National Geographic News

Death of Dolphin in China Sparks Outrage—and Questions

Handling stranded marine mammals can be dangerous both to the animal and to humans.

Brazil Pepper-Spray Photo Highlights Exposure Risks

After a woman is subdued during protests, questions arise about the use of force.

U.S. Pet Poll: Most Prefer Dogs, 18 Percent Want Dinosaur

Americans love their pets, and a new poll shows just how much we dote on our animals and reveals some interesting views on animals.

Atlantic Ocean to Disappear in 200 Million Years?

A newly discovered crack in the Earth's crust is slowly drawing North America and Europe closer together.

For Some Arctic Birds, Time of Day Is Irrelevant

When the sun never sets, the circadian clocks in four species of Arctic birds gohaywire.

Cheetah-Cub Robot Created: See Other Nature-Inspired Machines

A new cheetah-cub robot is just the latest in a mechanical menagerie of animal-inspired robots that climb, fly, swim, and slither.

Albino Gorilla Was Result of Inbreeding

A recently mapped genome of the famous albino gorilla Snowflake shows he was born to an uncle and a niece, a new study says.

New Female Astronauts Show Evolution of Women in Space

Half of NASA's newest astronaut recruits are women, but that wasn't always the case.

How Cities Compost Mountains of Food Waste

New York City amps up food recycling, while San Francisco shows the way.

Google's Loon Project Puts Balloon Technology in Spotlight

Google's Loon Project is the latest attempt to use balloons floating in the stratosphere to bring Internet access to remote places.

In Global First, Philippines to Destroy Its Ivory Stock

The country's decision was inspired by a National Geographic magazine exposé on the illegal ivory trade.

Electrofuels: Charged Microbes May "Poop Out" a Gasoline Alternative

Run current through genetically engineered microorganisms, and they produce gasoline substitute. Can U.S.-funded electrofuels research finish the drive from lab to market?

More Than 400 Animals Offered to Aztec Gods

Archaeologists in Mexico City have identified more than 400 species of animals among offerings to Aztec gods.

X-rays and Operas: A Collaborative Restoration

Scientists have restored a 200-year-old opera using special x-ray technologies, leading to questions about other possible uses.

First Person: Living Through Turkey's Summer of Discontent

It's not just about the trees—what's fueling the protests in Turkey?

Why Novelist Jonathan Franzen Loves Birds

The author of Freedom talks about discovering the joy of watching birds and why he's still hopeful for their future.

Costa Rican Murder Shines Light on Poaching, Drug Nexus

Police are still looking for environmentalist Jairo Mora Sandoval's murderers, while the episode has more Costa Ricans talking about the links between poaching and drug trafficking.

Picture Archive: Lindbergh and Byrd, 1920s

Admiral Byrd had a history of being second in flight.

Restoring Trees to Save the World's Rarest Parrot

National Geographic explorer Steve Boyes talks about his work to pull the Cape parrot back from the brink of oblivion.

Does Geography Influence How a Language Sounds?

A new study is the first to show that language can be influenced by geography.

Space Pictures This Week: Surfing Mars, Mercury Rising
Mars reveals its secrets, a powerful Midwestern storm is viewed from orbit, and a new type of star is discovered in this week's best space pictures.
How Diving Mammals Stay Underwater for So Long

Researchers have discovered the secret to how champion divers like sperm whales can dive for an hour or more.

Mysteries of the Lost (and Found) Nazi Diaries

The U.S. government has seized the long-missing diaries of Nazi official Alfred Rosenberg—and they may be the most revealing documents ever found from that era.

When Head Meets Soccer Ball, How Does Your Brain Fare?

There's a new cause for concern in the sports world: The first study of "heading" soccer balls shows an impact on the brain.

7 Takeaways From Supreme Court's Gene Patent Decision

The Supreme Court ruling bans the patenting of naturally occurring genes, but not of artificial DNA.