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Dominican Republic: Beyond the Beach

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The Extremely Enchanting, Totally Perplexing, Possibly Never-Ending Quest for the Golden Owl

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For 30 years, this labyrinthine treasure hunt has had thousands of players cracking codes and digging up the French countryside. After a sudden death and bitter disputes, will the prize ever be found?

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A sweet archive of almost biblical proportions can be found at the University of California, Riverside.

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Urania Observatory

Zurich, Switzerland

Switzerland's oldest public observatory is an important part of the Zurich cityscape.

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    Wilmington, Delaware

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    Malacca, Malaysia

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    This gorgeous Peranakan mansion’s family heritage includes a century-old baby gate, which was also used to keep out irresponsible husbands.

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    Itakura, Japan

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    Shoshone, California

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    Rosehearty, Scotland

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    Two whaling vessels that were sunk by an anti-whaling organization in 1986 now sit on the shore of this beautiful fjord.

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The Ga Hiti in the Thamel neighborhood is one of many spouts that provide life-giving water to the people of Kathmandu.

fountains

The Lost Waters of Kathmandu Are Needed Now More Than Ever

To prevent drought and save water, Nepal is turning back to 1,500-year-old fountains—with the help of a few snakes.

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September 14, 2023
  • Mercury, an "empty little rock," appears as a small black dot as it crosses in front of the Sun.

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    Mercury Retrograde Is Ending, and It’s Up to You How to Feel About It

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  • Fifty years ago, only four Mauritius kestrels remained alive, making the bird the world’s rarest raptor. After a labor-intensive recovery, the species’ numbers are falling again.

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    The Living, Breathing Brooches of the Yucatán

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  • Brigadier General Benedict Arnold lost the Battle of Valcour Island on Lake Champlain in 1776—as well as several of the young navy's ships, including the gunboat Spitfire—but the skirmish bought the Continental Army much-needed time in the war.

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    Benedict Arnold's Lake Champlain Gunboat Is the Last Shipwreck of Its Kind

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  • This vintage map, published in 1864 by H.H. Lloyd of New York, reflects anti-secession sentiment by taking secession to an extreme conclusion.

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    A Map of the 'Disunited States' Shows the Fears of Civil War–Era America

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  • A group of men pose at Russell Camp, another camp for loggers in Maine, circa 1900.

    summer of wonder 2023

    Eat Like a 19th-Century Lumberjack With This Recipe

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Researchers in an inflatable boat prepare to tag a bull shark they have flipped on its back, inducing tonic immobility. Science cannot yet explain why many species seem to go into a trance in this position.

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To Track Bull Sharks, First Hit Their Snooze Button

For these researchers in Southern Africa, tagging the apex predators starts with putting them in trancelike tonic immobility.

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    A Secretive Food Culture Enters the Spotlight

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  • Sisters Aly and AJ Michalka didn't have many family heirlooms—so they started collecting vintage watches they could pass down.

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    For Pop Duo Aly & AJ, Vintage Watches Tell Stories and Keep the Past Alive

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  • Tags of Ernesto “Che” Guevara can be found all over the Smara refugee camp.

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    Welcome to the Little Cuba of the Sahara Desert

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  • Brigadier General Benedict Arnold lost the Battle of Valcour Island on Lake Champlain in 1776—as well as several of the young navy's ships, including the gunboat Spitfire—but the skirmish bought the Continental Army much-needed time in the war.

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