Tonga blast now called most powerful; plus, an ancient monkey sacrifice
|  | Monday, November 21, 2022 | | | | |
 | NOAA
| | The more scientists study January’s astounding underwater volcano blast in Tonga, the bigger they discover it was.
It spewed out the highest plume ever recorded—more than 35 miles into the atmosphere. Unleashed a blast heard 10,000 miles away—and a tsunami that went around the world.
And now, based on new seafloor surveys, scientists are calling the volcanic blast the most powerful in the past century—an explosion that excavated about 2.3 cubic miles of rock. Furthermore, one marine geologist tells us, “It’s not completely dead.”
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 | | PHOTOGRAPH BY N. SUGIYAMA, COURTESY PROJECT PLAZA OF THE COLUMNS COMPLEX | | | Ancient monkey discovery: The life and death of a female monkey held captive and sacrificed some 1,700 years ago in what is now Mexico may provide important clues on how diplomacy worked during the rise of one of the world’s most powerful ancient cities. Researchers have unraveled the remarkable tale of the first primate ”gift” between Teotihuacan and the Maya, Nat Geo reports today. | | | |
 | | PHOTOGRAPH BY LAURA PARTAIN, THE NEW YORK TIMES/REDUX | | | |
| | Depending on alpaca: For artisan Francisca Huamani, 72, alpacas are critical to her livelihood. She makes alpaca fiber handicrafts in the Peruvian Andes. However, alpaca breeding has declined significantly as climate change alters weather patterns, with abrupt shifts in precipitation and ice melting as glaciers retreat. The effects include an increased mortality in newborn alpaca and shrinking grasslands where herds feed. The consequences are devastating the already marginalized and impoverished Andean communities, says photographer and Nat Geo Explorer Alessandro Cinque. | | | |
 | | FINE ART IMAGES/AGE FOTOSTOCK | | | She challenged Rome: First, Zenobia ruled Palmyra, the prosperous province that connected ancient Rome to empires throughout Asia. Then, the warrior queen wanted more. She beat back the Persians and conquered nearly all of modern-day Syria, Turkey, and Egypt. Her growing empire seemed unstoppable—until a ferocious new emperor rose in Rome. (This 1888 painting portrays her surrender.) | | | |
| Today's newsletter was curated and edited by Sydney Combs, Jen Tse, David Beard, and Heather Kim. Have an idea or link to a story you think is right down our alley? Let us know at david.beard@natgeo.com. Happy trails! | | | |
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