Clik here to view.
This Octopus Is Using a Beer Bottle as a Nursery
In the Florida Keys, a marine biologist discovered a bit of debris that had become a cephalopod dwelling. This piece was originally published in Vox and appears here as part of our Climate Desk...
View ArticleClik here to view.
The Lingering Mystery of the 'Lost Colony' of Roanoke
From historians to horror writers to white nationalists, attempts to explain the settlement's fate reveal a great deal about our own attitudes. In late summer of 1937, a man named Louis E. Hammond...
View ArticleClik here to view.
This Is the Most Detailed Map of Antarctica Ever Made
Scientists compiled decades of data to reveal the continent hiding beneath millions of miles of ice. If you had to, how would you remove 6.5 million cubic miles of ice from Antarctica? In truth, you...
View ArticleClik here to view.
What Secrets Are Behind the Magic of Miniatures? AO Wants to Know.
Artist Amanda Kelly crafts tiny worlds that tell intricate stories. AO Wants to Know is an ongoing interview series where we ask experts in extraordinary subjects to share their knowledge with us. The...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Say Hello to Nature’s Fire Brigade
When it comes to restoring land and preventing wildfires, animals like pangolins, beavers, and elephants have a lot to offer. Can helping them help us? This story was originally published in bioGraphic...
View ArticleClik here to view.
What Kinds of Pasta Are There in India?
It's not just fusion. This article is adapted from the April 5, 2025, edition of Gastro Obscura’s Favorite Things newsletter. You can sign up here. “It's a very interesting question to ask, right? How...
View ArticleDear Atlas: What’s the Best Way to Travel Solo at 60?
Adventure awaits at any age. Dear Atlas is Atlas Obscura’s travel advice column, answering the questions you won’t find in traditional guidebooks. Have a question for our experts? Submit it here. * * *...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Raising a Ghost Town From the Dead
Two investors bought most of the buildings in downtown Brownsville, then let them fall into ruin. Now, the Rust Belt town's residents are fighting to bring it back to life. Exploring the remnants of...
View ArticleClik here to view.
This Italian Town Really, Really Likes Ocarinas
Long before “The Legend of Zelda,” Budrio made ocarinas into a global phenomenon. For thousands of years, humans across the world have played music using some version of the ocarina, a rounded wind...
View ArticleClik here to view.
A Surprising New Tail From Jurassic China
The discovery of a fossil species suggests that the story of birds started about 20 million years earlier than we thought. One hundred and fifty million years ago, the swamps of Fujian province in...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Jump Shots at 6,000 Feet: Inside Oaxaca's Love of Hoops
Every year, thousands of Indigenous athletes flock to a small mountain town for "el honor del competir." “A-TE-PEC! A-TE-PEC! A-TE-PEC!” It was loud enough in the gymnasium to make one’s eardrums hurt....
View ArticleClik here to view.
Titanic's Legacy: Our Favorite Reads
The world's fastest glacier, Chartreuse jelly, and other stories connected to the doomed ocean liner. Just before midnight on April 14, 1912, the RMS Titanic struck an iceberg. What happened next...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Cracking Open Evolution’s Black Box on 'Lizard Island'
On an island in South Florida, scientists use trials to see how natural selection drives evolution in real time. This story was originally published on The Conversation. It appears here under a...
View ArticleClik here to view.
A Guide to the Gingers of the World
It's spicier than you might expect. This article is adapted from the April 16, 2025, edition of Gastro Obscura’s Favorite Things newsletter. You can sign up here. You might be surprised to learn that...
View ArticleDear Atlas: Can You Recommend Haunted Accommodations for Paranormal Enthusiasts?
Test your nerves at these purportedly paranormal-plagued hotels and homes. Dear Atlas is Atlas Obscura’s travel advice column, answering the questions you won’t find in traditional guidebooks. Have a...
View ArticleClik here to view.
In Norway, Easter Means Tucking Into Crime Stories
For a century, Norwegians have practiced the dark and cozy phenomenon of Påskekrim. “Bergen train robbed in the night!” The newspaper headline was dramatic, and the story equally so: As travelers in...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Are Some of Your Favorite Houseplants Poisonous? AO Wants to Know.
Toxicologist Liz Dauncey invites you to admire the marvels of plants (carefully). AO Wants to Know is an ongoing interview series where we ask experts in extraordinary subjects to share their knowledge...
View ArticleDear Atlas: What Are Some Non-Touristy Things to Do in Paris?
Go beyond the Eiffel Tower and the Louvre in the City of Lights. Dear Atlas is Atlas Obscura’s travel advice column, answering the questions you won’t find in traditional guidebooks. Have a question...
View Article