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THE TONGA BLAST’S
AWESOME POWER

Monday, November 21, 2022

In today’s newsletter, we discover January’s Tonga volcano blast was the biggest in a century, uncover an ancient monkey sacrifice, sample ancient Rome’s surprisingly gross favorite condiment, overcome jet lag with some helpful tips … and prepare an untraditional Thanksgiving feast.

A blast on the earth's surface

NOAA

The more scientists study January’s astounding underwater volcano blast in Tonga, the bigger they discover it was.

It spewed out the highest plume ever recorded—more than 35 miles into the atmosphere. Unleashed a blast heard 10,000 miles away—and a tsunami that went around the world.

And now, based on new seafloor surveys, scientists are calling the volcanic blast the most powerful in the past century—an explosion that excavated about 2.3 cubic miles of rock. Furthermore, one marine geologist tells us, “It’s not completely dead.”

Read the full story.

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IN THE SPOTLIGHT

A picture of a bones in an archaeological site

PHOTOGRAPH BY N. SUGIYAMA, COURTESY PROJECT PLAZA OF THE COLUMNS COMPLEX

Ancient monkey discovery: The life and death of a female monkey held captive and sacrificed some 1,700 years ago in what is now Mexico may provide important clues on how diplomacy worked during the rise of one of the world’s most powerful ancient cities. Researchers have unraveled the remarkable tale of the first primate ”gift” between Teotihuacan and the Maya, Nat Geo reports today.

STORIES WE’RE FOLLOWING

A picture of a Thanksgiving table full of food

PHOTOGRAPH BY LAURA PARTAIN, THE NEW YORK TIMES/REDUX

To turkey and beyond: Setting the table for a nutritious Thanksgiving (Pictured above, the spread for a 2001 Friendsgiving in Nashville.)

Chirping, singing birds can help mental health, researchers say

What’s the effect of the sharp worldwide drop in men’s sperm counts?

When Dakota Johnson meets Jane Austen: The novelist’s surprising resonance today

The truth about immune-boosting supplements like zinc

Funky fish guts were the ketchup of ancient Rome

Our photographs of the year

Traveling this week? Our tips on getting over jet lag

The silent California castaway who inspired a nation

Honored by Google: Marie Tharp, the brilliant geologist who mapped the ocean floor’s secrets

PHOTO OF THE DAY

A woman preparing alpaca wool for weaving

PHOTOGRAPH BY @ALESSANDRO.CINQUE

Depending on alpaca: For artisan Francisca Huamani, 72, alpacas are critical to her livelihood. She makes alpaca fiber handicrafts in the Peruvian Andes. However, alpaca breeding has declined significantly as climate change alters weather patterns, with abrupt shifts in precipitation and ice melting as glaciers retreat. The effects include an increased mortality in newborn alpaca and shrinking grasslands where herds feed. The consequences are devastating the already marginalized and impoverished Andean communities, says photographer and Nat Geo Explorer Alessandro Cinque.

THE HUNT TO SAVE ALPACAS

LAST GLIMPSE

An illustration of a Roman ruler

FINE ART IMAGES/AGE FOTOSTOCK

She challenged Rome: First, Zenobia ruled Palmyra, the prosperous province that connected ancient Rome to empires throughout Asia. Then, the warrior queen wanted more. She beat back the Persians and conquered nearly all of modern-day Syria, Turkey, and Egypt. Her growing empire seemed unstoppable—until a ferocious new emperor rose in Rome. (This 1888 painting portrays her surrender.)

THE EMPIRE STRIKES BACK

Today's newsletter was curated and edited by Sydney Combs, Jen Tse, David Beard, and Heather Kim. Have an idea or link to a story you think is right down our alley? Let us know at [email protected]. Happy trails!

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