Trending: Water bottle wisdom, beauty benefits of snail mucus, eye-popping waves of the North Sea

Plus: Uncover what made the North Sea waves treacherous for Vikings SEE BELOW, CAN YOU GUESS THE RIGHT ANSWER? [VIEW ONLINE]( SEE BELOW, CAN YOU GUESS THE RIGHT ANSWER? [National Geographic]( THE COMPASS This week, explore the wonders of [snail mucus skincare]( unravel feline mysteries to understand [what it's like to be a cat]( uncover the [potential risks of plastic bottles exposed to extreme heat]( and discover the [real health benefits of castor oil](. Plus, catch up on top stories you may have missed. [A technician milks a giant snail for its mucin on a farm in Thailand.]( PHOTOGRAPH BY LILLIAN SUWANRUMPHA, AFP/GETTY IMAGES [Snail mucus is a skin care phenomenon—but does it really work?]( Commonly used to repair damaged skin, products containing snail mucus go back much further than the social media era—and may have potential beyond cosmetics. [SLIME SECRET REVEALED]( By clicking on the featured links, visitors will leave NationalGeographic.com and be directed to third-party e-commerce sites that operate under different terms and privacy policies. As a participant in multiple affiliate marketing programs, National Geographic will earn a commission for certain purchases. See full disclaimer below.* [An image of a skincare product.]( [COSRX Snail Mucin]( Looking to add Snail Mucin to your skin care routine? This lightweight essence which absorbs into the skin can give you a natural and healthy glow. [SHOP NOW AT AMAZON]( [Curious kitty gazing at its shadow, captivated by the mysterious silhouette.]( PHOTOGRAPH BY ANDREW MARRTILA [Here’s how your cat experiences the world]( Cats use the same five senses as humans, but they view the world differently. Understanding them could make us better cat parents. [PAWSPECTIVE UNLEASHED]( [An image of a cat enjoying a meal from an automated feeder-robot, showcasing modern pet care technology.]( [Litter-Robot Feeder-Robot]( Your pet experiences the world in a unique way. Now, with Litter-Robot, feeding time can be unique too. The Feeder-Robot is a WiFi-enabled, automatic pet feeder for cats and dogs so that meals never go missed. [SHOP NOW AT LITTER-ROBOT]( GOOD READS 1. [Being organized can actually improve mental health. This is why]( 2. [Poisoned, shot, or drowned? Here’s how Rasputin really died]( 3. [An intact Viking ship burial held riches—and a surprising mystery]( 4. [It's not your life span you need to worry about. It's your health span]( [Bottle of water left in direct sunlight]( PHOTOGRAPH ILLUSTRATION BY MARK THIESSEN, NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC [Exposed to extreme heat, plastic bottles may ultimately become unsafe]( “The hotter it gets, the more the stuff in plastic can move into food or drinking water.” [STAY BOTTLE-WISE]( [An image of a vibrant blue Stanley Cup water bottle.]( [Stanley IceFlow Flip Straw Tumbler]( Reusable water bottles are an alternative to single-use plastic bottles that can be used all year round. The IceFlow Flip Straw Tumbler is BPA free and keeps contents cold for up to 12 hours. These bold, colorful tumblers are made to keep you hydrated in a fully functional style. [SHOP NOW AT STANLEY]( [Bottle of castor oil accompanied by castor beans on a table, depicting the source and product of this natural remedy known for its health and beauty benefits.]( PHOTOGRAPH BY BDSPN, GETTY IMAGES [How we should really be using castor oil]( Social media influencers swear by castor oil for curing blurry vision, busting belly fat, and even killing tumors. But what does it actually do for the body? [DISCOVER CASTOR]( [A photograph of the North Sea, near Helgoland, Germany, taken in 1936.]( PHOTOGRAPH BY FRANZ SCHENSKY, ULLSTEIN BILD/GETTY IMAGES Videos of the North Sea's large, eye-popping waves often go viral on TikTok—but people have been navigating these stormy waters for millennia. It was once a highway for the Vikings. [What made the North Sea waves treacherous for Vikings?]( A. [Unpredictable Storms]( B. [Calm Weather]( C. [Consistent Tidal Patterns]( D. [Warm Climate Trends]( [CLICK FOR THE ANSWER]( [WHAT WILL WE EXPLORE NEXT?]( Be sure to [check your inbox]( next week to find out. [SHOP]( [DONATE]( [SUBSCRIBE]( [TRAVEL]( [READ OUR LATEST STORIES]( [SHOP]( [DONATE]( [SUBSCRIBE]( [TRAVEL]( [FB]( [Twitter]( [IG]( *Although we are sharing our personal opinions of these experiences or products with you, National Geographic is not endorsing these experiences or products on behalf of anyone. It has not performed product safety testing on any of these products, did not manufacture them, and is not selling, or distributing them and is not making any representations about the safety or caliber of these products or experiences for individual consumers. Prices and availability are subject to change from the date of publication. [Clicking on]( the Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and National Geographic Channel links will take you away from our National Geographic Partners site where different terms of use and privacy policy apply. 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