Watch This: Plants take over an abandoned village, the tallest wave ever surfed, and more

A direct link to the dinosaur age. Plus: a shark chomps down and an octopus hitches a ride. | [WATCH MORE VIDEOS.]( [WHAT’S ON TV]( ONLINE]( [WATCH MORE VIDEOS.]( [National Geographic]( [WATCH THIS]( . [ANIMALS]( |]( See our producers’ favorite videos of the week. . [| 1:33 |]( |]( [Great White Shark Bites Down on a Submarine Drone]( When I was a kid, my first impression of drones was that they were solely used for military warfare, but it's incredible to see how other fields are adopting this remotely controlled technology to explore the world in new ways. Conservation researchers deployed a submarine drone in order to study the behavior and movement of sharks off the coast of Isla de Guadalupe, Mexico. Check out the great white shark footage captured by the drone, including a thrilling close-up when one shark tried to bite down on it. —Fritz Burnett, producer [Watch Now]( SHARE [F]( [T]( . [| 2:22 |]( |]( [Plants Are Taking Over This Abandoned Fishing Village]( In the 1990s, the Chinese village of [Houtouwan]( was a prosperous fishing town and home to thousands of residents. But as competition in nearby Shanghai heated up, local fishermen couldn’t keep up and moved out with their families. Houtouwan quickly fell into disrepair, and only a handful of residents live there today. Despite this, the town is a popular stop for urban explorers. Nature has overwhelmed the modern houses and transformed the once-industrial landscape into a carpet of green foliage. —[Elaina Zachos]( online writer [Watch Now]( SHARE [F]( [T]( [EXPLORING SINCE 1888 | SUBSCRIBE NOW +]( [EXPLORING SINCE 1888 | SUBSCRIBE NOW +]( . [| 2:38 |]( |]( [Are Birds Modern-Day Dinosaurs?]( Sixty-six million years ago, an asteroid six miles across slammed into Earth and wiped out 80 percent of all animal life. In the past 50 years, key bird fossil discoveries have revealed evolutionary clues that led scientists to a shocking conclusion: Many of the traits exhibited by modern birds are adaptations millions of years in the making. In fact, as our cultural fascination with dinosaurs continues to grow, it’s fascinating to realize that the birds at our bird-feeders represent a direct link to this ancient age. [Read more about the dinosaurs that didn't die.]( —Mike Olcott, senior producer [WATCH NOW]( SHARE [F]( [T]( . [| 1:25 |]( |]( [Watch a Surfer Ride a Record-Breaking, 80-Foot Wave]( This video was a lot of fun to work on. Beyond the fact that a world record was broken for surfing, just watching the massive wave move toward the shore is mesmerizing. I can’t even imagine what it's like to surf down these walls of water—especially with the slightest thought of being crushed in the back of your mind. Congratulations to surfer [Rodrigo Koxa]( for accomplishing such a bold feat. —Mateo Melendy, producer/editor [WATCH NOW]( SHARE [F]( [T]( . [| 1:42 |]( [NEWS |]( [This Octopus Hitched a Ride on a Diver’s Arm]( Who knew octopuses gave great hugs? This diver now does! While swimming off the coast of Cannes, France, a curious octopus latched itself onto a diver’s arm for a quick ride before letting go and swimming away. Pay attention to how the octopus’s color changes to camouflage with the diver’s arm. It’s truly amazing. —Richie Hertzberg, producer/editor [Watch Now]( SHARE [F]( [T]( ON TV . [| Tuesdays at 10/9c |]( [Genius: Picasso]( Starring Antonio Banderas in the titular role, the second season of National Geographic’s 10-part, Emmy-nominated global event series, GENIUS: Picasso, explores how the artist’s passionate nature and relentless creative drive were inextricably linked to his personal life, which included tumultuous marriages, numerous affairs and constantly shifting political and personal alliances. [WATCH THE FIRST THREE EPISODES FREE]( [Shop]( [Donate]( [Subscribe]( [Travel]( [WATCH MORE VIDEOS]( [SHOP]( [DONATE]( [SUBSCRIBE]( [TRAVEL]( [FROM LENS TO LIVING ROOM | SUBSCRIBE NOW +]( [FB]( [Twitter]( [IG]( [YouTube]( Our video player is currently experiencing difficulties in Safari 11. Please try using another browser. 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 © 2018 National Geographic Partners, LLC. All rights reserved.