepest ever filmed (Above, a manta ray outfitted with a video camera off Mexico's coast)

This town knows a tsunami will destroy it. Why aren’t the residents fleeing?

Is shingles becoming more common among younger adults?

A key clue is found to the mystery affecting millions of Americans: What’s behind long COVID?

These insects are masters of disguise—even before hatching

Does vitamic C live up to its hype?

Doctors thought exercise would cure this strange disorder. Instead, things got worse.

Which leafy greens are good for you—and which could hurt you?

His great-grandfather was murdered by the ’Killers of the Flower Moon.’ Now he is working to photograph the Osage with pride.

These tortoises are in jeopardy as good luck charms. Here's what we know.

WHAT IN THE WORLD?

Astronaut and geologist Harrison Schmitt is seen here covered in moon dust during the mission.

PHOTOGRAPH BY NASA

New studies using lunar zircon crystals retrieved on a 1972 mission (shown above) have found the moon is much older than previously thought. How much older?

A. 4 million years
B. 40 million years
C. 400 million years
D. 4 billion years

CLICK HERE FOR THE ANSWER

IN THE SPOTLIGHT

Solfatara crater is part of the Campi Flegrei volcano, the largest caldera of southern Italy.

PHOTOGRAPH BY ROBERTO SALOMONE, GUARDIAN/EYEVINE/REDUX

Rumbles and convulsions: That’s what is happening at the immense Campi Flegrei volcano near Naples. Scientists are urgently investigating why. (Above, the volcano’s steaming Solfatara crater.)

IS AN ERUPTION NEXT?

LAST GLIMPSE

A Seattle cannabis worker cradles the resin-dusted bud of a strain called Blueberry Cheesecake.

PHOTOGRAPH BY LYNN JOHNSON, NAT GEO IMAGE COLLECTION

What’s in a name? That’s a question raised for many strains of cannabis, including White Rhino, Dr. Gonzo, or Blueberry-Cheesecake (a resin-dusted bud shown above). Nat Geo discovers that cannabis names reveal more than you think.

READ THE FULL STORY

We asked, you answered: Our newsletter on the tie between diabetes and even infrequent eating of red meat prompted dozens of reader responses including this from retired physician Dana Simpler: “About 12 years ago my husband and I changed from a ‘healthy’ American diet to a predominantly plant-based diet. We both noticed an improvement in our stamina on the tennis court, far less aches and pains, and my husband’s weight dropped from 206 to 186 (6’3”). And I went from 132 to 124 (5’3”). We are both in our middle 60s and had no trouble climbing yesterday ... to reach the top of St. Stephen’s basilica in Budapest."

Today’s soundtrack: ‘Such Great Heights,’ The Postal Service

Thanks for reading our newsletter! It was edited and curated by Nancy San Martín, Cameron Peters, Jen Tse, and David Beard. We'd love to hear from you: [email protected]. Keep shining!

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