Best of 2017: A giant rat from the sky, three tons of dead pigs, moving photos of the Rohingya refugee crisis

Read our editors’ favorite stories of the year: for instance, would your dog eat you if you died? Why has this man lived alone on an island for 28 years? | [2017’s EDITORS’ FAVORITES]( [SIGN IN]( ONLINE]( 2017’s EDITORS’ FAVORITES [National Geographic]( [BEST OF 2017]( [| EDITORS’ FAVORITES]( From a bizarre new species falling from the sky to heart-wrenching photos of a humanitarian crisis, our world is as vast and varied as our editors’ favorite stories of 2017. . [| TRAVEL |]( [Meet the Man Who Has Lived Alone on an Island for 28 Years]( Few people know solitude as intimately as 78-year-old Mauro Morandi, who has lived alone on Budelli Island for 28 years. I think Mauro’s story stirs a desire within all of us—to abandon the minutiae of daily life and live free of the societal expectations that often stifle us. Mauro chose an extreme lifestyle, but his inner struggle is profoundly human and unexpectedly relatable: a deep love for—and simultaneous aversion—to his fellow man. —[Gulnaz Khan, associate travel editor]( [MEET MAURO]( SHARE [F]( [T]( SHOPPING LIST [Bring home a beautiful Bancroft globe](. ›› [Play a classic game of Shut-the-Box](. ›› [Discover the world with an atlas](. ›› [Enjoy your favorites on a classic crank radio](. ›› . [| ARCHAEOLOGY |]( [The Real Story Behind the “House of Jesus’ Apostles” Discovery]( One of my favorite pieces this year is an explainer we did on the discovery of a first-century Roman bathhouse in el-Araj, Israel. Most outlets were running the sensationalized claim that the “House of the Apostles” was found, but at National Geographic we took the approach of breaking down the claims and analyzing each facet. It’s an exciting discovery that’s shaking things up among archaeologists who study the area and the period, and I’m proud that we took the time to provide our readers with the real facts. —[Kristin Romey, archaeology editor]( [UNEARTH THE STORY]( SHARE [F]( [T]( [ SEE ALL +]( [| PHOTOGRAPHY |]( [Path of Persecution]( When confronted with tragedy on a colossal scale, we often turn to statistics to inform us. How many were evacuated? What was the death toll? These numbers are undoubtedly important, but rarely evoke empathy on their own. It is why we need storytellers, like National Geographic photographer William Daniels, who are able to document the face of these calamities. This year, we sent Daniels to Bangladesh to document the influx of Rohingya migrants fleeing persecution in Myanmar. Daniels’ images encouraged me to think about the crisis with more depth and feeling than before. This story reminded me of the power of journalism, of its ability to educate, empathize, and quite simply, to move us. —[Jehan Jillani, associate photo editor]( SHARE [F]( [T]( . [| GORY DETAILS |]( [Would Your Dog Eat You if You Died? Get the Facts.]( One of my favorite things in science writing is when a journalist uses their skills to answer questions you didn’t even know you had. Luckily for me, [Erika Engelhaupt]( is one of the most tenacious reporters in the game. This piece in particular really showcases her deliciously gory talents—and makes me think twice about where my own pet cat might take a nibble. —[Victoria Jaggard, science editor]( [FACT OR FICTION?]( SHARE [F]( [T]( [INSPIRE YOUR ADVENTURES. | SUBSCRIBE NOW +]( [INSPIRE YOUR ADVENTURES. | SUBSCRIBE NOW +]( . [| WEIRD & WILD |]( [Giant Rat That Fell From Sky Is New Species]( I get to write about all kinds of weird animals, but the giant rat that fell out of the sky is one of the best. Its existence was rumored for decades, but no scientist had ever laid eyes on the beast. Then one day, a local ranger was watching as loggers cut down a tree and, lo and behold, a rodent of unusual size tumbed down. Imagine yelling “Timber!” and then in the next moment, “Eureka!” Finally, because the rat died from its fall and its remains were used to describe the new species, the people of the Solomon Islands are still the only ones who have seen a Vangunu giant rat alive. Somehow, that seems perfect to me. —[Jason Bittel, contributing writer]( [LOOK UP]( SHARE [F]( [T]( VIDEO . [| 1:04 | Environment |]( [How a 3-Ton Mess of Dead Pigs Transformed This Landscape]( In order to better understand how natural mass mortality events of animals affect the food chain in a forest, scientists collected three tons of dead pigs. After they dropped them off in the woods in Mississippi, the team was surprised by what their cameras recorded next. —[Brian Howard, environment and speed desk editor]( [WATCH NOW]( SHARE [F]( [T]( [Shop]( [Donate]( [Subscribe]( [Travel]( [DAYDREAM NOW]( [SHOP]( [DONATE]( [SUBSCRIBE]( [TRAVEL]( [National Geographic magazines]( [FB]( [Twitter]( [IG]( You are receiving this email because {EMAIL} is signed up to receive National Geographic communications. If you prefer not to receive emails from us, please [unsubscribe](. [About Us]( | [Contact Us]( | [Privacy Policy]( To ensure that you receive your National Geographic emails, please add ng@e.nationalgeographic.com to your address book now. [Learn how](. National Geographic | 1 145 1 7th Street N.W. | Washington, D.C. 2 0036 Copyright © 2017 National Geographic Partners, LLC. All rights reserved. [DAYDREAM NOW](