NGM AUGUST 2024
THE WONDER OF BATS
Bats are evolutionary champions. They are the only flying mammals and the only mammals on land that use sophisticated echolocation. Unusual for small-bodied mammals, some bat species display astounding longevity: Only 19 mammal species live proportionately longer than humans and 18 are bats. Bats have unique immune systems that allow them to tolerate a variety of microbial invaders. Thanks to this suite of exceptional attributes, bats are found in ecosystems across the globe; the roughly 1,400 known species make up about 20 percent of all mammals. Other features in this issue include:
• Explore Anti-Inflammation to explore our body’s most basic immune response and the new ways scientists are learning to tackle and harness it.
• Examine the history, heritage, and environmental importance of the Seine with the spotlight on Paris for the 2024 Summer Olympic games.
• A look at how math and physics drive seashell formation.