CircleCount helps you better understand Google+

2013-05-22 21:28:50 (8 comments, 15 reshares, 249 +1s)

Storm chaser Roger Hill has come face to face with 655 tornadoes. See how he finds—and photographs—storms. 

2013-05-22 16:37:11 (30 comments, 58 reshares, 478 +1s)

+NASA satellites captured the supercell thunderstorm that spawned the destructive tornado in Moore, Oklahoma.

See more of the twister from space: http://on.natgeo.com/12W6rUB

2013-05-22 13:27:03 (32 comments, 102 reshares, 543 +1s)

A deformed dolphin taken in by sperm whales, an orphaned squirrel nursed by a dog—learn why animals sometimes take care of others.

2013-05-22 00:45:36 (9 comments, 6 reshares, 263 +1s)

In case you missed it: Mountaineer +Conrad Anker recalls a memorable moment from his childhood—when he heard astronaut +Buzz Aldrin had reached the Moon.

Check out the entire Hangout with Risk Takers: http://bit.ly/18ZWsSU

2013-05-21 20:43:30 (38 comments, 36 reshares, 300 +1s)

Tornadoes like the one that devastated the Oklahoma City suburb of Moore on Monday are difficult to predict. "We still don't know why some thunderstorms create tornadoes while others don't," severe-storms researcher Tim Samaras said.

Find out how tornadoes work.

2013-05-21 16:03:29 (149 comments, 494 reshares, 2956 +1s)

The Milky Way glistens above the Joshua Tree in California in this stunning submission to the National Geographic Traveler Photo Contest. (Photo by Manish Mamtani)

See more of our editors' picks: http://on.natgeo.com/191urdF 

2013-05-20 13:31:42 (33 comments, 54 reshares, 431 +1s)

Don't miss our live Hangout with +Buzz Aldrin and  +Conrad Anker today at 2 p.m. ET ( 7 p.m. UTC). #LetsExplore

2013-05-17 21:45:40 (183 comments, 376 reshares, 2676 +1s)

Crew members aboard the International Space Station captured this photograph of the sun rising over the South Pacific Ocean. (Photo Courtesy NASA)

See more of the week's best space photos: http://on.natgeo.com/18QWooi #LetsExplore

2013-05-17 13:54:31 (16 comments, 51 reshares, 443 +1s)

Researchers are studying volcanoes covered with snow and ice to track how Earth's climate has changed. Take a look.

2013-05-16 21:41:57 (65 comments, 137 reshares, 1416 +1s)

What gives Everest climbers like world-renowned mountaineer +Conrad Anker their edge? 

Researchers are studying Everest climbers want to take what they learn from the elite athletes back to medical patients living at sea level: http://on.natgeo.com/12eCXAH

Don't miss our live Hangout with Conrad on Monday, May 20 at 2 p.m. ET (7 p.m. UTC). To ask questions use  #LetsExplore .

2013-05-16 13:53:49 (12 comments, 44 reshares, 392 +1s)

This week in the sky: Find out get a glimpse of the lunar wall.

2013-05-15 17:09:03 (100 comments, 206 reshares, 1839 +1s)

What's it like to ascend one of the world's highest mountains? (Photo by Conrad Anker, National Geographic)

Don't miss our live Hangout with +Conrad Anker and Buzz Aldrin on Monday, May 20 at 2 p.m. ET (7 p.m. UTC). Find out how you can tune in: http://bit.ly/11nXLuu 

Want to ask Conrad and Buzz about taking risks? Post your questions using #LetsExplore. 

2013-05-15 13:22:19 (30 comments, 117 reshares, 562 +1s)

A lost continent off the coast of Brazil may have been found. 

Described as a "Brazilian Atlantis," scientists speculated that the continent was submerged when Africa and South America drifted apart and formed the Atlantic Ocean about 100 million years ago. http://on.natgeo.com/YVHzPH

2013-05-14 23:05:37 (61 comments, 110 reshares, 403 +1s)

Last week, a law student used a 3-D printer to "print out" a handgun.

How does this technology work—and how will it change the future?

2013-05-14 17:40:23 (83 comments, 64 reshares, 829 +1s)

"Whenever I gaze up at the moon, I feel like I'm on a time machine. I am back to that precious pinpoint of time," says Apollo 11 astronaut Buzz Aldrin. (Photo courtesy NASA)

Find out why Buzz says Mars should be humankind's next destination—and don't forget to join our live Hangout with Buzz Aldrin and Conrad Anker. http://on.natgeo.com/YTBO52 

Post your questions for Buzz below using #LetsExplore. 

2013-05-14 13:47:24 (79 comments, 147 reshares, 480 +1s)

Bees are battling for their lives and their colonies are weaker than ever. The latest data, from the 2012-2013 winter, indicate an average loss of 45.1 percent of hives across all U.S. beekeepers.

Are we doing enough to protect our natural pollinators?

2013-05-13 21:18:59 (26 comments, 52 reshares, 416 +1s)

In this photograph, the early morning sun undergoes a partial eclipse off a beach in Bali, Indonesia.

Last week, sky-watchers in the Pacific were treated to a striking solar eclipse, the first one of 2013. Take a look.

2013-05-13 16:55:34 (50 comments, 82 reshares, 662 +1s)

Farmers use infrared images to target fertilizer application to avoid the runoff that pollutes waterways. (Photo by Peter Essick, NDVI processing by Bill Stocks)

Take a look at the issues cause by overuse of fertilizer—and methods to alleviate them: http://on.natgeo.com/1267L6w

2013-05-13 13:15:34 (17 comments, 25 reshares, 226 +1s)

How far would you go to push the boundaries of discovery?

Join us on Monday, May 20 at 2 p.m. ET (7 p.m. UTC) for a live Hangout with Buzz Aldrin and Conrad Anker.

Want to ask them questions? Use #LetsExplore—and you may be invited to join live.

2013-05-12 14:53:37 (24 comments, 108 reshares, 673 +1s)

Polar bears, kangaroos, and beetles: Take a look at animal mothers who excel at raising their young.

2013-05-10 18:33:38 (26 comments, 44 reshares, 411 +1s)

The Pallas's long-tongued bat is known for the lengthy tongue it uses to lap up nectar.

Now, a new study uses high-speed video shows that the tongue's mopping ability is powered by blood—a phenomenon unique in nature. Take a look.

2013-05-10 13:41:51 (28 comments, 66 reshares, 445 +1s)

A solar-powered aircraft began the first leg of its journey on a mission to become the first aircraft to fly coast-to-coast across the United States without using a drop of fuel.

2013-05-09 21:24:13 (115 comments, 210 reshares, 1754 +1s)

We're bringing together astronaut Buzz Aldrin, the second person to walk on the Moon, and Conrad Anker, a world renowned climber who has summited Mount Everest, for a live Hangout. (Photo by Cory Richards, National Geographic) 

Join us on Monday, May 20 at 2 p.m. ET (7 p.m. UTC) to find out what it's like to push boundaries and take the ultimate risks.  

Use #LetsExplore to ask Aldrin and Anker about their experiences. http://bit.ly/11nXLuu

2013-05-09 13:42:46 (29 comments, 120 reshares, 575 +1s)

A solar eclipse will darken skies today as the silhouette of the moon will appear to glide across the face of the sun until only a bit of sunlight is visible.
 
Though the phenomenon will be visible mostly in remote areas in the Pacific, you can catch a live feed of the eclipse.

2013-05-22 14:41:45 (177 comments, 119 reshares, 597 +1s)

Why travel to Mars or ascend Earth's highest mountains?

National Geographic is bringing together astronaut Buzz Aldrin and mountaineer Conrad Anker for a live Hangout on Monday, May 20 at 2 p.m. ET (7 p.m. UTC). 

Buzz Aldrin, the second person to walk on the Moon, believes the future of space exploration includes astronauts reaching Mars—by 2035.

Conrad Anker, a world renowned climber, has summited Mount Everest at 29,028 feet (8,848 meters) several times—and once without oxygen.  

Find out what it's like to push boundaries, take the ultimate risks and journey to never-before explored places—and planets. 

Want to ask Aldrin or Anker a question on air? Post your questions below or on Twitter or YouTube using #LetsExplore and you may be invited to join.

2013-05-08 17:44:53 (35 comments, 90 reshares, 527 +1s)

How do elephants "speak" to each other? 

According to researchers, elephants may use a variety of subtle movements and gestures to communicate, from a curl of the trunk to a low grumble. Take a look.

2013-05-08 13:09:19 (70 comments, 263 reshares, 747 +1s)

Keep your eyes on the sky: This week will bring shooting stars, the first solar eclipse of 2013, and the return of Venus.

2013-05-17 23:54:25 (312 comments, 433 reshares, 3272 +1s)

While in South Africa photographer Kathryn Sweeney crossed paths with this lion.  

"After about 20 minutes of watching him gaze into the distance, dozing off in the heat of the day, we started the truck to leave. As we drove away, he gave me this alert look," says Sweeney.

See more of the highest rated images this week from our Your Shot community: http://ngm.nationalgeographic.com/your-shot/weekly-wrapper

2013-05-07 17:34:23 (10 comments, 21 reshares, 233 +1s)

Our genes harbor many secrets to a long and healthy life. And now scientists are beginning to uncover them.

Get a glimpse at people who have mastered the secret of long life. 

2013-05-07 13:54:13 (19 comments, 27 reshares, 251 +1s)

High in the Andes, Bolivia holds the world's largest lithium reserves. Can this crucial battery ingredient provide an economic charge?

2013-05-06 23:29:36 (29 comments, 66 reshares, 380 +1s)

A Harvard team achieves controlled flight with a drone the size of a housefly.

The robo-insect is just half an inch long,with transparent wings that flap 120 times per second.

2013-05-06 16:53:18 (211 comments, 456 reshares, 2918 +1s)

"Years ago, fisherman would dump their scraps overboard at this location, as they came into harbor," says photographer Thomas Pepper. "The southern stingrays pictured soon learnt about this free meal."

See more stunning shots from the +National Geographic Traveler Photo Contest—and don't forget to submit your best shot: http://on.natgeo.com/11O9hu1

2013-05-06 13:41:12 (47 comments, 77 reshares, 273 +1s)

Tibetans continue to burn. Last week, two monks and a young mother set themselves on fire to protest Chinese rule. 

More than 100 Tibetans have self-immolated, sacrificing themselves to protest China's policies in their homeland. 

Why set themselves on fire? Read one man’s story.

2013-05-03 17:14:15 (16 comments, 48 reshares, 373 +1s)

The violent 33-year rule of Robert Mugabe has shattered Zimbabwe—but not the voices of the people. Get an inside look at the oppressed African nation.

2013-05-03 12:56:58 (39 comments, 86 reshares, 693 +1s)

A massive hurricane raging around Saturn's north pole has come into focus, thanks to +NASA's Cassini spacecraft.

Researchers hope it will help shape our understanding of similar storms on Earth.

2013-05-02 13:20:51 (26 comments, 63 reshares, 508 +1s)

The idea of a culture—behavior shared by an identifiable group and acquired through social learning—in whales and dolphins has been controversial.

But a new study finds evidence that a humpback whales in the Gulf of Maine  is sharing a newly observed feeding behavior, called lobtail feeding, with their social networks.

2013-05-01 22:00:42 (14 comments, 49 reshares, 338 +1s)

Each year the Jindo Sea parts to reveal a strip of land that connects South Korea's Jindo Island to the nearby island of Modo.

What causes this natural phenomenon?

2013-05-07 00:33:32 (500 comments, 1010 reshares, 4544 +1s)

"A raging sea dwarfs Seaham Lighthouse in County Durham in England," says photographer Owen Humphreys.

See more of our editors' picks from the +National Geographic Traveler Photo Contest—and don't forget to submit your best shot: http://on.natgeo.com/ZVM6Bd

2013-05-01 13:10:21 (20 comments, 53 reshares, 432 +1s)

Streams of meteors hitting Saturn's majestic rings may help scientists solve some of the planet's mysteries.

2013-04-30 16:52:02 (62 comments, 128 reshares, 1188 +1s)

With a surfboard, survival equipment, and several cameras, National Geographic Explorer Justin DeShields captured every step of his 1,000-mile (1,609-kilometer) trek across Baja California. (Photo by Justin DeShields)

Learn about his incredible journey: http://on.natgeo.com/11zH1v8 #LetsExplore  

2013-04-30 13:08:04 (33 comments, 146 reshares, 693 +1s)

Archaeologists have unearthed evidence that refutes current theories on the origins of the Maya.

2013-04-30 03:15:52 (388 comments, 668 reshares, 3737 +1s)

A female clownfish protects her eggs in one of our highest rated photographs this week. (Photo by Davide Lopresti, Your Shot)

See more of the week's top shots: http://ngm.nationalgeographic.com/your-shot/weekly-wrapper

2013-04-29 13:14:32 (53 comments, 31 reshares, 293 +1s)

A strong earthquake struck southwest China's Sichuan province last week, nearly five years after another powerful quake in the region killed 90,000 people.

2013-04-28 21:54:13 (7 comments, 29 reshares, 292 +1s)

Technology allows explorers to go to new extremes and discover more about our world. We brought together leaders from National Geographic, NASA, and Catlin Seaview Survey using the newest technology to explore and conserve our Earth.

What was your favorite moment from the #OurEarth Hangout?

2013-04-27 23:59:51 (105 comments, 159 reshares, 938 +1s)

Would you sail a raft for 4,300 nautical miles across the world’s biggest ocean for 101 days, using only the stars and ocean currents to navigate?

Discover Kon-Tiki, the story of anthropologist Thor Heyerdahl and his journey across the Pacific Ocean: http://on.natgeo.com/11t9Jhb 

2013-04-26 17:30:41 (5 comments, 11 reshares, 224 +1s)

Don't miss the last Hangout in the #OurEarth series where experts from The TerraMar Project will discuss ocean conservation today at 2 p.m. ET (7 p.m. UTC).

Find out how to join the Hangout: http://bit.ly/ZJApM5

2013-04-26 14:44:53 (45 comments, 37 reshares, 308 +1s)

A boy swims in algae-covered waters off the coast of Qingdao, China in 2011—just one of the places around the world where algae blooms are a growing problem.

Excess nutrients, warmer temperatures, and an increasing population are causing explosions of algae worldwide. Take a look.

2013-04-25 22:01:58 (12 comments, 22 reshares, 243 +1s)

How can you make a global difference by recycling?

Check out today's #OurEarth  Hangout where experts talked about sustainable actions everyone can take. http://bit.ly/ZLjKrA

2013-04-25 18:32:02 (16 comments, 46 reshares, 277 +1s)

DNA recovered from ancient skeletons reveals that the genetic makeup of modern Europe was established around 4,500 B.C.