We are not made for this new normal

In perilous times, our deepest human impulse is to draw close to each other—the very thing we’ve been told not to do.

This story appears in the July 2020 issue of National Geographic magazine. A version of this story published on March 26, 2020.
This content is Subscriber-Exclusive
You must have a National Geographic subscription to explore this article.

More from the magazine

In Nairobi, quarantine is a luxury few can afford
Why weren’t we ready for this virus?
How the world sees the COVID-19 pandemic

Go Further

Subscriber Exclusive Content

Why are people so dang obsessed with Mars?

How viruses shape our world

The era of greyhound racing in the U.S. is coming to an end

See how people have imagined life on Mars through history

See how NASA’s new Mars rover will explore the red planet

Why are people so dang obsessed with Mars?

How viruses shape our world

The era of greyhound racing in the U.S. is coming to an end

See how people have imagined life on Mars through history

See how NASA’s new Mars rover will explore the red planet

Why are people so dang obsessed with Mars?

How viruses shape our world

The era of greyhound racing in the U.S. is coming to an end

See how people have imagined life on Mars through history

See how NASA’s new Mars rover will explore the red planet