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Your Weekly Escape

Extraordinary people, discoveries, and places

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The mystery queen in the Maya tomb

Surrounded by treasure and covered in blood red dust, the Red Queen was discovered in a seventh-century Maya tomb—along with the bodies of two victims sacrificed to accompany her to the afterlife. Her true identity remains unknown.

SUBSCRIBER EXCLUSIVE

PHOTOGRAPH BY MAIKA ELAN

The hidden world of Japan's 'hikikomori'

These intimate photos reveal the isolated lives of Japan's social recluses—and the human bonds that draw them out.

PHOTOGRAPH BY ZTF/D. GOLDSTEIN AND R. HURT (CALTECH)

Our galaxy is going to crash into its neighbor. The question is when.

The Andromeda galaxy is hurtling toward the Milky Way at nearly 250,000 miles an hour. While the cataclysm has long been foretold, recent measurements are changing predictions for when, and exactly how, it will go down.

PHOTOGRAPH BY RONALD COHN, NAT GEO IMAGE COLLECTION

'Me gorilla': How Koko changed what we know about our closest relatives

In October 1978, National Geographic magazine told the story of Koko, a then-7-year-old gorilla who had been taught sign language. Relive her story in this throwback from our archives.

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PHOTOGRAPH BY DAVID MEARNS, NAT GEO IMAGE COLLECTION

The rare solar navigation tool found in an ancient shipwreck

Using 3D scanning technology, scientists were able to identify the small, 500-year-old copper disk found on a ship that once belonged to a fleet led by Vasco da Gama.

PHOTOGRAPH BY KRISTIAN LAINE

Why is this manta ray pink?

First spotted in 2015, the fish nicknamed Inspector Clouseau is the only known pink manta in the world. Scientists have some thoughts on how it got its rosy hue.

QUOTE

Nature will always surprise you.

Guy Stevens

CEO and co-founder of Manta Trust

From: How did this rare pink manta get its color?

PHOTOGRAPH COURTESY THOMAS GARNIER, EPV IN COLLABORATION WITH SKYDRONE

The best-kept secrets of Versailles

The opulent 17th-century château boasts 2,300 rooms across 75,532 square yards. But its grandeur lies in the little-known history—seen here in photos—scattered throughout the estate.

Need a distraction?

Shrek is love. Shrek is life. Shrek is 20. Time for trivia. (Vulture) ››

Sinead O'Connor remembers things differently (New York Times) ››

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