Efforts to treat and prevent malaria, one of the world's most pressing health problems, just got a major boost. Two teams of scientists have decoded all the genes of the parasite and the mosquito associated with the most severe form of the disease.
India is home to some 1,200 different species of birds. Despite measures designed to protect this rich array of bird life by banning the capture and trade of wild birds, records indicate that as many as 300 of these species are caught and traded with impunity.
With no regulations in place, Nicaragua's Mosquito Coast has become overfished and the reefs wiped clean. The lobster industry has shifted its diving sites to deeper water, and lobster boat captains push inexperienced, ill-equipped divers to probe greater depths and risk their lives for bigger catches. The results are gruesome.
James Cook was the 18th-century explorer who sailed off the map to become the first European discoverer of many places and cultures in the Pacific Ocean. In his new book, Blue Latitudes, Tony Horwitz records how he retraced Cook's journeys, looking for traces of the intrepid mariner in places as far flung as the Tongan archipelago, Niue, the Cook Islands, and the Aleutians.
What if you were paralyzed by the idea of climbing a ladder, driving across town, or even encountering a clown at a child's birthday party? A new series airing on the National Geographic Channel, on U.S. cable television, looks at the phobias behind these unnatural fears and how people overcome them.
It was a cold, clear afternoon on September 9 when French snowboarder Marco Siffredi stepped off the summit of Everest on what was to be his second successful snowboard descent from the world's highest mountain. He hasn't been seen since—adding to the mountain's long history of tragedy and mystery. This story is reported by National Geographic Adventure magazine.
Most Americans wouldn't think of vacationing in the Middle East, but the region of 24 countries—from Turkey to Saudi Arabia—offers a rich and diverse history. So don't let a few hot spots scare you away. National Geographic Traveler magazine editor Keith Bellows shares some savvy traveling advice.
At 102 years old, Ray Crist is believed to be the oldest worker in the U.S. His career in chemistry has spanned the past 80 years, from teaching to conducting research on the atomic bomb. Today, Crist has returned to inspiring young students, and he's researching methods to remove heavy metal pollutants from streams.
The Zen rock garden of the Ryoanji Temple in Japan is famous for its calming effect on visitors. A collection of rocks sitting in a bed of white pebbles, the garden has no plants—or does it? Using shape analysis, researchers have discovered that the patterns of the stones form a tree that is invisible to the eye but which is imprinted on the subconscious. Is this the 500-year-old secret of the garden?
A glorious testament to the artistic and intrinsic value of trash stands in the middle of the northern Indian city of Chandigarh, the capital of India's Punjab state. Called the "Rock Garden," this sprawling amusement "kingdom" has been made completely from waste material. Created by celebrated artist Nek Chand, the garden highlights the value of materials many people consider trash.
In an effort to save the last large piece of pristine savanna in Africa, a band of Wyoming conservationists have received permission from the president of the Central African Republic to raise an anti-poaching militia to patrol the eastern fourth of the Texas-size country. They are permitted to shoot poachers on sight. This story is published by National Geographic Adventure magazine. Full story and photo gallery:
Part of the charm of southern New England, is that distinctive features of the landscape often occur on a human scale. Subtle in their appeal and sometimes hidden, these special places may not be readily noticed. A seasonal waterfall in Connecticut's Lower Paugussett State Forest is a perfect example, writes our birding and nature correspondent, Robert Winkler.
Native American dancers from hundreds of tribes joined in a two-day powwow on the Mall outside the U.S. Capitol to call attention to construction of the National Museum of the American Indian.
John Pollack and Garth Goldstein combined shipbuilding and buoyancy to create an ingenious craft made of 165,321 corks. They set sail on an improbable, 17-day journey on Portugal's Douro River. This story is by National Geographic Adventure magazine.
