The mystery of the Maya collapse. Plus an Irish odyssey, an undersea secret, and more.

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In this week’s issue we we uncover what happened to the Maya civilization, scuba alongside undersea volcanoes, explore our essential guide to visiting Ireland, and discover how nature mummified bodies before humans did.

Was it drought? Bloody power struggles? The wrath of the gods?

The swift fall of the sophisticated Maya civilization perplexes experts today even as evidence points to several factors.?

Instead of rising like the great pyramid of Calakmul (above), later fortifications and temples still stand unfinished, as if—all of a sudden—work just stopped.??

What did the Maya scribes say??They had fallen silent, too.

These violent undersea volcanoes harbor a secret: life

“The small glowing light on the distant horizon is ... fiery lava explosions,” writes Nat Geo Explorer?Laurent?Ballesta.“ Though this flickering glow is barely perceptible from afar, it has persisted for thousands of years—and we’re headed straight for it.” (Pictured above, the “Valley of 200 Volcanoes.”)

Ireland is as extraordinary as everyone says. Here is our guide to your perfect trip.?

Landscapes as green and lovely as everyone says. Literary giants in Dublin. Titanic history in Belfast. A pint and good?craic?in a traditional pub. The lure of Celtic legends.?Here is our essential guide to visiting the Emerald Isle—when to go, where to stay, what to do, and how to get around. ?

These mummies were made … by accident??

All on accident:?Before humans intentionally mummified their dead, nature did it for them (above,??tzi, a 5,000-year-old man).

Do you know how these early humans were mummified—or where??Click for the answer.?

A.?Ice

B.?Bogs

C.?Desert

D.?Salt

E.?All the above

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• The Mediterranean diet has stood the test of time for a reason: It works
• How magnesium affects your sleep and anxiety

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