How your gut may be key to a mysterious chronic disease

A vital clue in a medical mystery; the massive snowpack in the West; foods that lower your risk of disease; Napoleon’s scandalous little sister [WOMEN PILTOS]( [VIEW ONLINE]( [WOMEN PILOTS]( [National Geographic]( [IT BEGINS IN YOUR BELLY]( In today’s newsletter, we examine the [suddenly contentious psychoactive drug]( that could save lives, explore [the gut/fatigue connection]( trail a [pioneering woman aviator]( ... and learn [swearing is good]( for you. [A hand-colored scanning electron micrograph]( PHOTOGRAPH BY MARTIN OEGGERLI, MICRONAUT. KINDLY SUPPORTED BY UNIVERSITY HOSPITAL BASEL AND SCHOOL OF LIFE SCIENCES, FHNW A mysterious ailment with no known treatments may begin with a problem in your gut. Two new studies have found a lack of certain gut bacteria in people with chronic fatigue syndrome, suggesting the microbiome plays a major role. The work could lead to new ways to diagnose and treat the illness, which is common in people with long COVID. What's the next step? [Read the full story here](. Please consider getting our full digital report and magazine [by subscribing here](. Pictured at top: In this magnified image, a plant fiber has passed a human intestinal tract almost unharmed and spans across the frame (center). On the right hand side (half-cut) a large and spherical shaped structure turns out to be the cyste of a Giardia parasite (brown). [Read more](. STORIES WE’RE FOLLOWING [Snowfall rests on trees in Yosemite National Park]( PHOTOGRAPH BY MARIO TAMA, GETTY IMAGES [What is snowpack and why the West needs it (above, snowfall rests on trees in Yosemite after storms in January.)]( [Lower your risk of disease with these foods]( [Swearing is good for you—and chimps do it, too]( [The bold, loyal, and scandalous sister of Napoleon Bonaparte]( [Why Neanderthals went extinct]( [This psychoactive plant could save lives—and everyone wants it]( IN THE SPOTLIGHT [A photo of the first woman pilot in France]( PHOTOGRAPH BY CHRIS HELLIER/CORBIS VIA GETTY IMAGES Wheels up: In the early 1900s, planes were made from wires, bamboo, fabric, [Nat Geo reports]( — and they often went down. Still, the draw to flight broke gender and race stereotypes, and many women flew for the feeling of freedom. Like Raymonde de Laroche (pictured): the first woman to receive a pilot's license. [TAKE FLIGHT]( PHOTO OF THE DAY [A man plays a flute to his animals]( PHOTOGRAPH BY [@JASPERDOEST]( Music to furry ears: Where do foster farm animals find a place of solace just south of Istanbul? In Mert Akkök's home (pictured), where his flute playing mellows and comforts over 70 four-legged friends — including his blind horse, Reyhan. More than 110,000 people liked this image [on our Instagram](. Related: [Read about another sanctuary in Spain](. [WELCOME HOME]( LAST GLIMPSE [Camponotus fulvopilosus, a carpenter ant from southern Africa]( PHOTOGRAPH BY EDUARD FLORIN NIGA A big look at tiny insects: Photographer Eduard Florin Niga takes a close up look at over 30 species of the most numerous animals on Earth. Coming face-to-face with queens, soldiers, and workers, Niga uses the power of photography to reveal [the intricate lives of ants](. (Pictured above, Camponotus fulvopilosus, a carpenter ant from southern Africa.) [ZOOM IN]( Today’s soundtrack: [Empire Ants]( Gorillaz Today’s newsletter was curated and edited by David Beard, Hannah Farrow, and Jen Tse. Let us know what you think and send us story ideas [here](mailto:david.beard@natgeo.com). Have a friend who might want this newsletter? [Here’s the signup](. [SHOP]( [DONATE]( [SUBSCRIBE]( [TRAVEL]( [READ OUR LATEST STORIES]( [SHOP]( [DONATE]( [SUBSCRIBE]( [TRAVEL]( [FB]( [Twitter]( [IG]( 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. This email was sent to: {EMAIL}. Please do not reply to this email as this address is not monitored. This email contains an advertisement from: National Geographic | 1145 17th Street, N.W. | Washington, D.C. 20036 [Stop all types of future commercial email]( National Geographic regarding its products, services, or experiences. [Manage all email preferences]( with the Walt Disney Family of Companies. © 2023 National Geographic Partners, LLC, All rights reserved.