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A GIANT PHANTOM SURPRISE
FROM THE DEEP

Tuesday, February 14, 2023

In today’s newsletter, we examine how the Pentagon began taking UFO's seriously, discover monuments of love commissioned by women worldwide, find strange courtship rituals in the animal world, track down Scotland’s disappearing mountain hare ... and catch a shocking encounter with a rarely seen 30-foot sea beast.

A massive jellyfish in dark blue water

PHOTOGRAPH BY MARK NIESINK

When you think of jellyfish, you think of beautiful floaters that can pack a sting. You don’t think of 30-foot-long creatures that knife through the deepest reaches of the ocean.

In exclusive photos, tourists off Antarctica have come face to face with a giant phantom jellyfish (above). It is an extraordinarily rare sighting of the deep sea beast. Then what happened?

See and read the full story.

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STORIES WE’RE FOLLOWING

A picture of two white hares nose to nose

PHOTOGRAPH BY ANDY PARKINSON

Are we seeing the last of the Scottish mountain hares? (Pictured above, a tender display as a courting pair of mountain hares touch noses.)

Fall in love with 10 heart-shaped places around the world

How the Pentagon began taking UFOs seriously Related: What’s really going on in Area 51?

What we know about COVID vaccines and tinnitus

A blow to our ego? Human ancestors weren’t the first to use stone tools.

How did African American studies begin?

I love you! The surprisingly long history of voicemails

When love drove Antony and Cleopatra away from Rome

What caused this powerful Biblical empire to vanish?

Valentine’s Day wasn’t always about love

PHOTO OF THE DAY

An older man and a woman kiss on the street

PHOTOGRAPH BY @ISADORAKOSOFSKY

Does love have to be just two people? This kiss, liked by nearly a quarter million people on our Instagram, tells only part of the story of Jeanie Thompson, 81, and Will Seward, 84. The two met in a Los Angeles retirement community, but Will already had been seeing Adina. Eventually, the three accepted the unconventional dynamic. “There are many different kinds of love,” Adina tells photographer Isadora Kosofsky.

Related: The Bible’s original love triangle

JEANIE, WILL, AND ADINA

IN THE SPOTLIGHT

A portrait of a female porcupine in front of a black background

PHOTOGRAPH BY JOEL SARTORE, NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC PHOTO ARK

A small window: The female North American porcupine can accept a mate for about 8 to 12 hours a year. After battling other male porcupines for her affections, the winning suitor then ... waits. Here are other unique courtship rituals in nature.

Related: A sea slug can lose his head in love
And: Hearts in nature

Love learning about animals? Let us know what creature you'd like to learn more about here.

A DEAD MOUSE
FOR MY LOVE?

LAST GLIMPSE

A black and white image of a mausoleum

PHOTOGRAPH VIA THE PRINT COLLECTOR, GETTY

Monuments to love: Throughout the world, women have commissioned enduring momuments to their loved ones, from the first mausoleum to Queen Victoria’s majestic remembrance (shown above) to her husband, Prince Albert. See these monuments to love.

LOVE THAT ENDURES

Today’s soundtrack: Ain’t Nobody, Rufus & Chaka Khan

We hope you liked today’s newsletter. This was edited and curated by Sydney Combs, Jen Tse, and David Beard. Have an idea or a link for us? Write [email protected]. Happy trails!

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