Earlier this week National Geographic released never-before-seen photos from Area 51, a place that has long been a magnet for nut-jobs, conspiracy theorists, and the overly curious. The recently declassified photos consisted of shots from a 1963 military plane crash and its coverup by the government, according to the website.

“Area 51 was created so that U.S. Cold Warriors with the highest security clearances could pursue cutting-edge aeronautical projects away from prying eyes,” National Geographic said. “During the 1950s and ’60s Area 51′s top-secret OXCART program developed the A-12.”

Developed as a successor to the early U-2 spy plane, the A-12 had the ability to fly at speeds up to 2,200 mph, making it virtually undetectable by radar.  Unfortunately such advanced technology didn’t come without risks, and in 1963 one A-12 was involved in a catastrophic crash which the government quickly covered up by removing all public traces of wreckage.

Thanks to the CIA’s recent declassification of the files and the National Geographic’s graciousness in publishing them, we now have the opportunity to see the photos for the first time ever.

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Area 51 Photos of Never Seen Before Plane Crash Surface is a post from: The Inquisitr

What is happening in the Gulf of Mexico and BP’s ongoing comedy of errors is nothing short of an unmitigated disaster. A disaster that we can’t even begin to fathom the effects of as the oil continues to spew from a pipeline a mile deep in the waters of the Gulf.

National Geographic will be airing a show about the disaster on Thursday May 27 but for now they have a whole bunch of exclusive photographs and video up on their site. Here is some of those photos and one of the videos.

National Geographic’s exclusive images and video of the Gulf oil disaster is a post from: The Inquisitr

When it comes to our world being caught on film there is no denying that some of the best of these photographs are caught by National Geographic photographers. Here are some of my favorites that I found after spending a little time on their site.

6 Moments in time caught by National Geographic is a post from: The Inquisitr

When it comes to the outside of our laptops we see quite a variety of stickers. Everything from Sleeping Beauty to start-up stickers galore. As nice as some of those might be I don’t think they come close to the gorgeous skins by Gelaskins of National Geographic photographs.

These are just a sample of what is available via the Gelaskins site but they give you an idea of how good they all would look.

hat tip to My Modern Metropolis

Show your laptop some gorgeous National Geographic love is a post from: The Inquisitr

A Magnapinna squid has been captured on video by Shell, the oil company some mile and a half (two and a half kilometers) underwater. This incredibly ugly, alien looking squid appears to have squid elbows.

The Magnapinna squids are rarely seen and this one was captured on film in an exciting find by a Shell oil company remotely operated vehicle. The squid was filmed just hanging around at the Perdido oil and gas site in the Gulf of Mexico. Shell has only recently revealed the footage despite the fact that it is 12 months old.

Imagine how many squid rings you would get out of one of those arms. I’ll have a side of chips as well.

Check out the creepy video courtesy of Shell Just when you thought it was safe to get back in the water.

Magnapinna – hideously ugly alien squid video is a post from: The Inquisitr