Was this the tomb of Jesus?

 

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HERE’S WHAT WE KNOW ABOUT JESUS’ TOMB Friday, April 7, 2023

In today’s newsletter, we discover where Jesus was buried, resurrect ‘ghost bears,’ create our travel bucket list ... and celebrate a major river restoration success. Plus, happy World Health Day.

PHOTOGRAPH BY ALESSIO ROMENZI On Good Friday some 2,000 years ago, the Bible tells us, Jesus was crucified on a Jerusalem hill called Golgatha and buried nearby. Three centuries later, the Church of the Holy Sepulchre was built over the likely burial spot—a Jewish cemetery dating to the time of Jesus. Only seven years ago, ground-penetrating radar revealed intact walls behind the shrine, including pieces of a tomb cut from the bedrock. Could it be? What have we learned? Read the full story here.  Please consider getting our digital report and magazine by subscribing here.

PHOTOGRAPH BY SIMON NORFOLK Light a candle: Worshippers worldwide visit the restored Edicule, the shrine at the heart of the church (above), where a flame is said to spontaneously emanate from the stone slab within. (Top, Ethiopian Orthodox pilgrims celebrate Easter atop the church.) Read more. Go deeper: How Jesus was portrayed over 1,800 years What archaeologists say about the real Jesus

STORIES WE’RE FOLLOWING

PHOTOGRAPH BY DOUG GIMESY

Have you met a more bizarre creature? Echidnas (above) have quill-like hairs, a toothless mouth—and multiheaded genitalia Eat these foods to keep your brain strong and healthy ​Your eyes may be a window into early Alzheimer’s detection. Here’s what we know.

​Why losing weight doesn’t always lead to better health This ship was supposed to usher in an age of nuclear-powered travel. It didn’t. England’s ‘lost king’ ended up beneath a parking lot. Here's how Can these ’ghost bears‘ be resurrected? They took psychedelic drugs—3,000 years ago  Why only cutting carbs and fat is not a guarantee for losing weight

PHOTO OF THE DAY

PHOTOGRAPH BY ANDY RICHTER Ohmmmm: Deep breath in, deep breath out. Let’s celebrate World Health Day with a minute to step back, center ourselves, and find a moment of inner peace. (Above, pup Zeus and Patrick Acuña rest in Savasana in a state prison. Acuña has practiced yoga behind bars for more than 20 years.) Our fast-paced society loves yoga—and science shows us why. SLOW DOWN

IN THE SPOTLIGHT

PHOTOGRAPH BY CARLTON WARD JR. A success story: Wildlife in and around Florida’s Kissimmee River was decimated in the 1960s—waterfowl and bald eagle populations plummeted, some fish, birds, and mammals vanished. But this sad story is now one of hope: After 20 years of planning, and a whopping $1 billion later, 40 square miles of the wetlands has been restored—and the birds are back. (Above, Fabiola Baeza-Tarin and Nicole Ritaplace bands on one of the most endangered bird species in North America, photographed by Nat Geo Explorer Carlton Ward Jr.) A RIVER OF HOPE

LAST GLIMPSE

PHOTOGRAPH BY AMOKLV, GETTY IMAGES April showers bring May travel: And we have a list of your worldwide must-sees. Museums in Paris, the streets of Memphis, the mountains of Portugal, the beaches of Ibiza (above)—scratch your travel itch with any one of these beautiful destinations. More to explore: Europe's best gourmet getaways How to explore Italy's Sella Ronda by e-bike Tour Northern Ireland—with a little help from the ‘Derry Girls’ Visit Montenegro‘s sacred spaces START PLANNING

Today’s soundtrack: Jerusalem, Matisyahu Happy Friday! This newsletter has been curated and edited by Jen Tse, Hannah Farrow, and David Beard. What's on your travel bucket list? Email hannah.farrow@natgeo.com to let us know. Thanks for reading!

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