If any NGC blog reader read one of my very first posts, you may know of my affinity for The Simpsons. And as I gear up for the live blogging event with NGC's Matt Zymet during the Phoenix Lander event on May 25, (which I hope you all join), I thought I would share one of my favorite clips that give a humorus side to NASA.

Enjoy!

	Greg Chapman
	Research

On May 25, 2008 NASA’s Phoenix Lander will enter the Martian atmosphere and land on its polar ice-cap into investigate Mars’s past and to help further determine whether life on Mars can or has ever existed.

NGC's Matt Zymet and I, along with scientific experts will be live-blogging that night with reaction and commentary about the lander. It should be one of the most unique perspectives of Mars that we have been able to see to date. So please join us the night of May 25th and submit your questions to us ahead of time for a better chance for them to be answered by our experts.

Also take our poll question as to whether you think that life exists on Mars.

	Greg Chapman
	Research

Viewers that caught the premiere of Inside a Cult on April 23 can testify to the stunning footage that was shown of the Strong City Cult and its leader Michael Travesser. Travesser and his followers are in the similar vein of other cults - the teaching of one leader about a judgement day soon approaching - but Travesser poses himself as not a follower of a God, but a God himself.

It has only been two weeks since the National Geographic Channel first aired this film and yet there has already been a need to update this saga. As you will see on Wednesday's encore airing of Inside a Cult, three children that were isolated in this compound have been removed and Michael Trevesser is now wanted for questioning related to some potential unlawful actions.

I don't have the complete details, but once the update is complete for Wednesday's airing, we'll all be able to find out what is going on.

Update: It's national news now.

Learn all you need to know about China's Geography, country facts, and a brief history overview

China is pushing architecture to its limits, while the world watches to see if they will finish everything on time.

If you are in the Washington D.C. area, the National Geographic Museum has the Visions of China photo exhibit until July 13. The exhibit profiles China's people, places, and booming infrastructure.

Videos: Polution problem in China?

More photos and wallpapers to click through

Its in the papers. Its on cable news. Its the topic of conversation. China. Over the last couple of years the world community has begun to see China as not only a growing financial powerhouse, but one that is beginning to have a growing influence around the globe.

We all want to learn more about this culture and where it is headed. Beginning on Sunday, the channel will begin its profile of China by airing a night's worth of programming related to the leader in the East. The night will also feature the premieres of The Great Wall at 9p and The First Emperor. Thats not all. Wednesday night we will focus on what we can expect from the Olympics this summer when we profile the Beijing Olympic Stadium at 9p and The World's Largest Casino at 10p.