National Geographic | Weekly Escape

In this week’s Beyond The Headlines newsletter, we examine a peasant’s son who rose to the top, discover starchy foods that are good for your gut, ask why John the Baptist had four heads .... and find out what makes pygmy hippos different.

Emiliano Zapata stands in his barracks in 1911, wearing his signature charro hat.

ALBUM

Not tall or rich, Emiliano Zapata captured the heart of a nation as he led Mexico’s fight against the elites. Humble, daring, and beloved, Zapata rose from nothing to a nation’s summit—before he was betrayed.

His dedication to the poor—and refusal to yield to special interests—has inspired generations within and far beyond Mexico’s borders. “I’d rather die on my feet,” he once said, “than live on my knees.“

READ ON

GOOD READS

Moo Deng, a two-month-old female pygmy hippo who has recently become a viral internet sensation, is showered by a zookeeper at Khao Kheow Open Zoo in Thailand on September 15, 2024.

PHOTOGRAPH BY LILLIAN SUWANRUMPHA/AFP VIA GETTY IMAGES

How Moo Deng the pygmy hippo is different from common hippos

The 5 scariest mythological witches from around the world

Why this type of carb—yes, carb!--is so good for your health

The most powerful woman in the world?

Conclave: How is a new pope elected?

Why walking is a good step for your back

Photo of the Week: Will you ever see a cuter harp seal pup?

What causes earthquakes?

Odd: No other animal can do what the wombat does

Odder: The 4 heads of John the Baptist

WHAT IN THE WORLD?

Manatees gather on the sandy bottom near Homosassa Springs, where the water is warm in winter. Naturally forming warm water inlets were where manatees used to spend the winter, but urban development destroyed their natural hydrology.

PHOTOGRAPH BY JASON GULLEY, NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC IMAGE COLLECTION

Unlikely neighbors: Manatees have been hanging around Florida power plants for decades, but some of these plants may be shutting down in the shift to renewable energy. What has been the big attraction?

A. Escape from deadly algae blooms
B. Refuge from injurious motorboats
C. Warm water from the plants’ discharge
D. None of the above

CLICK FOR THE ANSWER

Related: What makes manatees so wondrous

Today’s Soundtrack: Growing Older But Not Up, Jimmy Buffett

Today’s newsletter was edited and curated by David Beard, and produced by Amanda Wiliams-Bryant.

SHOP

DONATE

Clicking on the Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and National Geographic Channel links will take you away from our National Geographic Partners site where different terms of use and privacy policy apply.

This email was sent to: [email protected]. Please do not reply to this email as this address is not monitored.

This email contains an advertisement from:
National Geographic | 1145 17th Street, N.W. | Washington, D.C. 20036

Stop all types of future commercial email from National Geographic regarding its products, services, or experiences.
Manage all email preferences with the Walt Disney Family of Companies.

© 2024 National Geographic Partners, LLC, All rights reserved.

A PYGMY HIPPO STAR

VIEW ONLINE

BEYOND THE HEADLINES