October 6, 2024

This week’s Photo of the Week examines wonders, from a revitalizing megacity to the creatures in a single drop of water, from the way a Pacific paradise is preserved to the sounds from U.S. National Parks. Enjoy!

How can one image capture a megacity? Our Photo of the Week shows a wish in this revitalizing capital of Japan: Could all ages bloom in a land where deaths outnumber births? In a world that often defines Japan by Shogun, Hello Kitty, or home-run king Shohei Ohtani, Nat Geo Explorer David Guttenfelder gave a broader lens through the people he photographed on the streets of Tokyo.

These microscopic creatures, like the acorn worm above, live in a single droplet of water. Detecting what’s in a seemingly empty bead of liquid, photographer Angel Fitor says, “is always a thrill.”

Related: This photographer and Nat Geo Explorer reveals nature’s stunning and secret world, hidden in plain sight

What if you learned your children were quickly losing their eyesight? What would you do to fill up their visual memories? Get a ticket for the National Geographic documentary "Blink," in theaters now.

In a remote corner of Kauaʻi, one of the few remaining Indigenous-run traditional areas of Hawai‘i remain, with water management and cultivation skills that may help protect it against modern challenges. Take a look at how it works. 

Related: Get back to nature by hearing our National Geographic Soundscapes: National Parks USA

Thanks for opening today’s Photo of the Week, which was edited and curated by David Beard and produced by Alec Egamov. Like what you see? Get this in your inbox next Sunday.