She was Rome’s most dangerous woman

Thursday, March 2, 2023

In today’s newsletter, did history give a powerful Roman empress a bad deal? Plus, we learn that it may (or may not) be spring already, tag along with women falconers in the U.A.E. … and check out a rainforest of glowing mushrooms.

JEAN-MANUEL SALINGUE/RMN-GRAND PALAIS

Don’t mess with Messalina.

Roman writers missed—or minimized—the extraordinary skills of the commanding wife of Emperor Claudius. They portrayed Messalina, a teenage bride to the 47-year-old emperor, as scandalous and sex-addicted. Ruthless? OMG, yes. Vengeful? For sure. But her real scandal appeared to be overstepping the boundaries of an empress—and adroitly engaging in Rome’s cruel politics.

Just like the boys.

Read her full story here.

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DAGLI ORTI/AURIMAGES

Even in stone: Artworks also have emphasized Messlina’s sensuality rather than her smarts, as shown in this 1884 sculpture (at top) by Eugene Brunet. Above, Messalina is portrayed in her final hour with a dagger in Victor François Eloi Biennoury’s 1850 painting. Read more.

STORIES WE’RE FOLLOWING

SCIENCE SOURCE

Europe’s frog legs habit is under scrutiny as wild frog populations decline. (Above, a red-eyed tree frog clutches a branch in a rainforest in Australia.)

Brazil’s ‘other’ rainforest is a hotspot of glowing mushrooms

ASMR or not? The rise of a sensory phenomenon

Can we live longer by cleaning out our old cells?

This isolated volcano’s extraordinary secret

Who runs the world? It actually is women, according to history.

The shipwreck that China hid from the world

Is saggy skin a sign of inflammation?

When does spring start? Why each season begins twice

Shakes on a plane: What is turbulence—and how can you calm down about it?

Will experimental ‘blood cleaning’ help those with long COVID?

IN THE SPOTLIGHT

PHOTOGRAPH BY ARCHIVIO GBB, REDUX

AI and the Turing test: Alan Turing (pictured) was a legendary mathematician, codebreaker, and computer scientist born in the 1910s — and a pioneer in thinking about AI. Turing created techniques to interpret Hitler‘s encoded messages. He questioned whether a mind could live on without a body. Now, for the first time since he created it, new technology today may be able to pass the Turing test.

PHOTO OF THE DAY

PHOTOGRAPH BY STEVE WINTER, NAT GEO IMAGE COLLECTION

Remembering P-22: The beloved wild mountain lion of Los Angeles, shown above in this classic photo by Nat Geo Explorer Steve Winter, is being remembered in a popular new L.A. Public Library card featuring Winter’s image. The bachelor mountain lion, who roamed L.A.’s hills for more than a decade, inspired wildlife preservation efforts. Thousands of Angelenos attended an outdoor service remembering P-22 after his death in December.

HOW HE GOT THAT PHOTO

LAST GLIMPSE

PHOTOGRAPH BY VIDHYAA CHANDRAMOHAN

Typically a male tradition in the public eye, women in Abu Dhabi have practiced falconry for centuries—and they’re now gaining recognition and traction. As the female role model for the sport, Ayesha Al Mansouri (pictured with her daughter Osha, 8) has trained nearly 150 women and 70 girls in falconry, Nat Geo reports.

FLY IN

Today’s soundtrack: Bird Song, Florence + the Machine

Today’s newsletter was curated and edited by David Beard, Hannah Farrow, and Jen Tse. Let us know what you think and send us story ideas here. Thanks for reading!

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She was Rome’s most dangerous woman

She was Rome’s most dangerous woman

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