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WINTER IS COMING

Thursday, November 2, 2023

In today’s newsletter, we examine our early chill and the mystery freak winter of 1709, discover why Big Hair became big long before Dolly Parton, find that half the world may be nearsighted by 2050 ... and learn to ease off the Halloween leftovers.

Picture depicting the deadly European winter of 1709

PHOTOGRAPH BY MONDADORI/ALBUM

A “bomb cyclone” and a severe tropical storm are slamming into Europe. Nighttime temperatures across much of the U.S. have plunged for an early shiver.

But hold onto your fleece, dear readers. Neither comes close to the freakish, harrowing winter of 1709 (depicted above). It disrupted two wars, broke church bells, froze Venice’s canals, and turned the Baltic Sea into horsepaths.

What caused it? We still don’t know for sure.

COULD IT HAPPEN AGAIN?

STORIES WE’RE FOLLOWING

The collision between a planet-sized object and Earth created the moon—but parts of that object are still embedded in the crust of our planet

ILLUSTRATION BY HONGPING DENG, HANGZHOU SPHERE STUDIO

4.5 billion years ago, another planet crashed into Earth (illustrated above). We may have found its leftovers.

What cutting out alcohol does to the body

Can ending inflammation help win the battle against depression? There is promise.

Photos: The Day of the Dead around the world

This American diet could add 10 years to your life

Some nutrients are just better together. (Think calcium and iron.)

Why are more and more kids becoming nearsighted? Could half the world have myopia by 2050?

Move away from that candy dish: How sugar and fat affect the brain

PHOTO OF THE DAY

Three tigers rescued from an animal park in Oklahoma gather at a pool at the Wild Animal Sanctuary in Keenesburg, Colorado.

PHOTOGRAPH BY STEVE WINTER

A good home, at last: Nat Geo Explorers Steve Winter and Sharon Guynup spent two years investigating captive tigers in America. For the top of their story, they chose Winter’s hopeful image (above) of three big cats who ended up in a sanctuary with proper nutrition and vet care. For their work, which helped end the cub-petting industry in the U.S., the two just won the National Geographic Society’s annual Eliza Scidmore Award for Outstanding Storytelling.

READ THEIR STORY

WHAT IN THE WORLD?

A king with a big wig

BRIDGEMAN/ACI

Move over, Dolly Parton: A follicle-challenged leader got Big Hair going throughout Europe centuries before our favorite bewigged singer. When his natural flowing mane began to wane, this king (above, in the silver hairpiece) got seriously wiggy—and so did his subjects. Who was it?

A. George III
B. Peter the Great
C. Louis XIV
D. Louis XV
E. Ozzy Osbourne

CLICK HERE FOR THE ANSWER

LAST GLIMPSE

Cypress trees in North Carolina

PHOTOGRAPH BY MAC STONE

Resilient no more? Cypress trees have had a reputation for being resilient. Rising seawater levels, hurricanes, and dredging are killing them off in droves (above, in North Carolina). We look at what is being done to save them. Readers, stay tuned: We’ll be doing more on the effects of rising seawater levels, even to your household appliances, in coming weeks.

Today’s soundtrack: That Would Be Enough, Phillipa Soo, Lin-Manuel Miranda

We hope this newsletter brightened your Thursday! It was curated and edited by David Beard, Nancy San Martín, and Jen Tse. Know someone who might want our newsletter in their inbox? Here’s the signup. See you tomorrow!

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