Wonder is all around us. Because of this, Atlas Obscura takes you down some of the rabbit holes we run into when looking for our strange stories every other week. From some of our favorite magazines, we showcase interesting discoveries, excellent writing, and motivational stories.
Why Was Abraham Lincoln’s Bowtie Always Crooked?
President Abraham Lincoln's bowtie appears crooked in several of his most recognizable pictures. The staff at Washington, D.C.'s National Museum of American History was curious as to why. Did he tie it poorly? Were those in his immediate vicinity too terrified to straighten it? The museum found that the solution was far more obvious: Being little out of balance was fashionable.
The Sea Eagles That Returned to Mull
White-tailed eagles were controversially returned to Scotland about 50 years ago, much to the disapproval of farmers on the Isle of Mull, whose sheep serve as the birds' primary food source. Have the locals made peace with the birds and the visitors that swarm to view them more than a generation later?
The Mystery Behind Pink Diamonds Just Got Some More Clarity
90% of the pink diamonds found thus far were produced in a now-defunct mine in Western Australia, adjacent to the Argyle volcano. But scientists were unable to offer a reason. A recent investigation into the phenomena may reveal fresh deposits of the vividly colored jewels.
An “Extraordinary” Structure Discovered in Zambia
The oldest wooden building ever discovered, thought to be about 500,000 years old, was discovered in Zambia along a riverbank upstream from Kalambo Falls. One of the researchers said, "It's completely changed my perspective of what people were capable of at that time."
“We’ve Brought the Boy Home”
When Irving R. Newman's bomber crashed off the coast of Malta in 1943, he was listed as missing in action. Although the plane's wreckage was discovered in 2018, it took another five years for Maltese archaeologists to be able to extract Newman's bones from the nearly 200-foot-deep location.
Piece of Wood Found at Garage Sale Was Part of the Sunken USS Maine
A retired history teacher wanted to solve the long-standing mystery at the Pascack Historical Society in northern New Jersey about the three-foot-long cylinder of wood that was discovered at a neighborhood garage sale.
Three Hundred Tanks and 100 Million YouTube Views
Tank enthusiasts come to southwest England to the Armour Centre at Bovington Camp in order to witness a military training exercise. Those who don't absolutely need to witness the vehicles in action are attracted to the adjacent Bovington Tank Museum. Additionally, it has garnered 100 million views on YouTube, giving the little museum a larger audience than MOMA, the Met, and the Louvre.
Odd Driftwood Home Appears on Bay Area Cliff Face
Graffiti vandals have long been drawn to the precariously positioned World War II bunker at the summit of Devil's Slide, a coastal mountain in Pacifica, California. Drone and satellite images have revealed a bizarre driftwood building with multiple levels and chambers, as well as a lone wooden chair facing the Pacific Ocean, at the base of the high cliff.
