National Geographic

Why do engineers keep building humanlike robots? Today’s humanoids can see, hear, and interpret the world around them, powered by advances in hardware and AI—advances that photographer Henrik Spohler has spent the past two years photographing. While the progress is impressive, matching the full range of human ability remains a challenge.

In this week's Health newsletter: The biggest breakthrough in pancreatic cancer research in decades, and astrocytes could be the key to treating trauma and anxiety. But first: thunderstorms could be making your allergies worse—here's how.

Nat Geo Explorer Peter Raven turned a minor botanical garden in St. Louis into a world-class institution, influenced generations of scientists and coined the word "coevolution" through his research on the complex relationships between different species. Following his passing on April 25, he leaves behind a legacy of groundbreaking conservation work. Learn about his influence and impact: https://lnkd.in/emMXmucU

Could they bee any cuter? 🐝 Make a bee-line to #SecretsOfTheBees on Disney+ and Hulu.

A decade-long excavation of a Byzantine shipwreck off Croatia’s Mljet island is shedding new light on the eighth-century Adriatic. First identified in 2014 by Croatian archaeologists, the site has yielded a mix of gold artifacts and everyday items that offer insight into life and movement across the region. Learn more about this medieval shipwreck: https://lnkd.in/eEeUtFyw

Billie Eilish is not afraid of hard truths. In the face of climate anxiety, she has some advice on how to stay grounded. We sat down with her to learn more about what keeps her hopeful and how she is making her tours environmentally friendly. Read our full profile: https://lnkd.in/edwfvYQX

Bird watching is a national pastime, with 91 million Americans birding from home, according to a 2022 U.S. Fish and Wildlife survey. So how can you turn your backyard into a wild bird haven while you're working from home?

For as long as she’s been touring, Billie Eilish has been shocked to see how environmentally destructive the concert business is. “I didn't know how bad it could be,” Eilish says. “The waste involved in live music is really hard to take in.” Now, as one of the world’s biggest pop stars, she is building a blueprint for change. On her most recent tour, Eilish offered reusable water bottles, sold merch made from recycled materials, and adorned venues with signage displaying statistics emphasizing how our everyday behaviors can impact the climate. The efforts were a small piece of a larger environmental initiative to make touring less terrible for the planet. The results, outlined in a recent impact report, represent an unprecedented milestone that Eilish hopes can be a model for other artists. Learn more about how Eilish is influencing sustainability practices in the music industry—and for her fans: https://lnkd.in/ekm_DNUU

What if one of the strongest materials on Earth didn’t come from a factory—but from a silkworm? Scientists have spent decades investigating spider silk, a fiber five times stronger than steel by weight and remarkably elastic. Now, with breakthroughs in genetic engineering, transgenic silkworms are spinning a convincing spider silk analog at scale.

Possibly the cutest close-up you’ve seen today. Whether they're digging burrows, foraging, or exercising their curiosity, meerkats rely on their keen senses every day to navigate environments like the Kalahari Desert.