National Geographic News

Improved Models Predict Active 2013 Hurricane Season

Willie Drye — Thu, 23 May 2013 19:12:11 -0400

NOAA expects up to 20 named tropical storms, which could yield as many as six major hurricanes, as it utilizes new technology to improve forecasting.

Pictures: Top 10 Newly Discovered Species of 2012

Thu, 23 May 2013 18:18:44 -0400

Glowing cockroaches and a destructive fungus make the grade in Arizona State's list of top 10 new species of 2012.

Taking Cover: A Guide to Tornado Shelters

Melody Kramer — Thu, 23 May 2013 16:08:17 -0400

Homeowners can install a nearly indestructible shelter to withstand tornado-strength winds.

What Makes Us Feel an Itch? Answer Surprises Scientists

Christine Dell'Amore — Thu, 23 May 2013 14:01:17 -0400

Surprisingly, a molecule that usually works in the heart triggers itch, according to a new study in mice.

Thu, 23 May 2013 17:02:49 -0400

Taking you behind the scenes at a NatGeo cover shoot with James Cameron

Q&A: Last Survivor of a Dramatic World War II Rescue

Cate Lineberry — Thu, 23 May 2013 16:31:55 -0400

After a crash landing in Albania during World War II, Harold Hayes was trapped behind Nazi lines with 25 fellow medics and nurses.

Carnivorous Plant Keeps House With Ants

Jane J. Lee — Wed, 22 May 2013 17:03:56 -0400

Diving ants keep nutritious fly larvae from escaping carnivorous pitcher plants.

All the Buzz About the 2013 Geographic Bee

Melody Kramer — Thu, 23 May 2013 09:06:54 -0400

Sathwik Karnik, a 12-year-old from Massachusetts, bested 53 contestants in the competition.

Tornadoes and Global Warming: Is There a Connection?

Robert Kunzig — Wed, 22 May 2013 16:10:08 -0400

Global warming is causing more extreme weather. But when it comes to tornadoes, it could go either way.

Lessons From Joplin’s Tornado Recovery Effort

Wed, 22 May 2013 13:20:08 -0400

As Moore, Oklahoma, prepares to rebuild, a photographer recalls a similar effort in Joplin, Missouri.

Some 100 Species of Fungus Live on Our Feet

Christine Dell'Amore — Wed, 22 May 2013 14:01:19 -0400

Sole survivors: Up to a hundred fungi species flourish on our feet, a new study says.

Chasing Tornadoes With a Camera

Cathy Newman — Wed, 22 May 2013 12:08:50 -0400

Storm chaser Roger Hill talks about the perils of photographing tornadoes.

Who's the Next Host of the Geography Bee?

Christine Dell'Amore — Wed, 22 May 2013 11:43:46 -0400

The special CNN correspondent will take the reins from Alex Trebek.

National Geographic Bee: Do You Have What It Takes?

Melody Kramer — Wed, 22 May 2013 11:33:24 -0400

We've collected sample questions from last year's bee. Test yourself and see how you do.

Alex Trebek: On Hosting the Geography Bee

Melody Kramer — Wed, 22 May 2013 11:17:22 -0400

Alex Trebek has hosted every Geography Bee. He shares his thoughts after 25 years at the podium.

Tesla Motors' Success Gives Electric Car Market a Charge

Josie Garthwaite — Wed, 22 May 2013 11:52:42 -0400

Amid a decimated field of E.V. startups, Tesla Motors is riding high. But can its feats help take electric cars mainstream?

There's a Gnome at the Bottom of Your Garden

Roff Smith — Tue, 21 May 2013 17:02:42 -0400

Good news, Sneezy, Doc, and Grumpy! The Chelsea Flower Show has ended its 100-year ban on whimsical garden sculptures.

Your Pictures: The Oklahoma Tornado

Tue, 21 May 2013 16:34:06 -0400

Have a photo of the May 20 Oklahoma tornado? Submit it to National Geographic's Your Shot with the hashtag #tornado and our editors will consider it for this gallery.

5 Tornado Myths Busted

Brian Clark Howard — Tue, 21 May 2013 14:50:51 -0400

Following the Oklahoma tornado, a severe-weather expert shares facts and tips on staying safe in storms.

Oklahoma Tornado Pictures: 2-Mile Twister Destroys Town

Tue, 21 May 2013 11:40:18 -0400

See the aftermath of a two-mile-wide tornado that ripped through Moore, Oklahoma, on Monday, killing dozens.

Oklahoma Tornado: Why So Destructive, Unpredictable?

Ker Than — Wed, 22 May 2013 11:52:55 -0400

Tornadoes like the one that devastated an Oklahoma City suburb this week are difficult to predict. Here's how they work.

Captain's Log: Found a Baby Bird, What Do I Do?

Marc Silver — Tue, 21 May 2013 09:22:14 -0400

Spring brings baby birds, who sometimes fall out of a nest or turn up injured in a yard. We spoke to an Audubon expert about how to respond.

A Tornado Chaser Talks About His Science and Craft

Jane J. Lee — Mon, 20 May 2013 15:58:49 -0400

Researcher Tim Samaras talks about why he chases tornadoes, what they smell like, and what we still don't know about these severe storms.

Why Did Penguins Stop Flying? The Answer Is Evolutionary

Brian Handwerk — Mon, 20 May 2013 15:17:50 -0400

Scientists say they've learned why penguin wings, now used for swimming, no longer get the birds off the ground.

Picture Archive: Bangladesh (Then East Pakistan), 1950s

Johnna Rizzo — Mon, 20 May 2013 12:07:47 -0400

As Bangladesh recovers from a factory disaster, a look back at the country's origins.