Very few night skies seen from the south of France during the summer of 1889 would match the scene on van Gogh’s canvas. A new study argues that it could have been July 22. bit.ly/4zXZWFx

The first-ever global assessment of these vibrant underwater ecosystems paints a grim picture: Climate change projections put 96 percent of shallow-water reefs at the highest level of threat. bit.ly/4zXNbL6

The S.S. Joseph V. Connolly’s arrival in New York, 79 years ago, was more than a day of mourning. It manifested one of the most solemn and arduous tasks that the U.S. government had ever attempted: the repatriation of the remains of every deceased World War II service member whose next of kin requested it. bit.ly/4i5d7ON

A newly minted celebrity to the world, the future president used his position to procure his preferred beast of burden from the king of Spain. #NationalMuleDay bit.ly/3WFpZCI

These sleuths spent two years digging into archives and building 3D models of 19th-century Paris. The location is now immortalized by a bronze plaque celebrating the historic site and the “poetic” early photograph. bit.ly/47zI07S

Experts say that an oft-circulated anecdote about two royal astronomers drunkenly failing to foresee an eclipse thousands of years ago contains hints of truth. bit.ly/4iaVCvf

Why savanna elephants are considered ecosystem engineers. bit.ly/4z3IDCU

One year after the species was reclassified from “endangered” to “least concern,” green turtles in the western Indian Ocean exemplify that return—and the subtleties a global designation can miss. bit.ly/4zPRvfq

Coast redwoods, which grow only from central California to southern Oregon, slow photosynthesis when temperatures ramp up, according to a new study. Scientists worry about the towering plants’ future amid climate change. bit.ly/4z35mz1

Elizabeth Van Lew operated a network of spies in Richmond, Virginia, sending coded messages to General Ulysses S. Grant during the Civil War. bit.ly/47xsM3f

From the archive: Pablo Picasso is most famous for his role in the Cubist movement, but there's a lesser-known part of his career: his skill as a printmaker. bit.ly/4yDNCJw

This year’s winners of the Nikon Small World Photomicrography Competition include zoomed-in shots of slime mold spores, baby sea urchins bathed in fluorescence and everyday writing utensils transformed into enchanted objects. bit.ly/4BhbtRC

The world’s newest opera house officially opened its doors this week, featuring a bold architectural flair and a soaring spiral staircase that connects city streets to a rooftop stage and observation deck. bit.ly/47x0hTu

Eyes may be the window to the soul, but new archaeological research shows that teeth could hold the clues to understanding social status among medieval England’s lead mining communities. bit.ly/4BhyCDo

When it came to testing American aircraft, a super-sized wind tunnel fan demonstrated that bigger was oftentimes better. bit.ly/4idwhRo

White dwarf stars are too far from Earth to be observed directly. So, scientists reconstructed how they’d look to human eyes based on the wavelengths of light they emit and found a colorful array of objects that might appear yellow, purple or pink. bit.ly/47RAXI1

When humans need to feel rejuvenated, they touch grass. When corals need to recover from bleaching, they should touch a healthy clone, according to new research. bit.ly/3WlObKi

When Catharina van Hemessen was 20, she painted what is widely believed to be the earliest known self-portrait of an artist at work. bit.ly/4iyuCHl

Before you turn your nose up at the sweet and spicy combination, consider its roots in the country’s post-World War II food culture. #WorldPizzaMakersDay bit.ly/47zEBpC

Archaeologists have discovered the remains of a Norse church in southern Greenland, a find that could offer new insights into the lives of the Vikings who once called the island home. bit.ly/4zb6bpa