Stories - Atlas Obscura

Escape Plan NYC: The Inventor's New York

This day trip is a celebration of American ingenuity.

According to Russia, Video Games are Definitely a Sport

The next time your mom tells you to go outside, refer her to the Kremlin.

The Mystery Behind the Ozark Spooklight

Even an Army Corps study couldn't determine its source.

crime and punishment

The Farmer Who Sold Millions in Fake Organic Seeds Is Now Headed to Prison

Organic seeds are lucrative.

Australia's Famous Waverly Cemetery Could Fall Into The Sea

Its situation is a bit precarious.

Watch Humans Work Together to Rescue a Canine Friend

A spark of human kindness to brighten your Friday.

Vandals Destroy 8,000-Year-Old Aboriginal Art in Australia

Stop doing this.

Meet the Hallucinogenic Fish That Can Give You LSD-Esque Nightmares

It gives new meaning to a "fishing trip."

fleeting wonders

Kim Jong-Un Wants Kimchi Factories In Every North Korean Region

Kimchi for all.

How a 1918 Author Introduced the World to the Concept of Female Pleasure

Married Love by Marie Stopes was revolutionary in its frank depiction of sexuality.

How Glitch Fare Hunters Turn Airlines' Tricks Against Them

Though still not for the faint of heart, ultra-cheap error fares are no longer just a niche obsession.

How Chewing Gave Humans Flat Faces, Little Teeth and Wimpy Jaws

It doesn't seem like juice diets and Soylent are going to improve matters.

Found: The Last, Lost Olympic Gold Medals Given for Golf

The last time golf was an Olympic sport was 1904.

How a Hotel in Chicago Convinced Drivers They Needed Parking Garages

In the 1910s, city stables were replaced by a hot new amenity.

Photographing the World's Secret Subterranean Spaces

What exactly lies beneath us?

Read the Public Testimony to Make the Stonewall Inn a New York Landmark

From officials to writers.

They've Finally Named 4 New Elements

One for a city, another for a state, a third for a country, and a fourth for a living scientist.

Meat Raffles are the Juiciest Bar Trend

Meet the meat raffle, a British bar tradition transported to the U.S.