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HOW MUCH DID MANHATTAN COST?

Wednesday, February 28, 2024

In today’s newsletter, we ask whether Manhattan was actually bought for $24, find horny goat weed, set flamingoes free, learn of female samurai and the murderous killer whale … and celebrate Michelangelo’s birthday.

A landscape with log cabins being built, a ship docked near by, and two Native Americans sitting underneath a tree

ILLUSTRATION BY STOCK MONTAGE, CONTRIBUTOR, GETTY IMAGES

The promise of beaver pelts drew European trappers to what the Lenape people called Manahatta, the hilly island on the Hudson.

History has taught centuries of kids that today’s super-valuable real estate was bought by the Dutch for $24 and some beads. That’s not the whole story—in fact, it may not be the story at all.

HERE’S WHAT WE KNOW

STORIES WE’RE FOLLOWING

The trapezius muscle is shown red in this computer illustration

ILLUSTRATION BY SEBASTIAN KAULITZKI, SCIENCE PHOTO

Do you know where your headache really began? (Illustrated above, the trapezius muscle.)

The case of the disappearing dog breed in the Pacific Northwest

Real-life Shōgun: Who were the female samurai?

Lincoln was killed before their eyes. Then their own horror began.

We got rid of BPA—but is the substitute any better?

A herb called horny goat weed may help men’s health

Walk in the steps of Oppenheimer, from New Mexico to the Caribbean

The western cicada that beat extinction

What made Catherine the Great, great?

The woman behind the Mongol empire

IN THE SPOTLIGHT

Wild flamingo population in Los Corbanitos beach, Sabana Bury. A group of 41 animals was spotted in the area and is known for moving daily from the Salinas de Bani to Los Corbanitos

PHOTOGRAPH BY FERNANDO FACIOLE

Where do flamingos live? In Punta Cana, in the Dominican Republic, a large population of the birds reside within the grounds of famous resorts, where they serve as a unique background to tourist photos. While the large groups may seem to indicate that the birds are not in danger, the Caribbean island’s wild population is steadily declining. Photographer and conservationist Eladio Fernandez brings us in on the journey to conserve local flamingo populations.

FREEING THE FLAMINGOS

CUTE, BUT DEADLY

An orca swimming from top view in teal blue water

PHOTOGRAPH BY CHRISTIAAN STOPFORTH

For the first time ever … a single orca has been seen killing a great white shark. A male orca named Starboard (pictured above) is famous for extracting shark livers. But the young whale has a new trick up his sleeve—killing sharks all by himself. New footage shows Starboard killing the shark and extracting its liver all in under two minutes. What could this mean for great white sharks?

THE KILLER KILLER WHALE

IMAGE OF THE DAY

Six of the nine panels of the Sistine Chapel ceiling

PHOTOGRAPH BY ARCHIVE FOTOFRAFICO MUSEI VATICANI

On this day … it’s Michelangelo’s birthday, and we are diving into one of the artist’s most iconic creations—the Sistine Chapel (detail above). How did he do it?

MAKING A MASTERPIECE

Related: Does this ‘secret room’ contain Michelangelo’s lost artwork?

Today’s soundtrack: Unwritten, Natasha Bedingfield

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

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