February 08, 2023

COOL LABS  The Lab Making Waves  On the far western edge of the Oregon State University campus, tucked between verdant farmlands and a sports field, an extraordinary facility is hosting experiments that could save humanity. It’s called the O.H. Hinsdale Wave Research Lab, and it’s one of the only places in the world where engineers can build a shoreline to order. For 50 years, the lab has looked at everything from the physics of fluid dynamics to what happens when a tsunami hits a bridge, but these days, many of the lab’s experiments are focused on how climate change is rapidly redrawing coastlines around the world, and what seaside communities can do to protect themselves.  READ MORE →   MONUMENTS 7 Statues Dedicated to Black Leaders The Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial in Washington, D.C. is one of the most visited statues dedicated to a Black leader in the United States. However, there are dozens of statues dedicated to Black leaders that are often overlooked around the world. Though these statues may not get as many visitors, the people they represent are no less remarkable. From the first Black American to publish a novel in the United States, to a young leader who fought for equality, here are seven statues to visit this month. READ MORE →   EGKOMI, CYPRUS Nicosia International Airport Once the central airport in the country of Cyprus, the Nicosia International Airport was abandoned after a military coup and now sits amidst the demilitarized zone between two countries. In the decades since its closure, the airport has continued to deteriorate, accumulating a thick layer of dust and debris, visited only by storms and photographers. READ MORE →   GASTRO OBSCURA Eating in Antarctica In 1916, when a Chilean ship rescued a group of shipwrecked British explorers on a failed attempt at the first land crossing of Antarctica, the men were on the brink of starvation. They’d resorted to gathering limpets and seaweed to eat with stewed seal bones. Antarctic cooking has come a long way since then; just ask Carol Devine and Wendy Trusler, the authors of The Antarctic Book of Cooking and Cleaning, a cookbook-memoir that recounts their Canadian–Russian cleanup expedition from 1995 to 1996, with a combination of recipes, journal entries, and photos. READ MORE →   ATLAS OBSCURA COURSES Horror Story Writing In this seminar, award-winning author and lifelong horror fan Nino Cipri will guide students through the process of writing horror, from generating ideas to the final revision and submission process. Along the way, we’ll talk about horror’s roots in oral traditions, embracing and subverting tropes, and why we keep coming back to horror even when it can’t compete with real life’s awfulness. All writers welcome! ENROLL NOW →   BLANTYRE, SCOTLAND David Livingstone Statue Throughout the world, there are a variety of commemorations dedicated to the Scottish physician, missionary, and explorer David Livingstone. But the one located on the grounds of his birthplace in Blantyre, South Lanarkshire, is rather unique and special. What makes this sculpture one of a kind is that it was designed and overseen by the late Ray Harryhausen, an Oscar-winning, American-British animator and special effects wizard. READ MORE →   ATLAS OBSCURA PUZZLES It’s Snow Fun Crossword Winter weather get you down? Chase those blues away with our latest crossword puzzle! How fast can you solve all those clues? PLAY NOW →   MANISTIQUE, MICHIGAN Kitch-iti-kipi Michigan’s largest freshwater spring, Kitch-Iti-Kipi, means “big cold water.” Tucked away within the Palms Book State Park, Kitch-iti-kipi measures about 300 feet by 175 feet and is 40 feet deep with an emerald bottom. About 10,000 gallons of water per minute gush into the lake from the fissures in the limestone that holds the pool. Because its water is replenished so quickly, the pool maintains a constant temperature of 45 degrees Fahrenheit. READ MORE →