funicular
Podcast: Monongahela Incline
Join us for a daily celebration of the world’s most wondrous, unexpected, even strange places.
All Stories
beer
Does This Fruit Really Taste Like Chocolate Pudding?
Plus the turducken of beers.
canals
Southern Spain's Ancient Water Network Sustains Life but Faces an Uncertain Future
"Sowing water" in this mountainous region has been crucial for people, crops, and biodiversity for more than a millennium.
dark skies
Podcast: Goblin Valley State Park
Join us for a daily celebration of the world’s most wondrous, unexpected, even strange places.
shells
Inside a Queen Conch Nursery in Puerto Rico That May Help Save the Iconic Species
The region's first and only locally-run hatchery provides a boost for both fishers and the imperiled royal sea snail.
hamburger
Podcast: The Last Big Mac in Iceland
Join us for a daily celebration of the world’s most wondrous, unexpected, even strange places.
crosswords
Puzzle Monday: Here's the Plan Crossword
Each Monday we’re going to tease that brain of yours.
oysters
Native Societies Harvested Billions of Oysters Sustainably
Conservationists should look to Indigenous history to fix the future.
cults
An Ancient Roman Cult's Rituals Included Feasting, Fire, and Floor Cleaning
To uncover new clues about the secretive world of Mithraism, scientists considered evidence right at their feet.
security
In Japan, School ‘Intruder’ Drills Are Full-Contact and Unpredictable
In response to safety concerns, teachers and staff are trained to subdue and disarm.
martial arts
Meet the Sword-Wielding Grandmother Bringing Women Back to Indian Martial Arts
Women who practiced kalaripayattu were a thing of the past—until Meenakshi Amma.
shipping
For Sustainable Coffee, These Ships Take to the High Seas
The old-fashioned way is also the carbon-neutral way.
vikings
Uncovering the Secrets of a Forgotten Viking Town
The remnants of Borgund were buried in the dirt for centuries and then sat in museum storage for decades.
livestock
This Island in the Amazon Is Producing Award-Winning Cheese
On Marajó, the buffaloes outnumber people.
urban parks
Podcast: Ruins of Le Jardin d'Agronomie Tropicale
Join us for a daily celebration of the world’s most wondrous, unexpected, even strange places.
carousels
The Carousel That Saved a Town
How building a children's attraction rebuilt the community of Albany, Oregon.
tradition
Podcast: The Maiden of Deception Pass
Join us for a daily celebration of the world’s most wondrous, unexpected, even strange places.
jello
How America Embraced Aspics With Threatening Auras
From futuristic test kitchens to Under-the-Sea Salad, midcentury Jell-O took a turn for the weird.
