Science & Environment: Counting down to Apollo 11, gemstone dinosaurs, and more

Plus: You eat thousands of tiny plastic pieces every year. What are the effects? [This week's latest in Science and Environment]( [VIEW ONLINE]( [This week in Science and Environment]( [National Geographic]( . In this edition: Scientists puzzle over bees' plastic nests, a mine yields gemstone dinosaur bones, the U.S. Midwest suffers major floods, and we count down to Apollo 11. . Photograph by OTIS IMBODEN, National Geographic Creative [Starstruck]( [Count down to the 50th anniversary of Apollo 11 with National Geographic]( On July 20, 1969, the world held its breath as astronauts Neil Armstrong and Edwin “Buzz” Aldrin made the first steps on the moon. To celebrate this landmark moment, we’ve curated a daily calendar of archival photographs that offer a rare and intimate glimpse at the mission. [See More Pictures]( SHARE [F]( [T]( [Watch: Moon 101 +]( . [Pollution Bites]( [You eat thousands of tiny plastic pieces each year. What are the effects?]( Though abundant in water, air, and common foods, it’s unclear how microplastics might affect our health. [Learn More]( . [Starstruck]( [Giant 'thread' of radio emissions found linking galaxy clusters]( Scientists predicted that our universe's structure resembles a huge web. We've finally seen one of the strands. [Unravel Mysteries]( Number2Know 571 The minimum number of plant species that have gone extinct since 1753, according to a new study by the U.K.'s Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. [Learn More]( . . . ILLUSTRATION BY JAMES KUETHER [Gem of a Find]( [Stunning gemstone-filled fossils reveal new dinosaur species]( Four members of the plant-eating species were found together in what may be Australia’s first known dinosaur herd. [Dig Deeper]( SHARE [F]( [T]( [WATCH: Dinosaurs 101 +]( . [Starstruck]( [How an x-ray telescope changed this scientist's life forever]( A cosmologist reflects on the Chandra X-ray Observatory, a telescope as revolutionary as its namesake physicist. [Read the Essay]( . [Gimme Shelter]( [Wild bees are building their homes from plastic. We're not sure why.]( When tasked with making their unique nests, Argentina’s solitary bees are now choosing plastic. [Find Out More]( . PHOTOGRAPH BY SCOTT OLSON, GETTY IMAGES [Flooding Farms]( [Midwest flooding is drowning corn and soy crops. Is climate change to blame?]( This year's constant deluge of rain has led some to wonder if farmers are feeling the predicted impacts of a warming world. [Dive Into the Story]( SHARE [F]( [T]( [WATCH: Causes and Effects of Climate Change +]( What We're Reading [This environmentalist doesn't care if you recycle. Here's why. (Vox)]( ›› [Climate action would save thousands of U.S. residents from dying of heat stroke. (New York Times)]( ›› . . When you read, watch, shop or travel with us, you help further the work of our scientists, explorers, and educators around the world. To learn more, visit [natgeo.com/info]( [Email Icon]( [Sign up for more National Geographic newsletters]( [Shop]( [Donate]( [Subscribe]( [Travel]( [READ OUR LATEST STORIES]( [SHOP]( [DONATE]( [SUBSCRIBE]( [TRAVEL]( [FB]( [Twitter]( [IG]( You are receiving this email because you elected to receive marketing communications from National Geographic under the terms of our [Privacy Policy](. Click here to [unsubscribe.]( If you reside in the EU/European Economic Area and wish to exercise all other data subject rights, [click here](. National Geographic | 1145 17th Street N.W. | Washington, D.C. 20036 Copyright © 2019 National Geographic Partners, LLC. All rights reserved. {LITMUS TRACKING PIXEL}