Explore 21 Deserts & desserts Collections - Atlas Obscura
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Deserts & Desserts
April 22–28

Deserts & Desserts

April 22–28

The steep face is shielded from the brunt of the wind.
wind

The Secret Lives of Sand Dunes

They're not actually alive, of course, but they do migrate.
Jessica Leigh Hester April 26, 2019
M&M's World in Leicester Square, London, U.K.
food

Exit Interview: I Was the Director of Research and Development at a Candy Company

His proudest achievement? Putting your face on an M&M.
Alex Mayyasi April 26, 2019
Donofrio's pamphlets spun a fake legend to promote their candy.
candy

How a Candy Craze Almost Wiped Out the Barrel Cactus

Fake legends and Southwest imagery sold crystalized cactus to Americans.
Tal McThenia April 26, 2019
Tadpole shrimp are widely considered to be among the most ancient species on the planet.
deserts

These Tiny Desert-Dwelling Crustaceans Are Incredibly Patient

Tadpole shrimp hunker down, waiting for water conditions to be just right.
Jessica Leigh Hester April 26, 2019
A view of the Balmorhea pool from the diving board.
deserts

Deep in the Desert in West Texas, a Spring-Fed Swimming Pool Beckons

It's not just a recreational hotspot—it's also an ecosystem.
Mark Dent April 26, 2019
An illustration of the famous Pie-Girl Dinner from <em>The New York World</em>.
murder

The Girl Who Jumped Out of a Pie and Into a Gilded Age Morality Tale

Susie Johnson sparked America's obsession with erotic cake dancing.
Reina Gattuso April 25, 2019
Two fishing vessels nestled in the sands near the former seaport city of Moynaq, Uzbekistan.
science

Why It's So Hard to Study the Toxic Dust Blowing From Earth's Youngest Desert

It all comes down to something scientists call "ground truth."
Jonathan Carey April 25, 2019
This viper's "horns" are actually scales.
snakes

The Horned Viper That Buries Itself Up to Its Eyeballs

Meet the most metal of the North African snakes.
Jessica Leigh Hester April 25, 2019
Typically, the Pudding Club serves seven puddings every Friday.
hotels

The Club Devoted to Celebrating Great Britain's Great Puddings

At this pudding-themed hotel, a Pudding Master presides over dessert feasts.
Lottie Gross April 24, 2019
Joe Orman stands below 4 Square, one of the first crested saguaros he discovered.
deserts

Arizona's Most Unusual Cacti Have Their Own Fan Club

The Crested Saguaro Society is on a quest to document the Sonoran Desert's strangest succulents.
Kerry Wolfe April 24, 2019
What a cool jacket.
animals

Emperor Penguins Always Wear Warm Coats

They need 'em in order to weather the coldest desert on Earth.
Jessica Leigh Hester April 24, 2019
Cleo and David Gakshteyn's sweet serendipity.
food

This Restaurant Has Wed Six Couples in Pools of Chocolate

Desserted at the altar.
Rohini Chaki April 23, 2019
A sunset in Tuscon, Arizona.
deserts

Why Desert Sunsets Are Incredibly Colorful

Turns out, dry, clean air is the secret to a vivid landscape.
Evan Nicole Brown April 23, 2019
Dan O'Connor went from collecting pie tins to restarting the Frisbie Pie Company.
toys

The Return of the Pie Company That Gave the Frisbee Its Name

An avid fan of the flying disc is now slinging Frisbie pies.
Michele Herrmann April 23, 2019
Libyan Desert Glass found in the Great Sand Sea along the border of Libya and Egypt. This specimen weighs 22 grams and is about 55 mm wide.
meteorites

How a Meteor Crash Formed Stunning Desert Glass

It was precious enough for King Tut’s tomb.
Evan Nicole Brown April 23, 2019
So thirsty!
insects

The Thirsty Beetles That Capture the Fog

In the Namib Desert, slaking thirst is a slow process.
Jessica Leigh Hester April 23, 2019
This image comes from a Jell-O advertisement that reads, "Isn't it evident from the butler's face that he is proud of the dish?"
food

Before Jell-O, Colorful Gelatin Desserts Were Haute Cuisine

Celebrity chefs served molded jelly dishes to monarchs and royalty.
Mark Hay April 22, 2019
Wadi Rum in southern Jordan.
geology

In Jordan, Bedouins Are Preserving Ancient Rock Art With an App

Locals are using their phones to document and assess the engravings of Wadi Rum.
Robin George Andrews April 22, 2019