National Geographic

Eating poop might sound revolting to humans, but for many animals, this survival strategy helps them meet nutritional needs. From goats that snack on bird droppings to deer that feast on elephant dung, here's why animals feed on feces.

As of December 18th, 2024 the CDC just confirmed the first case of severe bird flu in the U.S. and California just declared a state of emergency. First emerging on poultry farms in 1997, bird flu caused internal bleeding and destroyed the organs of infected birds. However, in recent years, the virus has begun to jump to dairy cows and elephant seals. While experts don’t believe the disease can be spread between humans yet, there are two major ways it could eventually cause a human pandemic and experts say it’s not too early, or unreasonable, to prepare. Learn more at: https://lnkd.in/exE9iA6x

Our gift to you? The perfect reindeer facts to share at your holiday party 🎁

The holidays always mean more boxes, bags, and paper lying around, but do you know which can be recycled? While recycling rules in the U.S. can be tricky and we only recycle about 30 percent of what we use, every bit helps. Take our quiz to test how much you know about recycling—and learn ways to improve your waste management: https://lnkd.in/eNtvnJeb

Mushrooms are having a moment right now. Foraging influencers are gaining popularity on TikTok, sharing their knowledge of fungi and their uses in everything from jewelry to sustainability. But this trend isn’t new—it’s part of a long tradition of learning from mycologists and “mushroom ladies,” the female fungi enthusiasts who have been shaping the field since the 19th century.

When three of their four young children were diagnosed with retinitis pigmentosa in 2019, Edith and Sébastien Pelletier faced a heartbreaking reality: their children’s sight would gradually fade into blindness. Inspired by a desire to preserve precious memories, the family traveled the globe to see the world through their children’s eyes before the condition took its toll. Their story is told in BLINK, the new National Geographic film. Learn more about retinitis pigmentosa and the hope for emerging treatments at: https://lnkd.in/eU6hHgCz #NatGeoBLINK

2024 was a big year for archaeology. From mysterious cities hidden by dense jungle to reading ancient scrolls with artificial intelligence, this year’s top findings showcase how modern and old school techniques are shaping the future of archaeology. Learn more about some of the most important discoveries from the last 12 months: https://lnkd.in/eDUH7miD

It's tough at the top, and a lion's reputation as an apex predator can't always protect it from danger. Learn more about the contentious relationship between African lions and martial eagles: https://lnkd.in/etqtgMPF Host: Helen Thompson

National Geographic photographers ventured to places far and wide to capture the year’s most fascinating images. Out of more than 2.3 million photos, 20 were selected as our Pictures of the Year. See them all at: https://lnkd.in/eKQxeaUP. 📸 1 - Jasper Doest was documenting international efforts to protect transborder wildlife corridors when he heard that an elephant had been killed on a nearby highway. In Zambia, climate change is forcing humans and wildlife to compete for the same resources, and the situation is becoming increasingly tense—but despite this adversarial relationship, there was still a sense of awe among bystanders, many of whom had never seen an elephant so close. 📸 2 - Ryan Tidman photographed Pacific herring spawning off the coast of Vancouver Island. Every spring, females release up to 20,000 eggs each, and then males release milt (semen)—an event that offers both a visual spectacle and a valuable food source for animals like this nearby sea lion. 📸 3 - Peter Fisher captured an image of a volcanic eruption in Guatemala. Fuego Volcano erupts multiple times a day—and a hike up its dormant neighbor, Acatenango, offers visitors a front-row seat to this remarkable phenomenon.

Today is the shortest day of the year—also known as the winter solstice. Celebrated around the world, solstices traditionally mark a change in seasons and have prompted festivities across different cultures, but there are still many misconceptions about what these astronomical events mean.