Site icon Peter A. Hovis

Science reveals the face of a 700-year-old murder victim; plus, the tiny nation that feeds the world

RJ Hamster
THE COLDEST OF COLD CASES
Thursday, August 17, 2023
In today’s newsletter, we see the man who was murdered 700 years ago, figure out what “girl dinner” is all about, rethink letting our pups smooch us … and learn about a star that collapsed into a black hole about 2 billion light-years away.
PHOTOGRAPHS BY OSCAR NILSSON
After smashing the man’s skull, the killer tried to hide the body by staking it to the bottom of a peat bog.

But, in a twist worthy of a murder mystery, the bog kept much of the remains restored for seven centuries, until a 5- and 11-year-old brother and sister discovered the Bocksten Man.

Now a renowned forensic artist and archaeologist has reconstructed Bocksten’s face (above). The discovery yields critical clues about his time. How was the face reconstructed? And what about the crime?
MURDER IN THE BOG
Unlock this article with Nat Geo Premium! Get access now to exclusive stories, plus a century of archives, photos, and videos. See subscription options starting at just $19/yr.
As he looked before his death: The final facial reconstruction reveals the Bocksten Man (above) with the style of garments found with his body. Read more.
STORIES WE’RE FOLLOWING
PHOTOGRAPH BY REBECCA HALE, NAT GEO IMAGE COLLECTION
‘Girl dinner’ broke the internet. Here’s what nutritionists think about it. (Above, candy, Cheetos, ramen, canned food, cheese, and meats)
Millions of Americans drink raw milk—but is it safe?
The toll that sleep apnea takes on the body
The EG.5 COVID variant is spiking in the U.S. Is it time to mask up?
An unprecedented look inside one of Jerusalem’s holiest—and most controversial—landmarks
These 12 men shaped Christianity—but did they really exist?
How this tiny country feeds the world
South Korea is a test case on how to fight an ecological disaster
Hidden details from the Battle of the Bulge come to light
This Nat Geo Explorer’s storytelling is helping safeguard the Okavango Delta and Indigenous knowledge
IN THE SPOTLIGHT
IMAGE BY XMM-NEWTON/M. RIGOSELLI (INAF)/EUROPEAN SPACE AGENCY/SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY
It’s the B.O.A.T. (brightest of all time): A massive star collapsed into a black hole about two billion light-years away—and sent out opposing high-speed jets of particles and light (shown above). Scientists are still surprised at the record-breaking brightness—and will be for some time. Here’s what we know.
SEE THE GLOW
PHOTO OF THE DAY
PHOTOGRAPH BY JOEL SARTORE, NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC PHOTO ARK
(Don’t) pucker up: A big ol’ slobbery kiss from your favorite pooch isn’t as innocent as you think. Dogs have a lot of bacteria that lurk in their mouths, and while the pathogens pose no threats to the pups, they could turn deadly in humans. (Above, Hank, part basset hound and part blue heeler.)
SECOND GUESSING PUPPY KISSES
LAST GLIMPSE
PHOTOGRAPH BY KRISTA ROSSOW, NAT GEO IMAGE COLLECTION
Did you know? The uncommon origins of common products may surprise you—or at the very least give you interesting tidbits to talk about at your next dinner party. Like how antifreeze’s history extends from dynamite to ice cream (above), or how cedar oil can both repel insects and heal humans. Read more here.
MORE FUN FACTS

Clarification: Yesterday’s newsletter properly noted the belief that Muhammad ascended to heaven from Jerusalem’s Temple Mount, but raised the question if they were his last moments on Earth. It is written that he had a spiritual journey in heaven, then returned to Earth. Here’s our story.

Today’s soundtrack:

Love Me More, Mitski

We hope this newsletter brightened your day! It was curated and edited by

David Beard, Hannah Farrow, Nancy San Martín, and Jen Tse. Know someone who might want our newsletter in their inbox? Here’s the signup. Thanks for reading!

Clicking on the Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and National Geographic Channel links will take you away from our National Geographic Partners site where different terms of use and privacy policy apply.

This email was sent to: peter.hovis@gmail.com. Please do not reply to this email as this address is not monitored.

This email contains an advertisement from:
National Geographic | 1145 17th Street, N.W. | Washington, D.C. 20036

Stop all types of future commercial email from National Geographic regarding its products, services, or experiences.

Manage all email preferences with the Walt Disney Family of Companies.

© 2023 National Geographic Partners, LLC, All rights reserved.
Exit mobile version
Skip to toolbar