national geographic

For the past 125 years, the National Geographic Society has been a champion of scientific research and education. The nonprofit has amassed an incredible collection of photography in that time and, in honor of its milestone anniversary, it launched Found, a Tumblr dedicated to renewing (or publishing for the first time ever!) remarkable snaps from its expansive archives.

National Geographic's FOUND logo is as meaningful as it is beautiful. Charles E. Riddiford, a National Geographic cartographer in the '30s and '40s, designed the typeface of the logo, Ludwig Light.

FOUND's photos tell remarkable stories of a world before the Internet, smartphones, and 24/7 connectivity. In the image above from February 1955, children play in an oceanside pool (now, that sounds like a fine idea).

The unbelievable photo below from 1938 shows three irresistible kittens inspecting a grouper at Marineland.

William Bonner, also known as "Guardian of the Collection" among Nat Geo folk, curates the photography archive in Washington DC. William wants to continue unearthing stories from the basement of the National Geographic headquarters, and is accepting any insights about the images at natgeofound@gmail.com.

Tell us what you find, and discover more amazing photography, GIFs, and geekery at POPSUGAR Tech on Tumblr.

Staring at the pictures in National Geographic or watching the travels on its cable channel has a way of making us want to sell all of our possessions and catch the next plane to whatever far-flung locale they're profiling. A more practical and interactive option now is the iPad app National Geographic Adventure Presents The Greatest Stories Ever Told ($2). Featuring explorers in their journeys around the world, the app includes video and high definition photography, taking you right into the heart of the experience.

Armchair travelers, adrenaline junkies, and natural science enthusiasts can get their kicks watching in-app content, including the sunken Titanic remains and extreme mountain climbing. Cave diving in the far depths of the ocean without buying a plane ticket is definitely what the iPad was made for.

I'm amazed by how long I can watch animal shows before even realizing the minutes (or hours) that pass! Provided it's nothing too grisly, I love watching bears especially. Now you may remember that sneak peek of a grizzly's swim lesson posted last week — am I the only one eagerly waiting to see more of cute Brutus? (If not, check out his fishing lesson below.)

Today marks the official launch of National Geographic's new channel, Nat Geo Wild. Included in the lineup are several wild series from the self-explanatory Caught in the Act (premiere March 30, 9 p.m.) to Mystery Gorillas (premiere April 5, 10 p.m.), hosted by an NFL-cheerleader-turned-primatologist following apes in the Congo. Of the shows airing on the network's first evening, I'll tune in to Expedition Wild, airing Mondays at 9 p.m. including tonight!

If you want to learn more about the four-legged star and his human BFF, Casey, see the show's promo clip — with a huge feast for Brutus — when you read more

Do you remember learning to swim? While I don't remember my very first time in a pool, I remember being scared about not being able to touch bottom. And, bears, they're just like us! Catch this sneak peek from the premiere episode of Expedition Wild on the new Nat Geo Wild network — Brutus the grizzly gets his first swim lesson from BFF (and show host) Casey Anderson. Also cute is the snack that motivates it all inside the pool. Think it's something savory? Oh no, this is all sweet so take a peek.

Are you cursed and blessed with a good sense of smell? Cursed because you smell every ungodly stink no matter how far away, and blessed because lovely smells affect you deeply?

Psychology professor Denise Chen at Rice University thinks you may also be more empathetic than your olfaction-challenged neighbor.

Sense of smell and emotions come from the same area of the brain (the limbic system), and Chen set out to test their connection. In an experiment with 22 pairs of dorm-dwelling women, Chen asked them all to sleep in identical t-shirts. The next morning, she presented each person with three t-shirts: one worn by her roommate, and two others worn by other people in the dorm. The women who were able to identify their roommates' t-shirts by smell alone also scored high in emotional tests.

"The olfactory brain overlaps with the emotional brain," said Chen, "and is believed to have contributed to its evolution." Do you have a good sense of smell or wish you did?