In 2017, our solar system got an unexpected visitor: a transient interstellar object called ʻOumuamua. Astronomers were stunned—it didn't match up with their working theories of the universe. It was weirdly shaped, rocky like an asteroid but plowing forward like a comet, and yet lacking the signature tail of dust. Since then, two other interstellar objects have been confirmed. The Vera C. Rubin Observatory, soon to be fully operational, could reveal new insights about these mysterious visitors and dramatically increase sightings, with astronomers predicting it will spot somewhere between five and 100 interstellar objects in the next decade. This data could bring us closer to answering one of science's most profound questions: Are we alone in the universe? Learn more at the link in bio. Photograph by Tomás Munita (tomas.munita) Illustration of ʻOumuamua by NASA/ESA/STSCI

In Senegal's Ferlo reserve, Awa Sow is inspiring a new future for Africa’s nomadic herders. As a community leader of the Fulani—an Indigenous people across West and Central Africa who for centuries practiced nomadic pastoralism—she's helping women step into roles managing shared resources. Her approach is already influencing how this community responds to shifting environmental and social realities. Learn more about one of the largest nomadic groups on Earth at the link in bio. Photograph by hammond_robin

Native to east Asia and invasive to the eastern U.S., joro spiders are typically timid. So why are the girls fighting? A new study shows that female joro spiders in both contained and more natural environments sometimes fight fiercely, tearing off limbs, and even cannibalizing each other. What does this mean for their impact on the ecosystem? Learn more about this unusual behavior at the link in bio. Video by Alexa Schultz

More than 10 million people worldwide are living with Parkinson’s disease, but with unclear causes and varied symptoms, it remains one of the most puzzling neurodegenerative disorders. The fact that Parkinson's develops slowly, over many years, and the lack of any single trigger, means it's been difficult to diagnose the disease in earlier stages. However, a recent study linking human pegivirus with the neurodegenerative disease has offered a new lead for scientists. Find out more about Parkinson's and what this discovery could mean at the link in bio. Illustration by Kateryna Kon, Science Photo Library

The babies of the Photo Ark come in all shapes and sizes, and each has its own unique features. For example, the vicuña, which you see briefly here, is the only hoofed animal with continuously growing teeth. Similar to rodents, vicuñas have lower teeth that grow throughout their lives! You can get your copy of Photo Ark Babies by joelsartore at the link in bio to find out more about these cuties. #PhotoArk Video by joelsartore

When National Geographic published its first major article on New York City in 1918, the author described it as "The Metropolis of Mankind"—an epithet that the Big Apple has more than earned. In the early days, our stories about the city offered insight into architecture, people, and culture. Over the decades, though, they evolved to cover a variety of subjects—pollution in the Hudson River, Lunar New Year celebrations, the importance of Central Park as an oasis for residents, and witness accounts of the September 11 terrorist attacks. With 2025 marking the 400th anniversary of the founding of New Amsterdam, we looked back on more than 100 years of New York City, through the lens of Nat Geo photographers. Explore these photos and their history at the link in bio. Photographs by jodicobbphoto, chien_chi_chang, Bates Littlehales, Kadel & Herbert, geosteinmetz, B. Anthony Stewart, stephenwilkes, Edwin Levick, irablockphoto

People in the U.S. have steadily reached for more melatonin over the past couple of decades, with roughly two-thirds of adults using it to help them sleep at some point in their lives. While the synthetic form of melatonin usually found in supplements is a relatively low-risk substance for adults, experts say the sleep hormone is widely misunderstood. Taking it as a supplement night after night doesn’t necessarily translate to better sleep—and for most people, neither does taking larger amounts of it. So are we taking too much too often? Find out what the science says at the link in bio. Photograph by beckythale

The hurricane was only the beginning. Now hear the stories of the people who lived through it, only to face the manmade disasters that followed. Hurricane Katrina: Race Against Time is now streaming on DisneyPlus and hulu.

The Sahara Desert in Niger is a dino wonderland where skeletons can be spotted jutting from the desert floor in some of its most remote and sandswept corners. Finding bones there is the easy part—it’s working out the logistics of digging in the unforgiving environment that’s the tricky part. Facing extreme heat, logistical puzzles, and security risks, an expedition led by National Geographic Explorer paulserenoofficial resulted in a number of fascinating discoveries, including the remains of several sauropods. Learn more about the boldest fossil hunt ever attempted at the link in bio. Photographs by Keith Ladzinski ladzinski