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Your Weekly Escape

Extraordinary people, discoveries, and places

PHOTOGRAPH BY MICHAEL NICHOLS, NAT GEO IMAGE COLLECTION

The African lion who defied death

To longtime readers of National Geographic, he was known as C-Boy. The iconic African lion, who was found dead in 2018, was admired for his tenacity and fierce spirit. Take another look, through photos, at his extraordinary and longer-than-average life.

PHOTOGRAPH BY JULIO MANUEL VIDAL ENCINAS

Surprising DNA found in ancient Europe hints at a mystery

A single, mysterious migration about 4,500 years ago—likely a massive influx of men—completely shook up the genetic makeup of what's now Spain and Portugal. But who were these men, and did they come in peace?

CLUES IN THE DNA

PHOTOGRAPH BY THOMAS P. PESCHAK, NAT GEO IMAGE COLLECTION

Earth has lost and gained many oceans. Here's where a new one might appear next.

Scientists are re-creating the tangled history of oceans lost to time—the Iapetus, Rheic, Tethys, Panthalassic, Ural, and more. Just like these ancient bodies of water, our modern oceans will also eventually close, and others will form anew.

RELATED: The world now has a fifth ocean +

PHOTOGRAPH BY BRITISH MUSEUM/SCALA, FLORENCE

How three rebel queens overthrew an empire

Ancient Egypt fell to invaders in the late 18th century B.C. But while the "Hyksos" took control of the north, a separate dynasty was growing in the south, centered in Thebes. This is the story of the three lesser-known queens who guided the resistance.

SUBSCRIBER EXCLUSIVE

PHOTOGRAPH BY NASA

The building block for 'vinyl life' has been found on Saturn's moon Titan

These toxic molecules are called vinyl cyanide, and under the right conditions they could assemble themselves into structures like the biological membranes that encase living cells on Earth. That could mean that one of life's key requirements might be easily achievable in Titan's alien oceans.

PHOTOGRAPH BY BRIAN SKERRY

The hidden world of whale culture

From singing competitions to food preferences, whales have cultural differences once thought to be unique to humans. And what scientists are learning about these aquatic beasts is also reshaping our view of what separates us from them.

SUBSCRIBER EXCLUSIVE

QUOTE

He was everything an African lion should be: resourceful, cantankerous, patient, proud but pragmatic, seemingly indestructible, continually imperiled, and gorgeous to behold.

David Quammen

Writer

From: Remembering an African lion that defied death

PHOTOGRAPH BY FEDERICA GENTILE, GETTY IMAGES

An ancient architectural tradition lives on in Iceland

These green-cloaked dwellings, called turf houses, first appeared at the height of the Viking Age in Europe. While concrete became the material of choice in the 20th century, the turf house has managed to survive.

SEE MORE PHOTOS

MORE GREAT READS

Why single people smell different (BBC) ››

Did a cuttlefish write this? (New York Times) ››

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