National Geographic Magazine

The latest news in science, exploration, and culture will open your eyes to the world’s many wonders. Get a National Geographic digital magazine subscription today and experience the same high-quality articles and breathtaking photography contained in the print edit.

FROM the EDITOR

IN FOCUS • JUST IN FROM OUR PHOTOGRAPHERS

CONTRIBUTORS

INSIDE THE COLOSSAL QUEST FOR LIMITLESS ENERGY • Around the world, the race is on to harness the near-infinite power of nuclear fusion. In a small town in the south of France, a scientific megaproject of extraordinary dimension is inching closer to solving our global energy needs forever—by building a star on Earth.

HOW NUCLEAR FUSION WORKS • Nuclear fusion holds the promise of nearly limitless emission-free energy. The catch: figuring out how to create and then harness the power of a star here on Earth, which requires temperatures of at least 270 million degrees Fahrenheit. When fully operational, ITER could very well provide a template for producing the fuel of the future.

THE RACE FOR FUSION • ITER is by far the largest nuclear fusion endeavor, but it is by no means the only one. Government facilities like those at the Max Planck Institute and the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, as well as private companies like Zap Energy and TAE Technologies, are testing different methods to achieve fusion. Over the past four years, funding for the private industry has nearly quadrupled.

At Work in THE WORLD’S DEADLIEST GARDEN • Hemlock, hogweed, and hazmat suits. What it takes to tend to over a hundred plants that could kill you.

A SHERPA’S STEEPEST CLIMB • Last year, at age 18, Nima Rinji Sherpa became the youngest climber to summit the world’s 14 tallest peaks. His next challenge is even trickier: overcoming the conceptions of what roles Sherpas play within the industry—and how pro climbers are anointed.

WHAT IT TAKES TO BE A PRO MOUNTAINEER IN 2025 • Getting paid to climb isn’t as straightforward as it used to be. Today’s aspiring pros need to be as savvy at branding as they are on the mountain. From his catchy slogan of #sherpa-power to tactical collaborations with established names in the mountaineering and conservation world, Nima Rinji Sherpa is working to score the digital clout necessary for success.

A HISTORY OF HIGH-ALTITUDE GRIT • The Sherpa people are an ethnic group that have lived in the Himalaya for thousands of years. Historically, they’ve made a living as traders, herders, and farmers. In the early 1900s, when Westerners started coming to attempt the world’s highest peaks, many Sherpas found that they were well suited for the hard work of supporting the explorers on these expeditions, mostly via carrying loads of gear. Though dangerous, the job paid far more than they could earn doing almost anything else. Today Sherpas are the backbone of a multimillion-dollar industry centered on Mount Everest, which draws hundreds of international climbers every year. While foreign climbers garner most of the attention on the peak, Sherpas have long been the ones making history.

Seeing Life Through a BUG’S EYES • A Japanese photographer hacked his camera—and revealed a strange and curious scene right underfoot.

UNDERSTANDING THE RISE OF ADULT ADHD • Millions of grown-ups are now being diagnosed with what was once thought to be a childhood condition: attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. What did health-care providers miss? And how do you know if you’re affected?

What Makes Adult ADHD Different • Researchers are taking a fresh look at why symptoms of the disorder seem to shift as we get older—and what that means for people already coping with a world of distractions.

How to Determine if You’re at Risk • Scientists are mapping the characteristics that adults with ADHD share—and finding new coping...