POP! Champagne’s history sparkles (and surprises)

December 29, 2022
by RJ Hamster

Thursday, December 29, 2022

In today’s newsletter, we find out who put the pop in Champagne, explore astonishing advances in research on aging, see hundreds of pyramids that rival Cairo’s … and learn why modern food is especially addicting and dangerous.

DEA/ALBUM

Everyone knows the monk Dom Pérignon invented Champagne in that province of France. Right?

Nope. Scholars say it was invented—stay calm, Francophiles—in England.

The bubbly beverage that symbolizes glamor and ringing in the New Year has a sparkling—and surprising—history. While Dom Pérignon may have tried to keep the bubbles out, the enterprising veuve (widow) known as Madame Clicquot defied trade blockades to get Champagne flowing in Russia—and devised a way to get sediment out of the bottle.

Read the full story here.

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RENÉ-GABRIEL OJEDA/RMN-GRAND PALAIS

The sparkling ingredients: Pinot Blanc, illustrated at top, is one varietal used in Champagne. Above, painter Jean-François de Troy depicted the French aristocratic craze for Champagne and oyster dinners in the 1730s. Read more.

STORIES WE’RE FOLLOWING

PHOTOGRAPH BY NICHOLE SOBECKI

How an ancient civilization built hundreds of tombs and temples that rival Cairo’s (the Meroë pyramids in Sudan, above)

These 5 cities vanished without a trace—until recently

Meet the world’s first (and only) cat and mouse armorer

Food addictions? Much of our food is manufactured to be irresistible

King Herod’s legendary Pleasure Palace—and his tomb—have been discovered after being lost for centuries

After years of failures, cancer vaccines are showing promise

A look at how we age on the cellular level

Bubbles trapped in Alaska are a mesmerizing—and terrifying—warning of change

IN THE SPOTLIGHT

PHOTOGRAPH BY JASPER DOEST

Can aging be cured? Scientists are working on it. Astounding research in mice has proven that aging is malleable—and possibly reversible. As researchers experiment with various treatments, the study of aging and longevity is exploding and investors like Jeff Bezos are taking notice. Billions of dollars, new tech, and staggering discoveries are flooding the field, Nat Geo reports. (Staying active like Mirsada Mehinagić, above, with her granddaughter Selma can improve physical and mental health.)

Related: A 69-year-old skydiver is on January’s cover of National Geographic magazine. Here’s how the photographer got the shot… with his tongue.

UNLOCKING AGING

WHERE IN THE WORLD?

PHOTOGRAPH BY ED KASHI, NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC

Where’s this melting pot? This port has been a haven for waves of immigrants since 600 B.C.—and its beaches and nearby mountains ensure everyone mingles. In 2012, Nat Geo looked at its history of accepting those fleeing persecution, petulance, and poverty to see if it could be a multicultural model for the future. Where is it? Click here for the answer.

WHERE’S THIS CITY?

LAST GLIMPSE

PHOTOGRAPH BY HANNA LASSEN/GETTY IMAGES

10 … 9 … 8 … It’s surprisingly political who enters the new year first, thanks to the international date line. Although it roughly follows the 180th meridian in the Pacific, nearby countries can choose whether the line zigzags around them or not. This creates calendar quirks around the world—especially on New Year’s when it technically takes more than 24 hours for everyone to ring in the next year. (Revelers celebrate the 2020 New Year in Sydney, Australia, above.)

Today’s soundtrack: Champagne, 311

This newsletter was curated and edited by David Beard, Sydney Combs, and Jen Tse. Do you have an idea or a link for the newsletter? Let us know at david.beard@natgeo.com. Thank you for reading!

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RJ Hamster

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POP! Champagne’s history sparkles (and surprises)

POP! Champagne’s history sparkles (and surprises)

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