All Stories

There's still much scholars don't know about Villa. Even the exact year of her death remains a mystery.

theater

The Female Architect Behind Buenos Aires's Underground Necropolis

Ítala Fulvia Villa oversaw the building of the colossal Sixth Pantheon—but history nearly erased her contributions.

An unused platform at the Porte des Lilas Metro station in Paris stars in countless films.

silent film

8 Unexpected Stories That Go Behind the Scenes in Hollywood

Frozen lettuce, a ghost subway station, and an unplaceable accent all have starring roles.

letters

Podcast: The Dedan Kimathi Post Office Tree

A strangler fig played a pivotal communication role for Kenya's freedom fighters.

Made by fermenting tiny seabirds inside a seal carcass, kiviaq is a special dish among the Inughuit.

fermentation

Inside Greenland's Misunderstood Winter Delicacy

Kiviaq, a mainstay on many "weird foods" lists, is an incredible feat of fermentation and cultural touchstone.

dust

By Air, Land, or Sea, Tiny Microbes Transform Our World

They often get a bad rap, but bacteria prevent erosion, undergird ecosystems, and make artificial snow.

Scientists have long known that cougars, like this animal spotted in British Columbia, will swim short distances to find food or mates—but no one expected the cats to brave more than a kilometer of chilly Puget Sound.

biology

A Cougar Swam Puget Sound, Making a Splash Among Scientists

The young male known as M161 kitty-paddled his way through chilly waters full of orcas, raising questions about the animals' potential range.

occult

Podcast: Ouija Board 7-Eleven

A visit to the site where the famed party game and occult tool got its name.

To try a Crane melon, either travel to Santa Rosa, or grow your own.

seeds

The Stories and Saviors Behind Heirloom Seeds

Plant a Gastro Obscura garden this spring.

A 171-foot-tall white stain, left by the retreating waters of Lake Powell, looms over a lone human as he strides across a sandstone fin in the heart of Glen Canyon.

reservoir

The Return of Glen Canyon

As Lake Powell's water levels continue to drop, a stunning landscape resurfaces—along with questions about the future of the Colorado River and those who depend on it.

pigs

Podcast: Big Apple Inn

A humble hole-in-the-wall with a serious civil rights history.

All illustrations: John Mata for Atlas Obscura

crosswords

Puzzle Monday: Something Smells! Crossword

The church-owned restaurant has both courtyard seating and indoor dining area.

delicious diaspora

Inside the 'Pizza Church' of Amman

A restaurant tucked inside a house of worship trains Iraqi Christian refugees for jobs abroad.

The Black Sea at Cape Kaliakra, Bulgaria.

cartography

The Paratethys Sea Was the Largest Lake in Earth’s History

The Black, Caspian, and Aral Seas are the last surviving fragments of a body of water that stretched from Austria to Turkmenistan.

A studio portrait of Dan R. Thomas, who lived in Peterborough, New Hampshire, in the 1880s. He would have been 31 years old when this was taken.

How Communities Are Uncovering Untold Black Histories

Historians and citizen archivists in New Hampshire are using old records to tell long-overlooked stories.

For the Banū Sāsān, a famed group of 12th-century thieves, turtles were useful accomplices.

crime

The Medieval Thieves Who Used Cats, Apes, and Tortoises as Accomplices

The Banū Sāsān were known for turning animals to lives of crime.

polar bears

Inside Canada's Polar Bear Jail

The holding facility helps bears and people safely coexist in the remote northern town.

sheep

The Stark Beauty of Tushetian Shepherds’ Journey Across Georgia’s Caucasus Mountains

These stunning photographs reveal the determination and resilience of a centuries-old way of life.

eccentric homes

Podcast: The A. Everett Austin Facade House

How does such a grand mansion only have one room?

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