Thursday, November 14, 2024

Today’s Discovery newsletter reexamines a bloodthirsty Roman dictator, finds the biggest coral colony ever, puzzles over how autoimmune diseases target women .... and witnesses Belfast’s healing through art and music.

ALBUM

A heartless tyrant. An oversexed narcissist. A persecutor of Christians who ordered the murder of his own family members. That’s how early historians presented Emperor Nero.

Yet Rome’s economic and cultural power grew under his stomach-turning absolute rule. Did those early historians twist the story? 

Related: Nero’s mom plotted his rise to power. He killed two of his wives—and possibly her. 

Also: Nero’s uncle thought he was a god. That got Caligula killed.

Quiz: How well do you know your Romans? 

PHOTOGRAPH  BY IULIIA BURMISTROVA, GETTY IMAGES

PHOTOGRAPH BY MANU SAN FÉLIX, NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC PRISTINE SEAS 

The Earth’s largest colony of coral has just been found. The discovery, by members of the National Geographic Pristine Seas team, is so big it can be seen from space. Where is it?

A. Australia
B. Gilbert Islands
C. Indonesia
D. Solomon Islands 

Related: These images will help you see coral reefs a whole new way 

Today’s Soundtrack: Belfast Child, Simple Minds 

Today’s newsletter was edited and curated by David Beard and produced by Amanda Williams-Bryant. Sign up here to get tomorrow’s Top Ten stories of the week or catch Sunday’s Photo of The Week. Got a suggestion for upcoming newsletters? Let us know.