news
Antarctica Is Covered in Streams and Waterfalls
Scientists have mapped the continent's meltwater systems for the first time. They also make for good video.
Articles by Sarah Laskow
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Stories
Stories shared by this traveler.
libraries
Found: Medieval Manuscripts Stolen From Italy, Hiding in the Boston Public Library
The library obtained them legitimately, but they were never meant to be in America.
forests
Found: A Giant Morel Mushroom Hiding in the Indiana Woods
Officials described it as "ginormous."
art
Raising Orange Peels to an Art Form, One Fruit at a Time
The artist Yoshihiro Okada uses only whole, unbroken peels.
science
The Behind-the-Scenes Story of an Unplanned Meltdown at America’s First Nuclear Power Reactor
Ray Haroldsen didn't really notice anything was wrong.
animals
Found: A Dead Bat in a Pre-Packaged Salad
Even for gross things found in food, this one is weird.
maps
Utah's First Federal Surveyor Fled the Territory Fearing for His Life
And helped start a war between James Buchanan and Brigham Young.
roads
Found: A Silver Snake Ring Dating Back to Roman Britain
An excavation in northern England has found clues to its past.
houses
Found: Roman-Era Mosaics Dating Back to the First Century
For interior decorating inspiration.
mystery
Listening to Icebergs' Loud and Mournful Breakup Songs
Scientists are just learning to decode the sounds of icebergs.
shipwrecks
Found: An Invading Snail That Slings Slime at its Prey
It took up residence on the USNS Vandenberg, which was sunk as an artificial reef.
insects
Found: An Ancient Tick Preserved in Amber With Fossilized Mammal Blood
There’s a reason why this sounds so much like the beginning of Jurassic Park.
obscura day
Listen to the Strange and Wonderful Sound of One of Earth's Best Whistlers
“You can’t really study or learn whistling, but it is kind of magical to see and hear.”
zombies
Found: First Evidence in England of Burning Dead Bodies to Keep Them From Rising
In medieval times, belief in revenants was widespread.
science
Found: A Note Sent Into the Air by Balloon in 1987
It was discovered more than 300 miles away, three decades later.
roads
The Case for Preserving the 20th Century Tollbooth
When highways were marvels, toll plazas were well designed.
wild west
Found: Unworn Levi's From 1893
They're worth tens of thousands of dollars.
parks
Found: A New Population of Endangered Tigers
Including six cubs!
libraries
The Folger Shakespeare Library Will Lend Chilly Readers a Handmade Shawl
The reading room's head of circulation has created an informal lending library of coziness.
art
Found: A Maud Lewis Painting in a Thrift Store Bin
An unknown benefactor donated a work by one of Canada's most famous folk artists.
collections
Found: A Secret Warehouse Full of Toy Trains
Trains, trains, and more trains.
military history
One Sloppy Land Surveyor Almost Caused a War Between Missouri and Iowa
In 1839, the outcome of the "Honey War" hinged on the exact location of the Missouri-Iowa border.
animals
Found: A ‘Very Large’ African Cat Roaming the Streets of New Jersey
A tiger? A bobcat? No, a pricey "savannah cat."
