The Original McDonald’s French Fry They just don’t make ‘em like they used to. From Julia Child to Paul Bocuse to James Beard, some of the biggest names in food history are also people who have professed their love for the original McDonald’s french fry—a french fry that, in no exaggerated manner, birthed an empire. A french fry that no one has eaten in more than 30 years. So one of our writers went on an epic quest to recreate the recipe, and it involved literal blood, sweat, and perhaps tears.  READ MORE →

It’s Cyber Monday! Searching for the best deals on Cyber Monday? You’re in luck, because we’re offering 20% off ALL online experiences and courses (and online gift cards!)—the perfect gifts for those curious explorers seeking to spark their curiosity or learn new skills. The code WONDER20 is valid for all online shows and courses ticketed through Eventbrite, including our murder mystery writing workshop, Spanish-style cooking masterclasses, and more. SHOP NOW →

FROM THE ARCHIVES Renovating a Masonic Temple So let’s say, hypothetically, that you’ve gotten yourself a former Masonic temple. What goes into the logistics of converting it into a livable home? Do you worry about heating, distribution of living spaces, or converting former gathering spaces into residential rooms? Where do you begin with the endless renovations? One family set out to find out. READ MORE →

ILLKIRCH-GRAFFENSTADEN, FRANCE Memorial to Félicette In 1963, a cat named Félicette went where none of her feline ancestors had gone before: nearly 100 miles up into the sky. The slim tuxedo cat soared through space, then landed safely back on Earth a quarter of an hour later. Decades after her brief extraterrestrial trip, the cute astrocat is now finally honored with a statue installed in Pioneer Hall at the International Space University near Strasbourg, France. READ MORE →

FROM THE ARCHIVES The Vanishing Gator It’s a story that could have been right out of a Sherlock Holmes novel—if Sherlock bothered himself with marine biology, that is. About a year ago, scientists dumped three dead, frozen alligators into the ocean from a ship in Louisiana. They sank a little over a mile before making contact with the seafloor. Scientists have revisited the sunken reptiles several times since. One gator’s status is unknown, one gator has been slowly devoured by a new species of bone-eating worm, and one gator mysteriously vanished—eaten or carried off whole by some enormous creature of the deep. READ MORE →

BENSON, ARIZONA Rattlesnake Ranch This ranch is a snake sanctuary, as the name suggests, but a group of beautifully detailed sculptures guard the entrance. Here, rusty but expertly painted dinosaurs mingle with a giant gila monster and a Native American on horseback. Farther away, a wild stallion poses in mid-leap. Ssssssuperb. READ MORE →

PORTLAND, OREGON The Witch's Castle From tales of murder to bathrooms to the site of high school keggers, the ruins that are now known as The Witch’s Castle have lived a number of lives, and none of them were very pleasant. But oddly enough, despite what you might assume, no actual witches were ever associated with this place. We leave you to determine if that’s the strangest thing about these ruins or not. READ MORE →

NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA Nicolas Cage's Pyramid Tomb Nicolas Cage has a history with the city of New Orleans, having purchased the infamously haunted LaLaurie Mansion, historic Our Lady of Perpetual Help Chapel, and now an unnamed tomb in the city’s beloved St. Louis Cemetery No. 1, home to the grave of another of New Orleans’ supernatural heavies, Marie Laveau. Is the pyramid a nod to the National Treasure movies? Or is it a tip-off to his alleged ties to the probably-fictitious secret Illuminati society? We may never know. READ MORE →

SPONSORED BY WORKMAN PUBLISHING An Insider's Guide to Leaving Planet Earth Ride shotgun on a trip to space with astronaut Terry Virts. Featuring stories covering survival training, space shuttle emergencies, bad bosses, the art of putting on a spacesuit, time travel, and much more! LEARN MORE →