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December 2019
Features
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The Lost City of Myanmar
The ancient kingdom of Mrauk U welcomed Buddhists and Muslims. Now efforts to uncover its mysteries are threatened by ethnic hostilities
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The Funny Thing About the Law
Her surprising drama about the Constitution encourages a wider view of American justice
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Reality Gets an Upgrade
An ace inventor aims to weave holograms into the fabric of our everyday lives
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The Buckaroo's New Beat
A self-taught 20-year-old musician gallops to global fame with a song that defies categories
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A Glimpse of Impossible
Never before had scientists seen the phenomenon until they rallied colleagues around the world to view a galaxy far, far away
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The Luminous Truth
The artist who famously painted a first lady creates revelatory portraits of ordinary people
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Finding a Way With DNA
Medical researchers develop a gene therapy that is saving young people afflicted by a rare but deadly disease
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A Generous Helping of Humanity
Braving storms, floods and earthquakes, the renowned chef is forging a new way to feed the needy
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Blessed is the Hermit
An Italian monk who lived in a New Mexico cave inspires a singular act of faith
Departments
Before Audubon
An 18th-century album of India's flora and fauna showcases the startling work of an overlooked master
When Two Wheels Are the Rage
Bicycles revolutionized personal transport—and led to surprising societal change. Will the electric scooter invasion do the same?
In the American Grain
Searching for the essence of the prickly, brilliant, deeply influential Frank Lloyd Wright
Royal Family Feud
A feathered cape worn by a Hawaiian chief two centuries ago tells a story of human conflict and ecological tragedy
On Hold
How a telephone monopoly and a fear of wiretapping hung up the answering machine for decades
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