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This tiny nation feeds the world; yes, dogs can 'catch' their owners' emotions

Plus, why are cougars fighting wolves (no ones knows); the strange history behind the Pledge of Allegiance

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August 26, 2023 2:10pm EDT

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WHAT’S THE SECRET?
AND CAN WE LEARN IT?

Saturday, August 26, 2023

In today’s newsletter, we witness a mind-blowing explosion of farming, learn about the ancient society that helped shape today’s, figure out why cougars are fighting wolves ... and discover that yes, dogs can ‘catch’ their owners’ emotions.

A Dutch plant scientist experiments with various types of lights to see which works best for growing tomatoes

PHOTOGRAPHS BY LUCA LOCATELLI

Only 17 million people live in this precious and fertile land, chunks of which were reclaimed by the sea. Its innovative farmers have sharply cut water use, chemical fertilizers, and the use of antibiotics in livestock.

Yet their yield is often twice the global average, and their scientists (one shown testing the best light for tomatoes) are trying to increase it. The densely populated Netherlands already is the world’s No. 2 food producer, behind only the United States, which has 270 times the land mass. How do the Dutch do it?

WHAT CAN WE LEARN?

Furrows of artificial light lend an otherworldly aura to Westland, the greenhouse capital of the Netherlands.

Always growing: Furrows of artificial light lend an otherworldly aura to these round-the-clock, all-year, climate-controlled Dutch farms. Read more.

Unlock this article with Nat Geo Premium! Get access now to exclusive stories, plus a century of archives, photos, and videos. See subscription options starting at just $19/yr.

STORIES WE’RE FOLLOWING

American children pledge allegiance to the flag at a Virginia school, 1959.

PHOTOGRAPH BY ANTHONY B. STEWART, NAT GEO IMAGE COLLECTION

The surprisingly strange history of the Pledge of Allegiance (above, U.S. schoolchildren say the pledge with hands on hearts)

Mountain lions are fighting wolves—and winning—and no one knows why

An extraordinary and rare face transplant gave this 21-year-old woman a new lease on life

Emperor penguins face unprecedented breeding failure due to sea ice loss

Why did India land near the moon’s south pole?

This 9,000-year-old necklace is remarkable. Who wore it is even more surprising.

Extremely rare spotless giraffe born in U.S. zoo

This ancient society helped build the modern world.

Where does mercury retrograde come from?

These pirates left the Caribbean behind—and stole the biggest booty ever

PHOTO OF THE DAY

a retriever chasing a tennis ball underwater

PHOTOGRAPH BY SETH CASTEEL, NAT GEO IMAGE COLLECTION

Perceptive pets: Today we honor our beloved pups in recognition of National Dog Day. Some of our furry family members love to swim, like the exuberant black Labrador Retriever chasing a tennis ball (above) photographed by Seth Casteel as part of his famous series on dogs underwater.

You know what else dogs can catch? Their owner’s emotions. Studies show that canines can pick up chemical and physiological cues from people that allow our moods to become “contagious.”

Related: What are animals thinking? They feel empathy, grieve, seek joy just like us.

WOOF WOOF

IN THE SPOTLIGHT

A Sumerian tablet bears a religious text. It was created using cuneiform, the world’s first writing system. Sumerian cuneiform spread across much of the Bronze Age Middle East.

R. CHIPAULT/RMN-GRAND PALAIS

Ancient influence on modern day: This ancient tablet, which bears a religious text, comes from land that sits between the Tigris and Euphrates rivers. The land is called Sumer. And its people gave birth to human civilizations' first cities—and to innovations in transportation, literature, and monumental architecture.

Sumerian culture flourished for more than 2,000 years and was the dominant power in Mesopotamia. Discover more about these enterprising peoples and their numerous innovations, including the above tablet, which was created using cuneiform, the world’s first writing system.

CRADLE OF CIVILIZATION

LAST GLIMPSE

PHOTOGRAPH BY KHALED DESOUKI, AFP/GETTY IMAGES

How to spot a fake: At the Khan el-Khalili Bazaar in Cairo, Egypt (above), tourists walk past shops selling colorful stained-glass lamps. What used to be a strong economy for artists to sell their craft has become increasingly inundated with knockoffs. Can you tell the difference in the souvenirs you purchase? And what are the impacts if you can’t?

AUTHENTIC SHOPPING

Today’s soundtrack: Picking Flowers on the Moon, Glenn Yoder and the Western Stars

This newsletter has been curated and edited by David Beard, Hannah Farrow, Nancy San Martín, and Jen Tse. Amanda Williams-Bryant, Alisher Egamov, Rita Spinks, and Jeremy Brandt-Vorel also contributed this week. Thanks for reading!

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This tiny nation feeds the world; yes, dogs can 'catch' their owners' emotions

Plus, why are cougars fighting wolves (no ones knows); the strange history behind the Pledge of Allegiance

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