Stories - Atlas Obscura

The Rare Stone Whose Markings Resemble City Skylines

"Ruin marble" contains tiny worlds.

August 25, 2016

A Legendary 650-Pound Fish Named 'Pig Nose' Was Finally Caught (And Released) In Canada

The sturgeon has haunted British Columbia's waterways for nearly a century.

August 25, 2016

Found: A Century-Old Train At The Bottom of Lake Superior

Not every wreck in the water is a ship.

August 25, 2016

Temples Inside Caves Are What Remains of an Ancient Buddhist Society

Western India is home to the last relics of a 2,000-year-old culture.

August 25, 2016

Found: A Nearby Exoplanet That Could be Habitable

A planet orbiting the closest star to the Sun may have the conditions to support life.

August 24, 2016

Meet One of the World's Few Female Clock Whisperers

Lili von Baeyer keeps historic timepieces ticking.

August 24, 2016

Watch the Great British Sport of Wellie Wanging

In summer, rain boots are thrown for sport.

August 24, 2016

The Macaroni in 'Yankee Doodle' Is Not What You Think

Meet the stylish gender-role rebels of 1770s England.

August 24, 2016

Why Doctors Once Treated Fevers and Hysteria With Mashed-Up Bedbugs

From Ancient Greece through the 18th century, bedbugs were used as medicine.

August 24, 2016

Found: The World's Oldest Sewing Needle

And it wasn't made by Homo sapiens.

August 24, 2016

San Francisco BART Tackles Urine Problem With Bacteria-Eating Mist

They're spraying it in elevator shafts once per hour.

August 24, 2016

Smokey the Bear Has Nothing on These Forgotten Forest Mascots

Meet The Guberif, Johnny Horizon, Howdy The Good Outdoor Manners Raccoon, and more!

August 24, 2016

hillary clinton

Did You Catch Bill Clinton in a Hot Tub in This '90s Arcade Game?

Cruis'n USA had scenes too steamy for the home version.

August 24, 2016

A Striking Visual Compendium of All of Berlin’s Subway Stations

This photographer took on Berlin's entire U-Bahn network, one station at a time.

August 24, 2016

Plot a Pinball-Themed Roadtrip With This Handy Map of America's Best Parlors

This cross-country route takes in the 37 greatest pinball arcades in the U.S.

August 23, 2016

Watch These Sprightly Frogs Compete in a 1965 Jumping Jubilee

The contest takes place every year at the Calaveras County Fair in California.

August 23, 2016

Why Do Hackers Love Beards So Much?

Decoding the "Unix beard" at this year's DefCon.

gems and jewels

Found: The World's Largest Pearl

It was hidden under a fisherman's bed for a decade.

August 23, 2016