National Geographic | Mind, Body, Wonder

This week, we examine what alcohol does to an older body and learn how nutrition could affect your risk of cancer. Plus, the effects of an Epsom salt bath and how Roman grooming habits changed our world. And what‘s with this early hurricane season?

A middle-aged couple seen from behind as they toast with glasses of white wine from a shaded overlook by the sea.

PHOTOGRAPH BY CHIARA GOIA, NAT GEO IMAGE COLLECTION

WHY ALCOHOL’S EFFECTS CHANGE AS YOU AGE

Sure, you can remember, with envy, how you could bounce back from a night of revelry in your 20s. Science has an answer on how alcohol hits a mature body differently than a younger one. And by “hits,” we mean a single drink could have double or triple the wallop. But why, exactly?

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Why is alcohol worse for women than men?

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When you go sober for even a month, your body will change. Here’s how.

Masseuse giving woman mineral salts treatment on her back with a black background

PHOTOGRAPH BY MOMO PRODUCTIONS, GETTY IMAGES

WE LOVE EPSOM SALT BATHS, BUT ...

Do they actually do anything for your body? For centuries, people have been scooping Epsom salt into their bath to improve their magnesium levels, de-stress, and loosen their muscles. But does it really do any of those things?

TAKING A SALT BATH

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What’s better, baths or showers?

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How magnesium affects your sleep and anxiety

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Washing habits have less to do with hygiene and more to do with cultural norms.

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Why do people sometimes like stinky things?

STORIES WE’RE FOLLOWING

Cholesterol, triglycerides, and nutrition: How your diet may increase—or reduce—your cancer odds

Armpit tweezers? Skin scrapers? Inside the wild (and painful) world of ancient Roman grooming

Hurricanes, already? 2024 is predicted to a record-breaking season. Related: How warming water supercharges hurricanes

This is the biggest health challenge women face in their 30s. Related: The biggest in women’s 50s. And 60s.

Is talking during running really better for your workout?

Why mobility training needs to be a part of your fitness routine

What causes multiple sclerosis—and why are women more at risk?

Why hiking is uniquely beneficial for your body and your brain

Yesterday’s most popular: The royal sex scandal that prompted a century-long war

WATCH THE TRAILER

A macro portrait of an engorded tick.

PHOTOGRAPH BY ROMAN WILLI, NATURE PICTURE LIBRARY

ARE YOU CHECKING FOR TICKS?

It’s that time of year. Here are some tips to keep them away, what to do if you find a tick (above) on you, how to identify a tick bite, and more.

GUARDING AGAINST TICKS

Related: Science agrees that you are a mosquito magnet. Here’s how to keep them away.

Today’s soundtrack: July, July!, The Decemberists

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