Where In the World Is Genghis Khan Buried? - Fred Hiebert

Many ancient rulers sealed their legacy by creating lasting monuments to themselves. But, National Geographic Fellow Fred Hiebert explains that, apparently, Genghis Khan was confident in his reputation, as his grave site has never been officially confirmed. Hiebert located a likely location for the eternal resting place of the ruler of one of the largest empires ever, but the Mongolian government prevented his excavating the site. So Hiebert turned his sights to one of Genghis Khan's descendents, named Tamerlane, in attempt to locate a missing palace.

Looking For An "Endangered" Species... And Finding Them Over and Over Again - John Mittermaier

John Mittermaier had to be pretty sure of what he would find in order to endure a twenty hour boat ride to a remote Indonesian island. He was in search of the Moluccan Woodcock, which hadn't been seen by scientists in 30 years. But once he reached the island, it took just two days to find his first bird; over the next few weeks, he had over 50 sightings of what was thought to be a rare animal.

Hiking The Rim of Africa - Jay Simpson

The Appalachian Trail is one of the Eastern United States' most famous wilderness expanses. The well-worn 2,200 mile path connects 14 states and, in comparison to many more rugged trails in western states, can be pretty tame. The same cannot be said for the planned Rim of Africa Trail, which runs 400 miles through six mountain ranges in South Africa. Explorer Jay Simpson became the first person to trek the length of the trails, which aren't yet a single, cohesive path. He is helping the Rim of Africa organization plot its route and spread a message of conservation and sustainability to people who live in the shadows of the mountains.

The World Until Yesterday - Jared Diamond

For the vast majority that humans have existed, there has been no reason to trust that a stranger you encounter won't kill you. So, the only logical decision would be to try to kill them first. Jared Diamond tells Boyd that strong governments that people believe in have curbed this distrust among neighbors, as has been evidenced in now peaceful tribal societies, like those in Papua New Guinea. But Diamond says that we've learned a lot from recently contacted human civilizations as well. Diamond's new book, The World Until Yesterday, explores tribal societies to learn what lessons we can glean from the humans that we have only recently met.

Creating a Map of Human History Through Our DNA - Spencer Wells

When they left Africa 50,000 to 60,000 years ago, humans took very different paths. Some went east to Asia, and others went north and west to Europe. But in the meantime, many stopped and became better acquainted with their Neandertal cousins in the Middle East. National Geographic Explorer-in-Residence Spencer Wells has developed the Genographic Project to map man's genetic history, and decode our DNA to map man's route through history. He also is capable of calculating the percentage of Neandertal in each person's genetic past.

Can Coal Provide "Clean" Energy? - Keith Kloor

Many environmentalists rail against fossil fuels, but reporter Keith Kloor explains the feasibility of using coal energy in a cleaner way. He tells Boyd that the technology to capture the carbon emissions from using coal exists, but developing better technology to do it in a financially viable way is a very expensive process. Kloor says that, in the United States, clean coal may not make the most sense, but for countries like China and India that don't have access to natural gas, it may be an option.

Chimps Use Spears To Hunt and Fight - Jill Pruetz

The "Planet of the Apes" may seem like purely fictional nonsense. But at least one group of chimps in Senegal is "manufacturing" tools. Emerging Explorer Jill Pruetz has been studying the apes and has seen them create spears by removing excess branches and sharpening the end to a point. They then use the weapons to whack snakes, hunt bush babies and ward off leopards.

Monkeys and Wolves, Working Together - Vivek Venkataraman

Many animals have symbiotic relationships with unlikely partners: rhinos live in harmony with oxpeckers, while baboons and elephants watch each other's backs. But Vivek Venkataraman tells Boyd that primates rarely engage in this type of symbiotic relationship with carnivores. But grass-eating geladas and Ethiopian wolves live without much conflict. He says that in the grasslands where the geladas graze, the wolves seem to have an easier time hunting rodents than when the geladas aren't around.

India's Struggling Mahouts and Their Elephants - Bhaskar Krishnamurthy

India is home to many ancient cultures and practices; many of them thrive into the 21st Century, while others struggle to find a place in the quickly changing world. One of the struggling cultures is that of mahouts: the practice of raising and bonding with elephants, as if they were almost family. Journalist and photographer Bhaskar Krishnamurthy tells Boyd that since India banned using elephants for manual labor, they're used mostly to entertain India's tourists, and perform at weddings and other ceremonies. Many mahouts now struggle to make a living and the younger generations are beginning to abandon the practice.

The Microbes In and Around Us - Nathan Wolfe

Microbes that we can't see affect so many things that we can see, feel - both by touch, as well as inside of ourselves. Emerging Explorer Nathan Wolfe tells Boyd that with every breath, we inhale living microbes that could be completely benign, or could cause a life-threatening illness. The microbes could be from Africa or Asia, just as easily as they could originate very close to us. Wolfe says that's what keeps him exploring - the possibility that the next big discovery could be floating in front of his face. His article "Small, Small World" appears in the January, 2013 issue of National Geographic magazine.

Inventing an Anti-Security System in the Name of Sleep - Paula Kahumbu

National Geographic Emerging Explorer Paula Kahumbu tells Boyd of the story of a young boy whose job it was to help protect his family's homestead at night from lions hoping to make a meal of their livestock. Initially, he had to prowl around the property with a flashlight to show the lions that he was there, vigilantly watching them. But needing some more sleep, he devised a contraption that made flashing lights appear randomly around the property. This has the cats sufficiently baffled that in the two years since his invention, and they haven't made a meal of the family's livestock.

The Dog-Bite Debacle - Justin O'Neill

In this week's Wild Chronicles segment, producer Justin O'Neill fills in for Boyd and tells the story of how he earned a four-day stay in the hospital and how genuinely surprised he was that bacteria could infect a wound so quickly.

Walk from Cape Town to Cairo For Water - Amy Russell

Many people have a vision of Africa as a wild, dangerous land filled with armed rebels and bloodthirsty predators. But, Amy Russell, tells Boyd that's not the case. Russell is walking from Cape Town, South Africa to Cairo, Egypt to raise awareness for clean water. She a member of National Geographic Traveler magazine's first annual "Travelers of the Year" class. On her walk, Russell has been drinking local water from wells or from rivers, which she purifies, as needed. She said that the biggest challenge is just educating people about the dangers of unsafe drinking water.

Skiing Two Million Feet in One Year - Greg Hill

Skier and mountaineer Greg Hill spent last year hauling his skis up mountains and then riding down. In his bid to ski two million feet in a single calendar year, he tells Boyd that he had to cover 5,500 feet per day. He chased winter all around the globe, and finally finished his feat on December 30th. He tells Boyd that he finds climbing a challenge, but skiing down those feet he hiked up are the reward. This past summer, in an attempt to climb Mt. Manaslu, the world's eighth tallest peak, and avalanche nearly buried him on the mountain. He escaped, but several others weren't so lucky.

Monkeys That Use Rocks to Smash Nuts - Dorothy Fragaszy

Large animal predators have to work hard for their food. Lions take great risk to chase down zebras and wildebeest. Polar bears wait very patiently by holes in the Arctic ice until a seal shows up. But just because they aren't eating other animals, capuchin monkeys work for their food as well. National Geographic explorer Dorothy Fragaszy studies the primates in Brazil's Piaui state and says that the monkeys find rocks that weigh half as much as they do to smash open their nuts.

Breaking the Cycle: Lions Eat Livestock; Farmers Kill Lions - Shivani Bhalla

Approximately one hundred Kenyan lions are dying every year due to an ongoing difference in opinion with local farmers. The lions like to eat livestock; farmers don't agree that this is a good idea. Shivani Bhalla, a National Geographic explorer with the Big Cats Initiative is working with locals to save the cats through community outreach and education. She has rebuilt the local population to 45 individuals, up from 15 cats after she lost nearly an entire pride due to conflict with locals.

Adventure to Make the World Less Boring - Tom Morgan

Most people wouldn't dream of trekking to one of the most remote (and frozen) parts of the earth to try and convince a nomadic people to lend them the reindeer that they depend upon so they can race them across the frozen tundra. But Tom Morgan, creator of The Adventurists, sees cold, remote places as an opportunity for entertainment. He then raced motorcycles up a frozen river in Siberia and decided that seemed like a better plan for his racing series, that strives "to make the world less boring."

Wild Chronicles - Running With the Wild Dogs

In this week's Wild Chronicles segment, Boyd shares the story of his deja vu when he saw wild dogs chasing an impala through camp, much as he did twenty years ago on his first visit to Africa. Boyd also explains why he loves wild dogs, despite their ferocious reputation as some of Africa's most effective hunters.

Feed The World With Wasted Food - Tristram Stuart

Many people around the world are hungry, but National Geographic Emerging Explorer Tristram Stuart explains that it's not for a lack of food being produced. Stuart explains that humans currently produce enough food to feed 12 billion people, which is way more than the 7 billion people alive now, but we waste up to 33% of the food we grow. The solution to this frustrating problem, partially, lies in supermarket standards and supply chains. Any "ugly" fruit - a small apple, or a crooked carrot - that is grown might be left to rot or be fed to animals, rather than being directed to people who would be happy to eat that food. Stuart illustrates this problem by staging "Feeding the 5000" events where companies and grocery stories donate food that would otherwise be discarded to feed people who need it.

Ethiopian Wolves & Monkeys, Living in Harmony - Jeff Kerby

Wolves and monkeys seem like unlikely life partners. But high on an Ethiopian plateau, a truce has been negotiated between the primates and canines that live there. National Geographic grantee and biologist Jeff Kerby studies the gelada "baboons" that graze the highlands in large herds eating grasses, "like horses". Wolves walk among the monkeys, looking for small rodents to eat that live in the grasses. Kerby explains that the only violence that typically takes place is monkey-on-monkey, when the males fight over females, using their ferocious looking teeth to establish dominance.

Chasing Fire on the Frozen Continent - Ken Sims

Antarctica is nicknamed "the frozen continent," so it would seem counterintuitive for a geologist to visit looking for lava. But National Geographic grantee and volcanologist Ken Sims rappelled hundreds of feet into Mount Erebus' crater looking for lava samples, while simultaneously hoping to avoid being hit by a lava "bomb" flying from the volcano. Sims explains that he seeks to better understand some isotope "clocks" hidden inside of the lava, that can indicate the Earth's age, how long the lava takes to move from deep inside the planet, and when the volcano might erupt next.

Botswana: Still Enchanting After Twenty Years - Dereck & Beverly Joubert

Twenty years after he first visited Africa, Boyd returned to the scene of his initial infatuation: National Geographic Explorers in Residence Dereck and Beverly Joubert's Selinda Camp and lodges, near Botswana's Okavango Delta. The Jouberts have expanded their land holdings in the area to help protect the African elephants and cats that they love. "This is not something you do on a weekend. You dedicate your life to it," explains Dereck. Beverly says that they now have 7,000 elephants on site that, seven years ago when the Jouberts expanded their land and banned hunting, never would have come out to be seen by people during the day: "They were petrified."

Walking Through Walla Walla, Washington - Robert Reid

National Geographic is home to some of the world's most intrepid travelers, including Intelligent Travel blogger Robert Reid. It is for this very reason that we now know that Walla Walla, Washington is a worthwhile visit to make while in the Pacific Northwest. Some of the town's charms include a blossoming wine culture. Reid also encourages travelers to walk as much as possible, because walking around a city generally forces people to walk with their heads up, paying attention, rather than riding in a taxi while texting friends back home.

Animal Madness: Depressed Dogs, Compulsive Cats - Laurel Braitman

Prozac is a medication used to treat depression or obsessive-compulsive disorder in humans. But Laurel Braitman, author of "Animal Madness: How Anxious Dogs, Compulsive Parrots and Elephants in Recovery Help Us Understand Ourselves," points out that the meds have been designed and tested for effectiveness in our animal friends as well. Braitman says that even though Prozac should help to chill out a dog with a fixation on tail-chasing, psychopharmaceuticals aren't always the best answer. Exercise, counseling and even companion animals can help a depressed gorilla or a compulsive cat.

Blue Whales, Red Poop - Asha de Vos

When blue whale biologist Asha de Vos found red floating clods of poop in the Indian Ocean, she became curious. She immediately assumed the world's largest animals were mating, because the warm tropical waters typically are too warm for blue whales' favorite foods. But as it turned out, they had found enough krill to support something of a feeding frenzy. De Vos warns that despite the fact that there are about 10,000 blue whales around the world, the whales live in separate populations, each facing their own risks and difficulties of survival. Although blue whales aren't being actively targeted, the increase of global shipping puts the whales at risk of getting hit, because it's impossible for container ships to see or steer around the whales. De Vos explains that although it's assumed these collisions happen with some regularity, it's very difficult to accurately estimate how often whales are killed in this way.

Photo 101: No Need For Expensive Trips to Be Published in National Geographic

An image that appears in the pages of National Geographic magazine is the result of a photographer's years of practice, patience and a bit of luck. But Joe Petersburger also explains that knowing something about the animals that you're shooting goes a long way too. The biologist and photographer, who has been three-times featured in NGM, shot images of a bee-eater bird presenting a caught dragonfly to his mate. Because he knew about the birds, he knew the behavior that would happen once the male caught a dragonfly. Petersburger also encourages people to shoot iamges around their homes, in areas that they can access during times of sunlight and storms, during the night and day.

Kayaking Waterfalls: How Long it Takes To Fall, And How Deep Water Needs To Be - Trip Jennings

Riding kayaks off waterfalls is like graduating from school. As professional kayaker and filmmaker Trip Jennings tells it, your first real waterfall is ten feet high. Then progressively, a kayaker will practice riding larger falls until they will hit a 30 foot waterfall. Jennings explains that after "30 feet, things behave pretty similarly. The technique is the same, it just takes longer before you hit the bottom." But Jennings explains that each waterfall behaves differently based on the volume of water going over the fall's edge, because kayakers need the water to break the landing pool's surface tension, rather than landing in flat water, which could cause a serious injury. Jennings shares more kayaking rules in this segment.

How To Feed 9 Billion People? - Dennis Dimick

EAT, the New Food Revolution is the cover story in the May 2014 issue of National Geographic Magazine. Executive editor Dennis Dimmick, analyzes how we are to feed the increasing human population. In order to feed 9 billion people, the global food output would need to double. Dimmick warns that as socieities become more developed, they increase their meat and dairy intake, which requires more energy and land resources. The majority of corn and soy grown is utilized for livestock feed, biofuels, and high fructose cornsyrup. He believes large scale and small scale farming will both be neccessary to provide food for the world into the future.

Chasing Hunter S. Thompson Through South America - Brian Kevin

Hunter S. Thompson is famous for his Gonzo Journalism, but the man wasn't always the "hell on wheels, drug crazed" author most people remember. Bryan Kevin follows in the footsteps of the famous author's trek around South America as a "sincere, eager, green journalist" interesed in "Cold War politics and sociology." Kevin discovered that while much of the continent to this day is still affected by past Cold War era policy, civil disobedience is no longer a perilous situation. Kevin's book, "The Footloose American," recalls Thompson backpacked through South America before the trend was a common occurrence, and that Thompson's Law of travel economics stated one should "Go right ahead, do what you will, and damn the cost, it will all come out in the wash."

Cool Job: Strapping Cameras Onto Critters - Greg Marshall

Scientist and inventor Greg Marshall has one of the best jobs ever. The inventor of National Geographic’s Crittercam system, Marshall spends his workdays attaching lightweight camera systems to animals all over the world. This means swimming with whales or trekking through Antarctica to find Emperor Penguins. Marshall joins Boyd in the studio to share some Crittercam stories.

51 Degrees South: Life On a Disputed Island in the South Atlantic - Vern Cummins & Jamie Gallant

All remote towns have their quirks and the Falkland Islands are no different. The islands, located in the South Atlantic Ocean, have just over 3,000 residents and, Vern Cummins and Jamie Gallant tell Boyd that the size of their community fosters types of collaboration that isn't found everywhere. The pilot flies pigs and reindeer to the veterinarian. A lighthouse operator who serves as a leader of military resistance. And the reindeer doubles as a sheep dog. And just like Lassie, it also saves lives. Vern and Jamie are documenting the islands and the people who live on them in their short documentary series 51° South.

Wild Chronicles - The Four F's of Huner S. Thompson's Life: Fire Water, Firearms, Fireworks & "Farmaceuticals"

On this week's Wild Chronicles segment, Boyd shares his personal experience interviewing Hunter S Thompson, about his book, Fear and Loathing on the Campaign Trail which used "unvarnished terms to describe life." What scared him were politicians who didn't worry about the future. Boyd explains Hunter's life revolved around the four F's: firearms, fire-water, fireworks and "farmaceuticals." Thompson also enjoyed shooting guns and setting off fireworks under people's chairs.

Tracking Great White Sharks & Their Ill-Understood Migrations - Chris Fischer

When people think of Great white sharks, the music from Jaws begins playing in their head. Chris Fischer founded OCEARCH to investigate the migratory patterns and behaviors of sharks around the world. The first step is to catch a shark and pull it aboard the ship, where a team of researchers work to attach satellite tags as well as collect information on the shark from mouth bacteria samples to external parasites. So far the team has learned Great white sharks in particular travel much more than expected, and visit ocean regions which were thought to be too cold for the sharks to survive. OCEARCH also released the Global Shark Tracker App which allows the public to access real-time data of the locations of different sharks Fischer has tagged, helping to "shift the conversation around sharks" to one of curiosity instead of fear.

Underwater Attack... By a Fish Collector - Rene Umberger

Rene Umberger was documenting men taking fish off a reef when one of the divers attacked her. After pulling the regulator out of Umberger's mouth, the diver rejoined the others on the reef. Instead of shooting to the surface in a panic "which is the most dangerous thing" to do while SCUBA diving, she was able to recover her regulator and swim away. Though it is legal to remove fish from Hawaii's reefs, Umberger is concerned the fish are over-harvested. She explained 11 million fish are sold each year to pet stores in the United States. Hawaii is the 3rd largest source for aquarium fish, behind the Philippines and Indonesia. Despite the hostile interaction, the attack hasn't dissuade Umberger from continuing to document the fish harvest on Hawaii's reefs.

The World's Best Hotels - Andrew Evans

National Geographic's Digital Nomad Andrew Evans from his National Geographic travel blog has slept in 153 beds this year while searching for the best hotels around the world. His picks include the Uma hotel in Bhutan for the best overall comfort, and the Hilton Garden Inn Gatlinburg, Tennessee for best budget hotel. For the best hotel for a celebrity sighting he chose Reykjavik Marina in Iceland where he had breakfast with Ryan Gosling. While the Shangri La Resort in the Maldives had the best bed.

Kepler Mission: Finding a New Planet to Live On - Tom Barclay

"Is there any other life out there?" That is a question which humanity has pondered for centuries. Tom Barclay works in NASA's Ames Center to answer such questions, and we may be close to finding out the truth. "A planet with the sexy name of Kepler-186F" orbits a star's habitable zone in the milky way. The best candidate planets for life should be earth-sized in order to have a solid surface and an atmosphere, and at a distance from a star to have liquid water-the essential element for life. While NASA is unlikely to determine if Kepler-186F has life in the near future, NASA's TESS (Transiting Exoplanet Surveying Satellite) plans to search for more Earth-like planets amongst the stars.

Pirates, Cannibalism & Kidnapping in the Gulf of St. Lawrence - Robb Dunn

From Great auks to whales, the Gulf of St. Lawrence has historically been rich in Natural Resources. The story of European plundering of these natural riches was written by Robb Dunn in the May 2014 issue of National Geographic Magazine. Dunn discovered his relative, Thomas Butts had a hand in the pillaging of St. Lawrence. Dunn recounts the story of Butts' plan to capture a Native America to put on display in Europe. The plan quickly goes awry when the ships crew lacks the ability to fish or hunt for food, forcing them to result to cannibalism. Though Butts' trip failed, his stories helped inspire Sr Walter Raleigh to sail to the new world. Dunn believes the story of St. Lawrence "is the story of our relationship with the environment."

Find Momo - Andrew Knapp

Move over Where's Waldo, there is a new favorite player in the game of Hide & Seek, and his name is Momo. Andrew Knapp's furry companion is credited with the idea for the book "Find Momo," after he began hiding behind objects while Knapp photographed him from afar. This game of "hiding in real life situations" made the border collie an internet sensation. Though Momo is trained to hide, he doesn't work for treats, but rather looks forward to a round of fetch after a job well done.

Balancing Professional Climbing and College - Sasha Digiulian

Is climbing a first route on a rock face or finishing final exams in college harder? That's the question Boyd asked Sasha DiGiulian, who is the first person to successfully climb a new route up a rock face in South Africa. A successful first climb means reaching the top without any falls. She named the new route "Rolihlahla," after Nelson Mandela, because when she was climbing, he was very ill. DiGiulian specializes in sport climbing which utilizes a safety rope, a method which allows her to take on more difficult climbing challenges, and allows her to push the "physical and mental limit."

Hidden Cities and Secret Geographies - Alastair Bonnett

When it comes to geography, things aren't always as they might appear to be. That's what Alastair Bonnett preaches in his new book, Unruly Places: Lost Spaces, Secret Cities, and Other Inscrutable Geographies. Bonnett describes several places that defy conventional geography, such as the city of pilots who call the parking lot of Los Angeles International Airport home, the island that can be found in Google Maps but doesn't actually exist, and the labyrinth of tunnels that run below Minneapolis-St. Paul.

The Slim Odds of Becoming a Fossil - Louise Leakey

The entirety of what we know about our pre-human past comes from fossils. However, National Geographic Emerging Explorer Louise Leakey explains that although she's been piecing together our human history using fossils, the odds of any single individual turning into a fossil and then working their way back to the surface are remarkably slim. Furthermore, thousands of years of wind blowing, water flowing and earth shifting can scatter remains, so that she never finds complete skeletons. Leakey's job is to then surmise the best she can about entire species based on the smallest hints from our ancestors millions of years ago.

The Next Generation of Drug Resistant Bacteria - Maryn McKenna

Maryn McKenna has bad news for nose-pickers: MRSA is a bacteria that loves to make nostrils home. This won't necessarily lead to an infection, but regular visits to the nose leaves fingers that then might poke at broken skin unclean, potentially spreading an infection that won't respond to most antibiotics. But McKenna says that MRSA is much less troubling than the next-generation of resistant bacteria: CRE's (Carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae) are resistant to even the antibiotics of last resort, and have researchers scrambling to develop a new antibiotic in response to the bacterial threat. In the meantime, wash your hands.

The Chinese Villages Inside the World's Largest Caves - Carsten Peter

Some of the world's largest caves are dark, found far away from accessible entrances. Once inside, the caves are over 600 feet from floor to ceiling and big enough to host entire villages that have built roofless homes. National Geographic photographer Carsten Peter explains that the Chinese government is hoping to develop the caves, by building glass elevators deep into the caves to provide access for tourists.

Sufferfest 2: Biking 800 Miles, Climbing 45 Towers in 20 Days - Alex Honnold & Cedar Wright

Big wall climbers Alex Honnold and Cedar Wright survived a second edition of their Sufferfest "extreme vacation," which Honnold described as a "fun trip, just physically hard." The pair cycled nearly 800 miles through Utah, Arizona, Colorado and New Mexico's Four Corners region, and stopped along the way to climb 45 sandstone towers in 20 days. The journey lived up to its name, as Honnold fell off his bike and a tower wall after his hold broke off in his hand leading to a 50 foot fall, while Wright neglected to properly prepare for the miles in the saddle. Blood, snow, sweat, sketchy rocks and beautiful desert scenery all play at least minor roles in the making of Sufferfest 2.

Wild Chronicles: USO Tour Brings American Stars to Iraq

In this week's Wild Chronicles segment, Boyd reflects on his trip to Iraq back in 2003 for a USO show, featuring Kid Rock, John Stamos, Lee Ann Womack, and other assorted musicians, actors and athletes. They ended up putting on an impromptu concert when soldiers packed into a hangar and were ready for some American entertainment.

269 Trillion Tons of Plastic in the Ocean. But There's Hope. - Dr. Marcus Ericksen

Dr. Marcus Ericksen shared scary news about the oceans: there are about 269 trillion tons of plastic debris floating on the surface of the oceans and washing up on beaches around the world. When the vastness of the world's oceans are considered, this number doesn't necessarily seem overwhelming. But Ericksen says that the bad news is that there are way more plastic particles that we can't see, and that have entered the food chain through small fish and sea birds. It's difficult to estimate the number of animals that are dying because of plastics in solid form, because, Ericksen explains that birds and fish filled with plastics tend to sink, rather than washing up on beaches. But he gives cause for hope: in the developing world, if there is even a small financial incentive, people will gather plastics and sell them back to manufacturers, which could help keep things out of the world's waterways.

Braving Iraq's Conflicts in the Name of Archaeology - Carrie Hritz

Modern day Iraq lays claim to the land that once was Mesopotamia, a fertile hotbed of early agriculture. The southern part of the country that outlets into the Persian Gulf boasts a wetland that is filled with relics of past civilizations that would draw archaeologists from around the world, if not for the country's modern-day security questions. But National Geographic Explorer and National Science Foundation Fellow archaeologist Carrie Hritz explains that it's possible to pursue her studies of ancient cities in the area, if you're careful - and have a security team.

The Entangled Fortunes of Sea Snakes and Rhinos - Zoltan Takacs

A strange twist of fate has entangled the fortunes of sea snakes in Vietnam and rhinos in Africa. National Geographic Emerging Explorer and snake venom expert Zoltan Takacs explains that because of a Vietnamese sea snake harvest in which 80 tons of snakes are pulled out of the environment in a very casual manner, many of the snake poachers are bitten. And since there is a lack of antivenom in the area for the sea snakes, rhino horn is kept on hand to try to keep the venom's toxins from harming the people. Takacs explains that these people then learn a very painful lesson: rhino horn doesn't do anything to mitigate snake venom pain. Takacs also says that the breadth of the sea snake harvest is shocking to biologists and the impact on Vietnam's environment has yet to be fully understood.

Going to Prison to Save Endangered Species - Nalini Nadkarni

Prisoners are surrounded by concrete walls, steel bars and a lot of bodies crammed into small spaces. These unforgiving environments lead to high stress, which often translates to violence among prison populations. To help combat prison stress, National Geographic explorer and forest ecologist Nalini Nadkarni brings nature behind bars. Nadkarni explains that convicts in 20 prisons help rebuild endangered populations of frogs, turtles, grass and mosses to heal the planet, but also themselves.

Travel Like a Travel Writer: Tips - Robert Reid

Travel writers don't always have the benefit of choosing their assignments. And Digital nomad Robert Reid explains that these types of trips often yield the most surprising and authentic travel experiences. That's why Robert encourages people "travel like a travel writer" and appoint a quest for themselves when they're on the road.

New Year Resolutions: Antibiotic Resistance, Trash Fish, & Big Milk - Maryn McKenna

A new year is a good excuse for us to turn the calendar page on our bad habits and create change in our lives. Maryn McKenna offers some new year's resolutions that look beyond our personal fitness goals and can create change for the planet. McKenna's resolutions target improved health, for us and the planet, by exercising our economic power, as consumers: 1) Fight antibiotic resistance by buying "happy meat," from cows that live in farms that don't require a regular dose of meds just to stay alive. 2) Eat "Trash Fish": Sardines, herring, hake and mackerel all live further down the food chain than the more popular sea bass, tuna, salmon and grouper. They're not endangered, they're tasty, plus they're inexpensive. 3) Buy local dairy. McKenna acknolwedges that this one takes a bit of research, but it's possible to avoid "Big Milk".

Frog Fashion: Making Belts to Better Study Tiny Amphibians - Rayna Bell

Charles Darwin was a visionary who is credited with some of the most influential scientific breakthroughs in history. But that doesn't mean the man, who lived in a time with limited technology, had was necessarily right in every opinion he formed. National Geographic Explorer Rayna Bell is putting one of Darwin's frog ideas through the scientific ringer. She also explains that sometimes, when you're studying tiny frogs, you need to be a part fashion designer and make tiny belts to keep track of her subjects.

Mapping Data for Disaster Relief and Animal Protection - Patrick Meier

The digital era has produced new potential for security breaches like cyberwarfare and hacking, for those trying to destabilize nations. But the sheer volume of data available to someone who can harvest it for good allows for better response to natural disasters, says National Geographic Emerging Explorer and crisis mapper, Patrick Meier. He helps direct United Nations responses to Haiti's 2010 earthquake and the recent Typhoon Hagupit that lashed the Philippines. He also explains how he's created a program that can help park rangers detect which animals, and potential poachers are in their park, using photo-shooting drones and the help of a few thousand friends.

Living With Lions - Amy Dickman

Amy Dickman understands what it is to live closely with lions. The biologist and conservationist with National Geographic's Big Cats Initiative has famously had a lion sleep on top of her tent while she was in it, so she can empathize with those like the Samburu who try to live closely with Africa's most feared predators. But in order to save the cats, she encourages herders to secure their homes and livestock with bomas to cut down on cats killing cows and herders getting heated over their loss.

Goliath Grouper: Cows of the Sea - David Doubilet

In biology, appearances are often deceiving. National Geographic photographer David Doubilet tells the story of how goliath grouper, which are endangered, gather by the hundreds to spawn. The slow-moving fish had been targets for spear-fishermen for years because they weigh up to 400 pounds and don't avoid humans in the way that other fish would. Their meat is now full of mercury, so they're bad eating anyway, but Doubilet calls fishing for the goliath grouper a "fool's quest," because they put up as much resistance to being hunted as a cow in a field would.

Meeting Mountains and the Women Who Call Them Home - Rebecca Byerly

Many people aspire to run a marathon and spend months working to that goal. For Rebecca Byerly, her life is spent training, as the self-described "non-elite" runner has successfully completed 100+ mile races at altitudes that most people rarely visit. Her upcoming documentary, "Women of the Mountain" follow women runners and locals through the peaks and valleys of the Himalayas, the Swiss Alps and Utah's Rocky Mountains.

Fish Out Of Water: Not Always a Problem - Andrew Thompson

The phrase "fish out of water" is often used to describe someone in a situation that they're poorly suited for. But National Geographic Young Explorer Andrew Thompson explains that not all fish are in trouble when they run out of water. He studies the killifish, which during droughts and dry seasons, are able to suspend their development when they're in the egg until more comfortable - and wet - circumstances are available.

Eating Sustainably: Forests and Oceans Aren't Menus - Chris Golden

Each year, National Geographic names a new class of Emerging Explorers, who are tomorrow's visionaries inspiring everybody to care about the planet. Ecologist and epidemiologist Christopher Golden is part of the 2014 class for his work in Madagascar helping local people develop better food cultivation habits than simply turning to the forest for wild meat. Golden says that it's possible to understand this on a global scale: one example he cited is to encourage people to more sustainably harvest fish from the oceans, so we don't experience a global collapse of biodiversity.

The Dangers of Recycling an Entire Ship - Peter Gwin

Recycling old materials for new purposes is always seen as a win for conservation and green friendly living. But when those materials are coated in lead paint and asbestos, the act of reusing that is seen as undeniably positive becomes a bit more ambiguous. Peter Gwin's story in the May 2014 issue of National Geographic magazine tells about those who break down large oceangoing ships in India and Bangladesh and use all of the ship's parts for some new purpose. The dangerous working conditions for "The Ship Breakers" result in new hospital beds, fishing boats and iron rebar for those working nearby.

Racing The "Other" Iditarod Route By Bike - Jeff Oatley

The Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race is probably the best known endurance race along the route from Fairbanks to Nome. But there is another grueling 1,000 mile ride over the packed snow and ice on the trail: the Iditarod Trail Invitational, a bike race that runs in early March. Jeff Oatley won this year's race in 10 days, 2 hours and 53 minutes, breaking the previous record by nearly 5 days. Oatley said that unusually warm conditions conspired with him to set the pace that would have seen him place 21st in this year's dog sled race.

Lyme Disease: A Poorly Understood Threat - Andrea Caesar & Dr. Joseph Jemsek

Lyme disease is commonly thought to be transmitted to humans exclusively through the bite of a deer tick; if there isn't a bite to be found, there isn't Lyme to be diagnosed. But as science improves, an increasing number of "mystery illnesses" of chronic headaches, body pains, and general malaise are being attributed to the disease. Andrea Caesar is one such person who has been diagnosed with a chronic form of Lyme disease, but it wasn't recognized until 26 years later. In the interim, doctors tried to diagnose her symptoms as mental disorders and "selfishness". She and Dr. Joseph Jemsek who co-authored "A Twist of Lyme: Battling a Disease That 'Doesn't Exist'" share her journey with the elusive disease.

Slacklining 4,000 Feet Above The Earth - "Sketchy" Andy Lewis

Slacklining - the act of walking along a loose nylon mesh - is a sport that was pioneered by rock climbers to kill down time when they were unable to be hanging from wall faces. But in the past few years, it has become a sport pursuing its own identity, with daredevil athletes pushing the boundaries of what is possible. One such athlete is "Sketchy" Andy Lewis who recently completed a famous feat of one-upmanship when he slacklined 4,000 feet above the Earth between two hot air balloons, without any leash attaching him to the line. Lewis explains how he and slacklining grew up together, and what he sees in the future for himself and the sport.

An Adventure So Hard, They Shed Over 50 Pounds (And Some Tears) - Cas & Jonesy

For some adventurers, the thrill of discovery propels them to the unknown with as little preparation as possible. But Australian adventurers James Castrissian and Justin Jones, also known as Cas and Jonsey, find that their expeditions are most successful when they prepare meticulously. Despite careful planning, things still manage to go wrong. While completing a 1,400 mile unsupported crossing of Antarctica, Castrissian lost over 60 pounds and while paddling 2,000 miles unsupported from Australia to New Zealand, blisters and wet seats proved problematic. The friends are tight-lipped about the next adventure but they say whatever it is, they'll be ready for their challenge.

Piecing Together the Past From Debris On the Bottom of the Sea - Deborah Carlson

Not all treasures are universally valued. Deborah Carlson, National Geographic grantee and President of the Institute of Nautical Archaeology, spends many days diving in the Aegean Sea hunting for treasures. But the things she hopes to find are from Bronze Age wooden ships that mostly have decomposed. She is able to find out much about the ships from a small piece of biological material, like wood, that may be revealing about the ship's cargo or workers. tweet

Cat Conservation: Chase Them With Dogs - Laurie Marker

As one of the smallest species of big cat roaming Africa's savannas, the cheetah often gets pushed out of national parks and preserve areas by larger predators like lions and hyenas. Cheetah Conservation Fund founder and Big Cats Initiative grantee Laurie Marker says this makes cheetahs act the part of a pest in Namibia. They're forced to survive on private land, often hunting livestock animals, which puts them into conflict with farmers. Her solution? Hire big dogs to chase the big cats off.

Riding A Horse 6,000 Miles Across Asia With a Dog - Part 2 - Tim Cope

Adventurer Tim Cope rowed from Lake Baikal to the Arctic, cycled from Moscow to Beijing, and completed many other adventures. But when he decided to ride a horse 6,000 miles across Central Asia, his mother expressed concern: Tim had never ridden a horse since he broke his arm, falling off one as a child. But three years later, the National Geographic Adventurer of the Year finished his ride, retiring his horses at a farm in Hungary. He tells Boyd that on the way, his horses were stolen, he raised a dog on the steppe, and learned a lot about life, love and commitment along the way. Tim's chronicled his story as well as the history of life on the steppe in his book, On the Trail of Genghis Khan: An Epic Journey Through the Land of the Nomads.

Following in Genghis Khan's Hoof Prints - Part 1 - Tim Cope

Adventurer Tim Cope rowed from Lake Baikal to the Arctic, cycled from Moscow to Beijing, and completed many other adventures. But when he decided to ride a horse 6,000 miles across Central Asia, his mother expressed concern: Tim had never ridden a horse since he broke his arm, falling off one as a child. But three years later, the National Geographic Adventurer of the Year finished his ride, retiring his horses at a farm in Hungary. He tells Boyd that on the way, his horses were stolen, he raised a dog on the steppe, and learned a lot about life, love and commitment along the way. Tim's chronicled his story as well as the history of life on the steppe in his book, On the Trail of Genghis Khan: An Epic Journey Through the Land of the Nomads.

Hard Earned Travel Tips - Shannon O'Donnell

Shannon O'Donnell has been traveling nonstop for the past five years. Like anybody who has been in a job for years, she's developed an expertise in globe-trotting that has helped her create a resource for people looking for volunteer opportunities in countries that aren't their own, called "Grassroots Volunteering". She also shares some of her hard-earned travel wisdom that she regularly dispenses on her personal website, "A Little Adrift". For all of her efforts, she has earned the honor of being one of National Geographic Traveler magazine's "Travelers of the Year" for 2013.

Wolves Under Siege in America - Jim and Jamie Dutcher

Wolves are the subject of much debate in the United States today. Ranchers often point to the apex predator as a reason why they lose livestock and hunters cry wolf about thinner elk herds that are harder to track. But Jim and Jamie Dutcher know the wolves more intimately: they share stories of the wolves' social hierarchy that they learned while living amongst the canines for six years. They also know that healthy wolves don't threaten people, rarely take livestock, and that they're currently being hunted at an unsustainable rate across the continental United States.

USA: The Second Largest Market for Illegal Ivory - Jeff Flocken

Last week, in Denver, the government crushed six tons of ivory, as a display of solidarity with the thousands of elephants whose deaths contributed to the boon of carved trinkets and holy relics confiscated at the border. IFAW's Jeff Flocken, says that the United States needs to take elephant poaching and the ivory trade more seriously. For all of the conversation surrounding China's appetite for ivory, Flocken says that the United States is likely the second largest market for ivory in the world.

Engineering Human Powered Flight - Cameron Robertson

The dream of flying like a bird has eluded man for centuries. Soaring with the birds has eluded the best engineering minds of history, until Cameron Robertson and his partner Todd Reichert put their heads together. In addition to figuring out how to flap their wings and fly, the pair have solved the mystery of human-powered helicoptering, winning a competition prize that had gone unclaimed for 32 years.

The Science of Everything - David Pogue

There are scientific laws and principles at play in nearly every invention that makes the world tick: washing machines apply Newton's First Law of Motion, GPS uses any three of 24 satellites installed by the U.S. government to triangulate locations on earth, and aluminum was once a rare, valuable element. Science writer David Pogue discusses National Geographic's new book, The Science of Everything, which breaks down the underlying science that might not seem obvious, but is necessary for many of the modern comforts to which we've grown accustomed.

Join a Mexican Circus - Emily Ainsworth

Children often aspire to careers that don't factor in things like money or power. National Geographic explorer Emily Ainsworth hoped to be a circus performer. But unlike many of the world's professionals who succumbed to the temptations of more comfortable careers, Ainsworth pursued her passion for costumes, music and dancing animals when she put on an impromptu dance solo to gain access into Mexico's circus culture. She pulls back the curtain on the big-top tent, and also discusses future plans that involve Indian magicians.

Surviving the Frozen Continent in the Name of Photography - Cory Richards

Exploration seems like a glamorous, exciting job. And National Geographic photographer and climber Cory Richards confirms that it is. But he also says that it's often painful, uncomfortable and it's always hard. Richards discusses a trip to Antarctica, where he battled the frozen continent's katabatic winds, that blow downhill from the pole, while trying to summit never-before conquered cliffs. Richards' photos were featured in the September 2013 issue of National Geographic magazine.

A Tumbleweed's Destiny: Conquering The American West - Cook & Jenshel

One of the most iconic images of the American West is the tumbleweed rolling down a dusty road of an abandoned boomtown. The issue with that image, photographers Diane Cook and Len Jenshel point out, is that the "American tumbleweed" is an invasive species from Russia. Their photos appear in the December, 2013 issue of National Geographic magazine, where they help tell the story of the weed's own version of Manifest Destiny.