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RASPUTIN’S MYSTERIOUS END

Thursday, May 16, 2024

In today’s newsletter, we discover the truth behind Rasputin’s legendary demise, find out why pyramids were built along a long lost river … and ask ourselves why we like to take the hard way out. And, you tell us, does meditation really work? (Scroll down to the bottom to find out what readers have to say.)

Photographed in the year of his death, Gregory Rasputin was famous for the intensity behind his piercing blue eyes, revealed in this colorized image

MARY EVANS/ FOTOSTOCK

Intense. Mesmerizing with those piercing blue eyes. Said to have supernatural powers.

The peasant mystic Rasputin (shown above) riveted and manipulated Russia’s royal family—until his mysterious assassination. Did he survive poison, drowning, gunshots before his final demise? Now we have the real story.

THE STAGGERING FINALE

In other goon news:
—Archaeologists find new surprise under Hitler’s lair—bodies
—These predators are fearsome, but they leave one animal alone: Are they born fearing skunks?

STORIES WE’RE FOLLOWING

Chlildren ride a donkey near the Step Pyramid of Djoser at sunset.

PHOTOGRAPH BY KENNETH GARRETT, NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC

At last, we know: Why these Egyptian pyramids (above) were built where they were

Can you escape being eaten by mosquitoes? We have new tips.

Take the test: How stressed are you? Click here can to figure it out in seconds.

A potential new link: Do oral contraceptives reduce the risk of women’s sports injuries?

Collapsed bridges: What worries engineers most about America’s aging spans, levees, and water/sewer systems?

How hot is too hot? A new guide helps find safety in heatwaves.

BOOM! This stunning hike gets you to the most active volcano in Central America

Who was Greece’s legendary ‘Griffin Warrior’?

Why ovaries are crucial to women’s longevity

Paper towels create tons of waste. Here are 5 reusable alternatives.

WHAT IN THE WORLD?

A sun-drenched climber, Alex Honnold, dangles from an overhang against a background of the ocean and distant land.

PHOTOGRAPH BY JIMMY CHIN, NAT GEO IMAGE COLLECTION

Why do we do things the hard way? We know, it’s counterintuitive, but whether it’s running a marathon, assembling furniture, or climbing (soloist Alex Honnold, pictured above), we choose the option that usually requires more time and effort. Why? What makes us want to work harder?

A. Ego
B. Stubbornness
C. Dopamine
D. None of the above

CLICK FOR THE ANSWER

Watch: Arctic Ascent with Alex Honnold
Related: Can you really boost your serotonin?
Also: Should you actually be worried about cortisol?

WE ASKED, YOU ANSWERED

Numerous women wearing colorful garments sit cross-legged with their eyes closed inside of a large Hindu temple

PHOTOGRAPH BY BRIAN FINKE

Do you meditate? After we asked you whether meditation (pictured above) quiets your mind, it turns out, meditation may work! That doesn't surprise scores of respondents who use traditional meditation and prayer or more active swimming or fly fishing to set their mind free. “If I ever have insomnia, I start meditating right away and fall asleep,” writes reader Patricia Fernandez de Diener. “It really helps keep me at peace,” says Ann Goetze, who has been meditating twice a day for 20 minutes since 2012.

WHAT’S SO GREAT
ABOUT IT?

Related: How sound can help you quiet your mind
Plus: How do cope with stress at work—and avoid burning out

Today’s soundtrack: Postcards From Italy, Beirut

Tomorrow: Is pickleball just a social thing or is it actually good for you? We’ll answer that question.

We hope this newsletter brightened your Thursday! 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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