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THE REAL BUDDHA: BIRTHPLACE YIELDS SECRETS OF HIS MYSTERIOUS LIFE

Tuesday, January 30, 2024

In today’s newsletter, we uncover the real Buddha, learn how technology can help with autism diagnoses, discuss the location of Amelia Earhart's plane ... and review National Geographic's Best in the World travel list. Plus, the first newborn great white shark ever seen?

The Mahabodhi Temple at Bodh Gaya, in Bihar, India, marks the traditional place where the Buddha attained enlightenment under the bodhi tree.

OLAF SCHUBERT/ALBUM

He turned his back on wealth, his home, his family. His teachings created what is now the world’s fourth biggest religion, with more than half a billion adherents.

Yet the man we know as the Buddha did not want followers devoted to him—and the lack of concrete facts about his personal life created mystery. But now scholars are turning to archaeologists for answers. (Above, the temple built on the spot where the Buddha is said to have attained enlightenment.)

THE REAL BUDDHA

Related: The Japanese Buddhist monks that test the limits of meditation
Also: What archaeologists can tell us about the real Jesus

STORIES WE’RE FOLLOWING

Author Judith Newman shares a quiet moment with her son Gus, who is on the autism spectrum.

PHOTOGRAPH BY LYNN JOHNSON, NAT GEO IMAGE COLLECTION

Can this new technology help screen for autism? (Pictured above, Judith Newman shares a moment with her son, Gus.)

The one way to slow osteoporosis

Why is stomach cancer rising in young women?

Find out once and for all if taking your shoes off at home is actually cleaner

What made Catherine the Great ruler of Russia?

Meet Zealandia: Earth's newly-discovered eighth continent

Like a moth to a flame? A new study debunks an age-old theory

The truth behind one of history's most legendary pairings

How much do you actually know about northern Europe's bog bodies?

Is this the first newborn great white shark ever recorded?

IN THE SPOTLIGHT

After 87 years, a new grainy sonar image claims to have solved the mystery of the famed aviator's disappearance.

PHOTOGRAPH COURTESY PF-(AIRCRAFT), ALAMY STOCK PHOTO

Where is Amelia Earhart's plane? After 87 years, a new grainy sonar image claims to have solved the mystery of the famed aviator's disappearance. Is it too soon to tell? Experts parse out what we know so far.

HAS IT BEEN FOUND?

WHERE IN THE WORLD?

A point of view video of photographer Nichole Sobecki mounting a horse cutting to another shot of the horse galloping

VIDEO BY NICHOLE SOBECKI, NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC

National Geographic has released our Best in the World list for 2024! Where will you go this year? Reported by our global editors in five distinct categories, we have compiled a list of wonder-filled places for travelers of all ages and interests. (Above, Nat Geo Explorer Nichole Sobecki on a horseback safari in Kenya.) Which of these places ALSO made our top experiences list for 2024?

A. Faroe Islands
B. Madagascar
C. Paraguay
D. West Virginia

CLICK HERE TO FIND OUT

Related:
— See Nat Geo's travelers of the year
— Worth a trip: the best cultural spots to visit in 2024
— Worth a trip: restaurants to visit in 2024

PHOTO OF THE DAY

A boy dives into Hungary's Lake Balaton

PHOTOGRAPH BY ZSÓFIA PÁLYI

Plan a vacation to the ‘Hungarian Sea’: For today’s National Plan a Vacation Day, we take a look at Lake Balaton. which has long been a coveted vacation spot for citizens of the landlocked Hungary. The shallow lake—only a few feet deep at its south end—makes it perfect for children, families, and even photographers playing with depth, allowing people to decide how much of their bodies show outside the water (pictured above, a boy dives into the lake).

Today’s soundtrack: Holiday, Vampire Weekend

Today’s newsletter was curated and edited by David Beard, Nancy San Martín, Jen Tse, and Nishita Naga. Were you forwarded this email or know someone who might want our newsletter? Here’s the signup. See you tomorrow!

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