Sunday Stills: Countdown to a new era in space

Plus: A forest full of fireflies, cave diving—and climbing—in Mallorca, and more [See the extreme photo of the week]( [VIEW ONLINE]( [See the extreme photo of the week]( [National Geographic]( Issue 156 [S U N D A Y S T I L L S]( June 23, 2019 . Photograph by Dan Winter [Magazine]( [Countdown to a new era in space]( It may seem as if we've been going nowhere for decades. But a new era in space travel is coming, mixing exploration with a race for profits. [See the pictures]( what we're looking at Eslah Attar, Photo editor [@newshatavakolian bridges fine art and documentary to tell stories from her native Iran]( ›› [@sashafoto's portraits draw emotions from quiet moments]( ›› . Photograph by Kirsten Luce [Magazine]( [Thousands of fireflies light up a Mexico forest]( A photographer shifts her gaze from the ongoing instability and violence in Mexico to the fleeting beauty of one of the country’s natural wonders. [Read the Story]( SHARE [F]( . [In case you missed it How fireflies are keeping a tiny town alive +]( . Photograph by Chris Burkard, Massif [Adventure]( [Extreme photo of the week]( "I was after a precise moment," says photographer Chris Burkard, who took this over-under water shot in Mallorca, Spain. "However, the little elements of Nathaniel [the swimmer] slowly drifting to the surface, with his face mirrored in the crystal smooth water, was something I knew was a unique moment when I witnessed it through the camera." [See more Adventures]( . . . [Selfies on Assignment]( "Here's a selfie of me with some classic Barbie dolls inside the Mattel Design Studio," writes Hannah Reyes Morales who is on assignment for an upcoming story about beauty. "I wish the little version of me could have tagged along to this assignment. Barbie was an aspirational figure of my childhood and informed my ideas about beauty. I think it would have meant a lot to the younger version of me to see beyond the blonde and blue-eyed dolls that I had access to growing up. I'm guessing she wouldn't have minded all the outfit options, either." [See more selfies]( [Follow Hannah Reyes Morales on Instagram +]( . . When you read, watch, shop or travel with us, you help further the work of our scientists, explorers, and educators around the world. To learn more, visit [natgeo.com/info]( [Shop]( [Donate]( [Subscribe]( [Travel]( [READ OUR LATEST STORIES]( [SHOP]( [DONATE]( [SUBSCRIBE]( [TRAVEL]( [FB]( [Twitter]( [IG]( You are receiving this email because you elected to receive marketing communications from National Geographic under the terms of our [Privacy Policy](. Click here to [unsubscribe](. If you reside in the EU/European Economic Area and wish to exercise all other data subject rights, [click here](. National Geographic | 1145 17th Street N.W. | Washington, D.C. 20036 Copyright © 2019 National Geographic Partners, LLC. All rights reserved. {LITMUS TRACKING PIXEL}