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vol. 219 • no. 2 February 2011 The Evolution of Feathers their origin may have had nothing to do with flight. InTERACTIvE gRAphIC & vIdEo official journal of the national geographic society ORE February 2011 | Features Under paris opium Wars you’ll find bones, stones, and fetes. a key step toward afghan peace is to wipe out poppies. InTERACTIvE gRAphICs & E-EXTRA TEXT MoRE Artificial Reefs snub-nosed Monkeys fish can’t resist a sunken ship. their odd face may help them weather china’s cold. vIdEo February 2011 | Departments Editor’s Note Nat Geo Channel Letters Your Shot slide show Visions of Earth geography What’s in a Surname? America is a nation of Smiths, Johnsons, and Sullivans—but also of Garcias and Nguyens. INTERACTIVE graphic conservation Inside Geographic Flashback Next Month Dinner Don’ts Africa’s ant-eating pangolin is one of many animals victimized by the poorly policed, illicit bush-meat trade. On the Cover A rainy sidewalk shows the Eiffel Tower going down as well as up. Impossible! But what does lie beneath Paris? Photo by Fernand Ivaldi, Getty Images science Bye-Bye, Helium The gas that pumps up party balloons and purges rocket engines is running out. ARChAEologY gold Rush Relics three boots, a bottle of vanilla, and a phonograph are among the artifacts discovered in a sunken steamboat. ThE BIg IdEA Your Brain on Football even small hits to the head can lead to brain deterioration. the nfl is seeking solutions. for suBscriptions and gift memBerships, contact customer service at nGmservIce.com, or call 1-800-ngs-line (647-5463). outside the u.s. and canada please call +1-813-979-6845. Inspiring people to care about the planet national geographic magazine editor in chief Chris Johns deputy editor Victoria Pope creative director Bill Marr executive editors Dennis R. Dimick (Environment), David Griffin (E-Publishing), Kurt Mutchler (Photography), Jamie Shreeve (Science) managing editor Lesley B. Rogers ngm.com Rob Covey text deputy director : Marc Silver. story development editor : Barbara Paulsen articles editor : Oliver Payne. senior editors : Lynn Addison (Features), Robert Kunzig (Environment), Peter Miller (Expeditions). editor at large: Cathy Newman. features editors: Glenn Oeland, Jane Vessels. editor, mission projects: Hannah Bloch. senior writers: Jennifer S. Holland, Tom O’Neill, A. R. Williams. writer: Peter Gwin. administration: Imad Aoun; Katia Andreassi, Nicholas Mott contributing writers: Caroline Alexander, Don Belt, Joel K. Bourne, Jr., Robert Draper, Cynthia Gorney, Peter Hessler, Mark Jenkins, David Quammen, Neil Shea departments director : Margaret G. Zackowitz deputy director: Luna Shyr. editor: Jeremy Berlin. administration: Catherine B. Zuckerman copydesk director : David Brindley. senior copy editor: Mary Beth Oelkers-Keegan copy editor: Kitry Krause. production: Sandra Dane. scheduling director: Carol L. Dumont photography deputy director : Ken Geiger. senior editors : Bill Douthitt (Special Editions), Kathy Moran (Natural History), Susan Welchman (Departments). editor at large: Michael Nichols senior photo editors: Todd James, Elizabeth Krist, Sarah Leen, Sadie Quarrier. photo editor specialist: Deirdre Read. research editor: Mary McPeak. staff photographer: Mark Thiessen. studio: Rebecca Hale. digital imaging: Edward Samuel, Evan Wilder. photo engineering: Walter Boggs, David Mathews, Kenji Yamaguchi. rights manager: Elizabeth Grady. administration: Whitney Hall; Sherry L. Brukbacher, Kate Napier, Elena Sheveiko, Cristen Wills design /art design director : David C. Whitmore. art director : Juan V