National Geographic's best stories of 2018
From an epic and misguided attempt to summit K2 to a behind-the-scenes look at the man who literally unlocks the Vatican’s doors every morning, these are National Geographic editors’ favorite reads of the year.
Editors look back at the best National Geographic writing and storytelling of 2018. Here are some of their favorites.
Inside the murky world of butterfly catchers
"The idea of trading butterflies sounds quaint, almost Victorian. But in evocative language tailored to the delicate subject, Matthew Teague braids the perilous work of Indonesia’s butterfly hunters with reminders of his beloved wife, who died of cancer." -Peter Gwin, Senior Editor, Exploration and Adventure
Epic flood sends cavers scrambling for their lives
"From its gripping first sentence, this story grabs your attention and never lets go. It's a heart-pounding adventure whose main character—a rushing flood that threatens to kill a team of cavers in a remote region in the country of Georgia—is described in terrifying detail, but fortunately the team never meets it head-on." -David Brindley, Managing Editor
Dear Sputnik: How a simple sphere changed my life
"With lyrical prose and a dry wit, renowned Russian journalist Anatoly Zak shares his personal memories of growing up with Sputnik and how it shaped his life and career." -Victoria Jaggard, Senior Editor, Science and Innovation
Meet the man with keys to the Vatican
“Gulnaz Khan takes readers behind the scenes with Gianni Crea, head key keeper of the Vatican Museums. Crea begins each day in a bunker surrounded by thousands of keys that provide access to one of the world’s most visited and treasured collections. Khan’s narrative reminds us that art—in this case, Michelangelo's masterfully painted ceiling—has an enduring power to unite people regardless of faith.” -Christine Blau, Editorial Manager, Travel
The story of a face
"Writer Joanna Connors and photographers Maggie Steeber and Lynn Johnson take readers into uncharted territory. The story of Katie Stubblefield’s face transplant opens with an unforgettable scene—a face on a medical tray. Nearly 9,000 words later, we remain captivated by this tale of hardship, resilience, and inspiration." -Susan Goldberg, Editor in Chief
How 'ugly' toadfish compose their own strange love songs
"There are grunts, boops, and whistles. Jason Bittel writes with humor and scientific precision about a slimy, squishy fish’s attempts to woo a partner." -Rachael Bale, Senior Editor, Animals
They are watching you—and everything else on the planet
“Do you have any idea how closely you are being monitored? More times than you realize, someone is watching you. This story by Robert Draper looks at this intrusive world we live in and its impact on our privacy. More than a hundred million new surveillance cameras are sold every year. The heavens are laced with more than 1,700 satellites that photograph the entire world, the skies are filling with millions of picture-taking drones, and nearly six billion people are walking around with cell-phone cameras.” -John Hoeffel, Executive Editor, Science
The big meltdown
"Craig Welch did a great job pulling together a huge topic—rapid change at the bottom of the world from global warming—into a compelling narrative. The character of Dion Poncet, who was born and spent most of his life in the region, served as a wonderful, human way into the story. Dion has seen many changes over the years in Antarctica, and he helps the reader see them through his eyes. Craig's story puts together complex topics of melting ice, rising seas, shifting weather and currents, and changes in animal patterns, all with a sense of the big picture.” -Brian Clark Howard, Senior Editor, Environment
Riding the horse that ruled the world: A true Arabian tale
"Peter Gwin's tale of riding an Arabian horse in Oman has all the elements of an excellent adventure story come together: destination (a fascinating place and culture rendered vividly through the power of words); discovery (how these horses were perfected in Arabia, prized by Bedouins, and historically significant); diversion (are the author's storytelling strides side notes or central to the story?); and drama (will the author survive his wild ride?). Peter's story does what travel stories should: It makes you want to go there. And something more: It makes you want to go there with him." -George Stone, Editor in Chief, Travel
As America changes, some anxious whites feel left behind
“Writer Michele Norris captured the increasing anxiety among whites in the working-class community of Hazleton, Pennsylvania, where a booming number of Latino residents has led some whites to feel that their culture and their standing in society are under threat. It's a sentiment Michele also documents in places such as New Orleans, which has been tangled up in debates over the removals of Confederate monuments. Michele's story hits on a theme of ‘privilege lost’ that is at the forefront of today's discussions about race in America. -David Lindsey, Executive Editor, Text
Scenes from the new Cold War unfolding at the top of the world
"Neil Shea did a great job weaving a geopolitical and environmental thriller for the current age. With ice melting at the top of the world, nations are jockeying for position in strategic waters, with potentially dire consequences. Neil shines a light on this cold, remote part of the world with writing that is brisk and topical, while providing historical and geographical context to help readers understand how we got here." -Brian Clark Howard, Senior Editor, Environment
Why your mental map of the world is (probably) wrong
"If you think you have a good sense of world geography, this delightful read will likely surprise you. For instance, we all know South America is south of North America. Think again!" -David Brindley, Managing Editor
How South Asian Americans are building a new American Dream
“The immigrant experience is an old story, but Yudhijit Bhattacharjee tells a very new and very different version in this story about the stunningly quick rise of South Asian immigrants in America. Largely from India, well-educated, and fluent in English, this fast-growing group has become highly visible, notching significant success in fields like entertainment, science and medicine, high tech, business and now politics.” -John Hoeffel, Executive Editor, Science
Climber breaks from team, attempts and abandons solo ascent of 'savage mountain'
"Last December a team of nail-tough Poles set off to Pakistan. They were determined to claim the last remaining great mountaineering challenge: to finally summit K2 in winter. But then all hell broke loose." -Peter Gwin, Senior Editor, Exploration and Adventure
We made plastic. We depend on it. Now we’re drowning in it.
"Writer Laura Parker and photographer Randy Olson travel the world to tell the story of plastic, exploring how a lifesaving invention has become a problem of immense proportion in just over two generations. Unlike any single story I’ve read, this one piece, through words, photographs, graphics and maps, helped me understand the scope of the plastic apocalypse — and the complexity of solving it." -Susan Goldberg, Editor in Chief
