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OUR TOP STORIES OF THE WEEK

Saturday, April 27, 2024

Orcas and orangutans, oh my! They’re among this week’s top picks, along with two ruthless kings, and Star Wars science. Plus, how Cinco de Mayo turned into a social fiesta. Here’s the countdown …

A pod of orcas in the northern fjords of Norway

PHOTOGRAPH BY PAUL NICKLEN, NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC IMAGE COLLECTION

#10

5 ways that orcas (above) are surprising us

#9

These idyllic streams took millions of years to create. Will they survive?

#8

The powerful king who brought Hawai‘i together

#7

As U.S. prepares to loosen federal laws on marijuana, what does recreational usage do?

#6

May the Fourth be with you ... The real science inspired by ‘Star Wars’

#5

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

#4

Orangutan, heal thyself! This animal, deep in the rainforest, is the first observed to have done it.

#3

When does old age begin? Science says later than you might think

#2

She found Richard III’s bones—now she’s trying to clear him of the murder of these two princes

AND OUR #1 STORY

An ancient jawbone embedded in travertine tile

PHOTOGRAPH BY COURTESY KIDIPADELI75

A visit to a home renovation caught the eye of a dentist. Embedded in the travertine floor tile: an ancient human jawbone (pictured, above).

The discovery, exciting researchers around the world, opens a mystery. Who did the jawbone belong to, how did it end up in a bathroom tile—and where is the rest of the body? Are more human bones embedded in tiles?

THE DISTURBING ANSWER

FROM THE VAULT

A member of a dance troop stands with arms outstretched, supporting a colorful sarape, with dancers behind him.

PHOTOGRAPH BY HELEN H. RICHARDSON, THE DENVER POST/GETTY IMAGES

Margaritas will be flowing with Cinco de Mayo celebrations this weekend. The May 5 holiday honors Mexico’s victory in an 1862 battle—so how did it become a day of revelry in the United States?

Go Deeper: The military victory that inspired Sunday’s social fiesta

Today’s soundtrack: Star Wars Main Theme, Galactic Empire

This newsletter has been curated and edited by David Beard, Nancy San Martín, and Nishita Naga. Contributors include Alec Egamov, Amanda Williams-Bryant, Rita Spinks, and Susie Murphy. Thanks for reading!

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