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September 2019

Features
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From the Tide Pool to the Stars
A legendary writer, a quirky biologist and their jolly adventure in the Sea of Cortez
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The Homecoming
At long last, the remains of Mungo Man are at rest after an agonizing clash between modern science and an ancient spirituality
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Saturn's Surprise
Recent discoveries suggest that the planet's distinctive feature may be gone in the cosmic blink of an eye
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The New Treasures of Pompeii
From gorgeous artworks to grimacing corpses, archaeologists are still uncovering the truth about life—and death—in the doomed city
Departments
Discussion
Your thoughts on tourism in the Holy Land, Herman Melville and invasive pythons
Breathing Rooms
Adrien Broom's series brings vitality to how we think about the likes of Jackson Pollock, Lee Krasner or Mark Twain
The Nation's Unsettled Account
The $2,500 verdict, the largest ever of its kind, offers evidence of the generational impact such awards can have
War and Piece
Within the Smithsonian's collections exists a telltale trace of the weapon that would change the world forever
Riches of the Spanish Main
A deep dive into the archives yields hundreds of long-forgotten journeys
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