YOUR WEEKLY ESCAPE: The classified maps you weren't supposed to see

Plus: A stunning 9,000-year-old mask, the mystery of an alien megastructure, and the science of sleep  ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌  ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌  ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌  ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌  ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌  ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌  ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌  ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌  ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌  ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌  ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌    ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌  ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌  ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌  ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌  ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌  ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌  ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌  ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌  ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌  ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌  ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌  

 

THE MYSTERY OF TABBY'S STAR VIEW ONLINE

THE MYSTERY OF TABBY'S STAR

Your Weekly Escape

Extraordinary people, discoveries, and places in a time of turmoil

PHOTOGRAPH BY MAGNUS WENNMAN While you sleep, your mind goes on an amazing journey Nearly every night, our brain profoundly alters its behavior and purpose. We become almost entirely paralyzed. We sometimes believe we can fly. We approach the frontiers of death. SUBSCRIBER EXCLUSIVE SHARE

PHOTOGRAPH BY CLARA AMIT, ISRAEL ANTIQUITIES AUTHORITY The discovery of this 9,000-year-old mask stunned archaeologists The Neolithic stone masks from the area around the southern Judean desert are among the region's most compelling, distinctive—and rare—artifacts. What exact purpose they served is still a mystery. READ MORE SHARE

COURTESY WELLS LIBRARY MAP COLLECTIONS, INDIANA UNIVERSITY, BLOOMINGTON, INDIANA See the classified Russian maps that fell into enemy hands Russian cartographers mapped their homeland in detail—making these charts invaluable to the Nazis, the U.S. Army, and the CIA. Made between 1883 and 1947, they were never meant to be seen by outsiders. EXPLORE THE MAPS SHARE

PHOTOGRAPH BY NASA, JPL-CALTECH How scientists cracked the mystery of an 'alien megastructure' For years, an enigmatic star in the constellation Cygnus baffled astronomers with its seemingly random dips in brightness, with some scientists even speculating that alien-built megastructures could be causing it to darken. Now we know the truth—well, sort of. READ ON SHARE

The best arguments in the world won't change a person's mind. The only thing that can do that is a good story Montesquieu French philosopher, from The Overstory

PHOTOGRAPH BY CIRIL JAZBEC Here's what the world's happiest country doesn't have The small kingdom of Bhutan could be a model for countries on the front lines of climate change. LEARN MORE SHARE

BRIDGEMAN/ACI This audacious artist shocked 17th-century Italy with her work Artemisia Gentileschi's paintings were bold, vibrant, and sometimes violent. Her undeniable talent helped overcome prejudice and is being recognized anew today. SUBSCRIBER EXCLUSIVE SHARE

‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ SHORT FILM SHOWCASE‌ ‌ ‌  Peek inside the strange, secret world of bugs England’s New Forest holds some of the most remarkable creatures, but you might have to look under a rock to find them. WATCH VIDEO SHARE

Need a distraction? Grapefruit is one of the weirdest fruits on the planet (Atlas Obscura)  ›› The best live animal feeds from around the world (NYT)  ››

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