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extinction

Did the Dinosaurs Die on a Pleasant North Dakota Spring Day?

Fish fossils may put "the single worst day for multicellular life on Earth" on the calendar.
February 23, 2022
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climate change

Algeria’s Ancient Melting Pot Faces an Uncertain Future

For more than a millennium, Tipasa was a symbol of cross-cultural exchange. Now the sea is coming for it.
February 17, 2022
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abstract wonder

Why Is This Rippling Alaska Glacier a Research Hotbed?

Malaspina Glacier is the world's most accessible of its kind—but that's not the only reason scientists find it so cool.
February 8, 2022
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abstract wonder

Salt-Loving Microbes Make Vivid, Massive Abstract Art

For the latest addition to his stunning salt production series, photographer Tom Hegen ventured to Utah’s Great Salt Lake.
February 2, 2022
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arctic

What Energized This Arctic Hare to Keep Going and Going and Going?

The animal known as BBYY traveled hundreds of miles, breaking records and shattering expectations.
February 1, 2022
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secret lives of museums

How to Keep Europe’s Most Magnificent ‘Praying Room’ Looking Lovely

Every January, the doors close and the cleaning starts in Dresden’s iconic Stone Bell.
January 26, 2022
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sense of place

Discovering the Unexpected Wonder of Mumbai's Coastal Wildlife

Photographer Sarang Naik is reintroducing his hometown to its rich biodiversity, from glowing corals to dazzling sea slugs.
January 10, 2022
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empire

A View of the Space Age From the Classical World

This mesmerizing image brings the International Space Station and Rome's ancient Colosseum together.
January 4, 2022
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the year in wonder 2021

In 2021, Wonders Came in All Shapes and Sizes

From tiny castle towns to big, beefy koalas, we discovered some superlative delights around the globe.
December 29, 2021
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the year in wonder 2021

Flying Rhinos and Divine Tigers: Atlas Obscura’s Year of Awe-Inspiring Critters

Looking back on 2021's stories about amazing animals and the people helping to protect them.
December 23, 2021
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the year in wonder 2021

Our Favorite Science Projects of the Year, From Fake Leopards to a Torture Orchard

A look back at the ingenious ways scientists advanced our understanding of the world in 2021.
December 22, 2021
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twins

Are Twin Volcanoes Double the Trouble?

They come in pairs more often than you might think, but generally aren’t twice as dangerous as the solo acts.
December 8, 2021
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deep sea

A Deep Dive Into the Intersection of Art and Science With an Artist-at-Sea

Ale de la Puente collaborates with researchers to explore new ways of understanding our universe.
December 3, 2021
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abstract wonder

How to Find ‘Comets’ and Other Wonders Just Around the Corner

A nature photographer uses clever camera work to turn his own neighborhood into a visual wonderland.
November 19, 2021
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dust

Massive Dust Devils Leave Their Mark Across Eerie Dunes

Often associated with Earth’s hottest places, these whirling columns show up on all seven continents—and beyond.
November 5, 2021
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creepy from above

Is This a Scene From a Sci-Fi Horror Flick a Rare Atmospheric Phenomenon?

What looks like a ghostly blue hand creeping up on a spaceship is actually a special edition of one of nature’s greatest light shows.
October 26, 2021
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forgery

Was René Descartes a Victim of Skull Blasting?

Centuries after the philosopher’s death, lingering controversy over his remains highlights a macabre practice of profiting from the dead.
October 25, 2021
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dragons

The Historian of Hell and the Undead Takes on Dragons

Medieval expert Scott Bruce delves into the darker—and sometimes more hopeful—corners of human imagination.
October 20, 2021
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creepy from above

Is This a Forest or Ghostly Hands From the Great Beyond?

Bad weather and dazzling white poplars helped create this spooky shot.
October 19, 2021
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forgery

The Curious Case of Norway’s Disturbing Demon Wall

A respected conservator restoring a centuries-old church mural saw the devil in the details—and created a wholly imagined, diabolical scene.
October 13, 2021
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creepy from above

Is This an Australian Salt Lake or a 'Beating Heart Laid Bare'?

Iron-rich springs generate intense color in a stark landscape that, from above, might be mistaken for a crime scene.
October 12, 2021
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creepy from above

Is This an Erupting Volcano or the Eye of Sauron?

An award-winning image, taken via drone, captures the dreadful beauty of one of nature's violent shows of power.
October 4, 2021
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sense of place

Meet the Afghan Kurdish Poet Who Finds a Sense of Place in the ‘Silences’

Born in Pakistan and raised in Michigan, Hajjar Baban’s roots come through in her words—and the spaces between them.
September 23, 2021
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microscopes

To Imagine a 39-Million-Year-Old Forest, Start Small—Very Small

Decades of work has revealed a "megadiverse" ancient landscape in northern Peru that was destroyed in a volcanic eruption.
September 16, 2021