Stories - Atlas Obscura

Solved: The Mystery of an Ancient Maya Massacre

Clues about the victims’ diet cracked the case.

December 18, 2019

the soviet imprint

This Siberian Subway System Has Just One, Non-Functional Station

Omsk was promised a Metro system in 1979. Forty years later, locals salute a subway that never saw the light of day.

December 18, 2019

Excavating a Queer History of Colonial Williamsburg

Historians are digging into the lives of 18th-century colonists who may have lived outside the norm.

December 18, 2019

Don't Blame Cities' Giant Christmas Trees for Being Droopy and Bald

If they're Norway spruce, that's just their nature.

December 17, 2019

Every Year, Dresden Kickstarts the Christmas Season With a Four-Ton Cake

Sixty-three bakeries pitched in to build a mega-stollen.

December 17, 2019

In Laos, Former Monks Return to Buddhist Temples as Tour Guides

Tourism can be a support system for young men who spent years studying, collecting alms, and meditating.

December 17, 2019

Modern Tech Is Revealing Ancient Egyptian Tattooing

One woman had 30 images or symbols adorning her body.

December 17, 2019

A Sea Lily Fossil in Utah Just Solved an Evolutionary Mystery

“This tears off one branch in the tree of life and rearranges it another way.”

December 16, 2019

Toward a Better Understanding of South Asia's 'Living Bridges'

Human and plant, working together.

December 16, 2019

How Brazilian Chefs Are Using the Fruit That Can Turn Anything Blue

From skin to sourdough, jenipapo blue has become a culinary craze.

December 16, 2019

Capturing the Sculptural Landscapes of California Skateparks

The photographer is a skateboarder, but there's not a board in sight.

December 16, 2019

destination southern africa

World-Famous Waterfalls May Slow to a Trickle, But Tourism Doesn't Have To

When climate change comes for attractions like Victoria Falls, visitors can find new ways to appreciate them.

December 13, 2019

Antarctica Is Stark, Beautiful, and Will Shrink Your Brain

The impact of 14 months at the edge of the world.

December 13, 2019

Inside Portland's Food Cart Culture

The city's iconic pods are famous for innovative–and often outlandish—culinary creations.

How a White Lie Gave Japan KFC for Christmas

One cunning business maneuver created a tradition and saved a franchise.

December 13, 2019

A Chain of Seahorse Hotels Is Coming Soon to Sydney Harbour

"If you build it, they will come."

December 13, 2019

In England, Coroners Decide What Is Treasure and What Is Not

“It’s a bizarre holdover from a previous age.”

December 12, 2019

The Surprising Complexity of an Unfinished American Quilt

A community of feminist crafters grapples with a patriotic quilt that a 99-year-old nurse left behind.

December 12, 2019