Summer

To avoid traumatizing children, many camps are banning scary stories. But can a little fun with fear be a good thing?

The annual rite of passage has always been more about the ambivalence of adults than the amusement of children.

As the sun goes down when you're camping, every sound can seem like a threat. Blame evolution—and our phones.

Isolation and a heady mix of hormones and fear provide the perfect setting for bloody revenge.

Celebrate the season of adventure and savor all summer has to offer.

But not in the way you're thinking.

For the last days of summer, we're going au naturel!

There is a lot to learn about Orfelia fultoni, the only bioluminescent fly in North America, but its larvae put on a show.

These magical images from our readers will inspire you to appreciate night vision.

For decades, locals believed landscape architect Jens Jensen designed this twisty stretch of Highway 42—the real history is even more serpentine.

From Mary Roach’s hilarious look at space travel to astronaut Scott Kelly’s photos documenting a year off planet.

May these amazing shots inspire you to hit the road!

Show us your best shots from after darkness falls, for Atlas Obscura’s next Summer Snaps photo contest.

From playing tag with sea lions to holding hands with an orangutan.

As our day star enters its most active period, look for more opportunities to catch these spectral northern (and southern) lights. Here's how.