birds
Ducks Seen Murdering, Snacking on Fledglings
It's the first time mallards have been documented as killers.
All Stories
animation
Fall in Love With the World’s First Animated Dinosaur
Gertie the Dino could hurl a mammoth into the air.
dogs
How an Organic Chemist Invented the Bone-Shaped Dog Treat
The birth of the Milk-Bone happened pretty much on a whim.
graffiti
St. Petersburg Is Covered in Mysterious Butt Graffiti
Sun's out, buns out.
nuclear
The Long, Weird Half-Life of Trinitite
The synthetic material—forged in the blast of the first nuclear bomb test—has been buried, sold, collected, displayed, and even made into jewelry.
radio
Leave Atlas Obscura a Voicemail
For an upcoming audio project, we literally want to hear from you.
time capsule
Found: Surprise Time Capsule Hiding in the Walls of a High School Gym
It was almost destroyed along with the building.
ice
What Happens When the Growing Rift in an Antarctic Ice Shelf Finally Breaks?
A new, giant iceberg could be born any day now.
skulls
The Remains of an Ancient 'Skull Cult' Have Been Found
A new discovery at Göbekli Tepe in Turkey sheds some light on what the structure's purpose might have been.
disease
The Early 1900s Movement to Build Schools Without Walls
Take that, tuberculosis!
real estate
California's Flintstones House Sold for $2.8 Million
Yabba-dabba-DOUGH!
gambling
How Competitive Walking Captivated Georgian Britain
In 1815, thousands of people came to watch George Wilson, the "Blackheath Pedestrian," walk 1,000 miles.
magic
Want to Transcribe Rare Magical Manuscripts on Your Lunch Break?
Chicago's Newberry Library would love your help.
hair
The Legend of WWII's Bombsight Rapunzel
Mary Babnik Brown gave up her hair for the war, but it's unclear how it was used.
birds
Cockatoos, Somehow, Are Able to Drum a Consistent Beat
Only humans are as good at keeping rhythm in the animal kingdom.
ancient cults
Found: A Hidden Stone Square Inside the World’s Largest Megalithic Stone Circles
The monument at Avebury still has secrets to be uncovered.
fleeting wonders
Sony's Vinyl Comeback After Nearly 30 Years
It's back in demand.
found
Found: A Prehistoric Stone Fish Trap
It's the first to be found in the Kodiak region.
