Curious places in Papua New Guinea

One of the last undammed river systems, carrying enormous sediment loads that create ever-shifting mudflats. The dynamic habitat supports sawfish, crocodiles, and rare freshwater dolphins.

A giant marsupial browser from New Guinea's mountains—evidence that Australia's megafauna once spread across the entire region.

Research stations in Papua New Guinea where scientists discovered that kuru, a fatal brain disease, was caused by misfolded proteins called prions spread through ritual cannibalism. The discovery proved that infectious agents do not need DNA to replicate.

The only orchid known to open its flowers exclusively at night, closing by dawn. Discovered in 2011, its nocturnal habit kept it hidden from botanists for centuries. Night-shift orchids avoiding daytime pollinators.