baking
A Visit to the World's Only Sourdough Library
Step inside Karl De Smedt's singular collection of starters.
All Stories
grapes
The ‘Wine Archive’ That Quietly Improves the World’s Wine
A collection of more than 7,000 grapevine varieties is a boon to vintners and scientists.
india
Temple Wall Recipes Reveal a Wealth of Unexplored Culinary History
Medieval epigraphs carved in stone offer a unique glance at South Indian cuisine.
collection
Unboxing the World's Largest Lizard
The Field Museum preserves its Komodo dragon specimens in Everclear, which they buy in 55 gallon drums.
memory
Medellín's Bright Future Is Tangled Up With Its Dark Past
Decades after the end of the narco era, a Colombian city wonders if it is better to forget.
recursive places
What Do You Call a Moon's Moon?
The inexplicable delight of moon-moons, sub-islands, and other recursive places.
arctic
Dead Whales Once Saved Polar Bears From Climate Change, But Not This Time
Less sea ice and fewer whales mean a grim outlook.
map monday
The Fantasy Maps That Put the World's Tallest Mountains Side by Side
In the 19th century, the romance of mountains met the desire to quantify the natural world.
almonds
California’s Almond Harvest Has Created a Golden Opportunity for Bee Thieves
Hives have never been more valuable.
map monday
In Spanish America, Cartographers Hand-Drew Maps Inspired by Printed Ones
These hybrid productions are unique in mapmaking.
show & tell
Help Us Reveal the World's Best Magic Shops
This is no trick, we're collecting recommendations and need your help!
puzzles
Help Atlas Obscura Solve a Curious 18th-Century Riddle Menu
No one was really eating "quintessence of Toes" back then.
endangered animals
Why North America’s Gangliest Bird Is Hitching a Ride With the Coast Guard
Whooping cranes are on the move, because of budget cuts.
physics
Watch Astronauts From the 1970s Geek Out With Gyroscopes
Why are these devices so important to spacecraft?
show & tell
The Most Memorable Strangers You’ve Met While Traveling
Atlas Obscura readers share their best tales of chance encounters.
memorials
In the Streets of Argentina Lie Hidden Memorials to Disappeared People
They pay tribute to those lost during a period of state terrorism.
story
On the Trail of Chicago's Famous Movie Locations
A scavenger hunt shined a spotlight on Chicago's role in film history.
flowers
In Washington State, Volunteer Scientists Study Flowers to Battle Climate Dread
The data they're collecting is helping researchers evaluate how ecosystems change.
