June 30, 2021

Mummy Ethics Mummy exhibits are big draws for museums. By one estimate, at least 350 institutions around the world display Egyptian mummies, and the abiding fascination with the ancient kingdom of the pharaohs has made those displays a vital draw, leaving scientists and curators to weigh increasingly fraught questions: Should mummies whose linen wrappings have been removed be re-wrapped for sensitivity? Ought the body, linens and all, be placed back in its coffin? And should that coffin be open, closed, or removed from display altogether? Our friends from Undark dive into this thorny issue in this Climate Desk collaboration.  READ MORE → ‘Warm-Blooded’ Bumblebees Come to Alaska to see its majestic wildlife scene, including bears, moose, and… bumblebees. Of the nearly 50 bumblebee species documented throughout the United States, almost half can be found in Alaska, including four species found nowhere else in the country. And while many bumblebee species in the Lower 48 are declining, Alaskan members of the genus Bombus appear to be thriving. Now, researchers and conservationists are embarking on an unprecedented effort to figure out just how many bees, including bumbles, are buzzing around their enormous and largely unsurveyed state. READ MORE → Beach Mysteries Ah, a trip to the beach. The idyllic summer getaway. Sand, sun, and water, what could be simpler. But some beaches aren’t quite so simple. Some represent geological wonders, where sand runs the color spectrum or pebbles sing. Others are treasure troves of lost history—ancient graves, shipwrecks, and even the remains of an ancient ghost forest. From remnants of World War II to shores covered in sparkling sea glass, here are 18 of our favorite surprising beaches. READ MORE → ATLAS OBSCURA EXPERIENCES Jewish Food Past, Present, and Future Join James Beard Award-winning culinary historian Michael W. Twitty on a three-part whirlwind tour through the histories, migrations, culinary issues, and possibilities of Jewish food. We’ll be answering some thorny questions, like why who “owns” falafel can start a world war and how gefilte fish became a thing worthy of mystical thought. LEARN MORE → FROM THE ARCHIVES Kashmir’s Pink Tea On chilly winter evenings in Lahore’s Lakshmi Chowk, a bustling marketplace famous for street food, tea vendors sell a pink beverage known as Kashmiri chai. Made with green tea, Kashmiri chai has a savory taste that belies its strawberry-milkshake appearance. Originally a Himalayan drink, pink tea goes by many names across South Asia. Infused with spices such as star anise and topped with crushed nuts, the tea is tailor-made for cold weather. READ MORE → BALTIMORE, MARYLAND Old Town Mall Constructed in 1818, this shopping district has seen many periods of decline and revival and decline again. At its peak of 64 stores, Old Town (also known as Gay Street) was a thriving retail area designed to increase commercial purpose in the surrounding area, though in the post-war era, the area saw a decline. In 1968, the City of Baltimore attempted to revamp the mall, renaming it Old Town Mall and spending over $1,000,000 on the project. But by the 1980s, the area had fallen back into disarray. Today, the mall has only one shop running. READ MORE → THE ATLAS OBSCURA PODCAST Shoreham Power Plant Everything you might want is on Long Island: good restaurants, open spaces, beaches, sports teams, access to New York City, and a gigantic, ominous seafoam-green nuclear power plant. Like we said, everything. Tune in today to learn more about the first commercial nuclear power plant constructed on Long Island, which now lies decommissioned. LISTEN ON OUR SITE →    LISTEN ON APPLE PODCASTS →    LISTEN ON SPOTIFY →    LISTEN ON STITCHER → Earthquakes from the Air Seismometers are usually stuck on terra firma for a reason. The seismic waves they measure come from earthquakes, and travel through the ground, so it stands to reason that instruments attached to the Earth are well positioned to detect these wobbles. But on Venus, where the ground cooks at 900 degrees Fahrenheit, and atmospheric pressure is equivalent to being a mile underwater, seismometers will be of no help. Enter balloons, which may help detect earthquakes, even from miles up in the air. READ MORE → PEACH SPRINGS, ARIZONA Caverns Grotto To get to this restaurant, you’ll need to take an elevator. You’ll be taking it down—21 stories down—into a 345-million-year-old cave network that stretches 60 miles to the Grand Canyon. Known as the Caverns Grotto, the four-table eatery offers simple American comfort food that makes a not-so simple voyage to your table. READ MORE → ATLAS OBSCURA EXPERIENCES Mysteries of the Common Houseplant In this experience, we’ll feature guest experts, artists, and hands-on plant interaction to understand the surprising role plants have played in history. All levels of plant lover welcome! On June 30, we'll be exploring the intersection of plants and design, discussing biophilic design, plant architecture, and some amazing ways people have used plants in their interior design. LEARN MORE →