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Extraordinary people, discoveries, and places

ILLUSTRATION BY ESA/GAIA/DPAC, A. KHALATYAN(AIP) & STARHORSE TEAM; GALAXY MAP: NASA/JPL-CALTECH/R. HURT (SSC/CALTECH)

Found: The oldest known stars in our galaxy

For the first time, astronomers have pinned precise ages onto the twinkling stars that spangle Earth's skies—and have found that they are "as old as the oldest stars in the universe."

BERTHOLD STEINHILBER/LAIF/CORDON PRESS

Who were the Celts?

Today, the word "Celtic" represents many things: a style of modern jewelry; a typeface; and an epithet of national pride among people of Scottish, Welsh, and Irish descent. In historical terms, however, "Celtic" is harder to define.

SUBSCRIBER EXCLUSIVE

PHOTOGRAPH BY CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY

The historic maps that were declassified by the CIA

The CIA's Cartography Center was born in the days leading up to the U.S. entry into World War II. Most of its maps were seen only by people in the intelligence community and at the highest levels of government.

SEE THE GALLERY

ILLUSTRATION BY ANDREY ATUCHIN

Ancient primates may have walked alongside T. rex, after all

Newly found fossils of the oldest known primate bolster a theory that our ancestors lived during the reign of the dinosaurs—and somehow survived the extinction event that killed off about three-quarters of life on Earth.

PHOTOGRAPH BY JIMMY CHIN

How Alex Honnold made 'the ultimate climb'—without a rope

His stunning scramble up the 3,000-foot granite wall known as El Capitan, in less than four hours, came after meticulous planning and training. Take this behind-the-scenes look back at a remarkable free solo.

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PHOTOGRAPH BY SHUTTERSTOCK, NAT GEO IMAGE COLLECTION

Archaeologists discovered a mysterious monument hidden in plain sight

To the naked eye it looked like just another hill in the ancient Maya city-state of Tikal. But when researchers zoomed in, they found a pyramid—and a tantalizing new question.

QUOTE

... with nothing more than the tips of his fingers and two thin edges of shoe rubber.

Mark Synnott

Writer

From: How Alex Honnold made 'the ultimate climb'—without a rope

PHOTOGRAPH BY ADRIAN SMITH

These ants decorate their homes with the heads of their enemies

A new finding about this fearsome predator is helping scientists solve a mystery involving three ants: a headhunter, a formidable biter, and a kidnapper.

Need a distraction?

The mystery of the Somerton Man may soon be solved (CNN) ››

The 'talking' dog of TikTok (New York Times) ››

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