September 2026: Get the scoop on the stories in this issue!
GROWING UP LION
For the lion cubs in Kenya's Masai Mara National Reserve, playtime is serious business. Young cubs play hide-and-seek with Mom while they avoid predators roaming the savanna, before playing follow-the-leader as she guides them to a safer spot. In this issue, you'll discover more ways that fun and games can help cubs survive their early years on the Masai Mara.
FUN FACT! Lions are the only big cats that live in close-knit groups—called prides.
"How I Dig Up Dinos"
Next, join paleontologist and Nat Geo Explorer Paul Sereno on a journey to dig up dinosaurs as he spends three months working in fossil sites in the Sahara. Along the way, he gets stuck in sand, discovers five skeletons from an unnamed species, and uncovers some Spinosaurus jaws!
FUN FACT! Temperatures in the Sahara can top 125°F. It's one of the hottest places on the planet.
What Do Whale Sounds Mean?
Click ... click ... click-click-click! Sperm whales make noises with their snouts to communicate. But what do the sounds mean? Scientists working on Project CETI (aka the Cetacean Translation Initiative) are trying to crack the code. Discover the steps they're taking to solve this mystery.
FUN FACT: Sperm whale clicks are louder than an airplane engine at takeoff.
Explorer HQ: Upside Down
This month, discover all things upside down! Find out how to do a perfect cartwheel, see through a frog from below, write a topsy-turvy Funny Fill-In, and more.
Plus!
- Weird But True!: Check out fun facts you can share with your friends.
- You Wanna Be a What?!: Meet navigator and Nat Geo Explorer Lehua Kamalu, who crosses the sea in traditional Polynesian canoes without maps or modern instruments. Instead, she relies on the stars, currents, and wind to cross the open ocean.
- Hanging With Sloths: Discover how these creatures navigate life upside down.
- Which Upside-Down Critter Are You?: Answer wacky questions to discover which hangout style matches your own.