July 30, 2021

GASTRO OBSCURA World’s Oldest Food There’s preserved food, and then there’s preserved food—food that has been around for a long time, sometimes even centuries. ​​Often no longer resembling their original form, these humble, hardened artifacts can be easy to miss. But if you know where to look, you can find everything from ancient Egyptian beef to the world’s oldest bottle of wine, which offer a glimpse into the lives of the people who made them. Here’s where you can see these remarkably old foods, ranging from bog butter to the oldest edible ham. READ MORE → SALAMANCA, SPAIN Cathedral of Salamanca's Astronaut Look up at this cathedral and you’ll probably see the usual carvings that you might expect to see on any medieval religious structure. Then there’s the astronaut. It’s not evidence of aliens, however. Built between 1513 and 1733, the Gothic cathedral underwent restoration work in 1992, and quarry man Jeronimo Garcia was given the go-ahead to add modern images to the facade. The astronaut isn’t the only modern addition, either—see if you can spot the other quirky carvings. READ MORE → FROM THE ARCHIVES The U.S. Capitol Demon Cat Over the last two centuries, the U.S. Capitol Building, with its underground passages and echoing side chambers, has amassed its fair share of ghost stories. Whether it’s the specter of a lost Civil War soldier, or the ghost of John Quincy Adams, the Capitol Building is a ghost hunter’s dream. But few such stories have captured the public’s imagination like that of the Demon Cat, which dates back to at least the 19th century. What’s kept the legend alive all this time? READ MORE → THE ATLAS OBSCURA PODCAST The Boiling River Yikes, you do not want to fall into this river in the Peruvian Amazon. It’s called the Boiling River, and as you might imagine, the waters get hot. The steaming waters can reach up to 200 degrees Fahrenheit, hot enough to kill anything that falls into it. Beneath its waters, though, are two sets of Peruvian legends and explanations for how this water ended up so hot. Dip your toe into this episode using any of the below platforms, or listen to it on-site. Storm Chaser, Wedding Photographer Photographs of spectacular storms have been around for a while, but in this age of increasingly extreme weather, they can capture the fury of nature perfectly. For storm chaser, photographer, and Emmy-winning videographer Mike Olbinski, they have been a lifelong passion, and his work—pictures and time lapses of supercells, tornados, lightning, and dust storms—has been in high demand. When he is not chasing storms, Olbinski turns his lens on weddings, a marked contrast to the dark and ominous feel of his weather images. Turns out there’s more of an overlap than you might think. READ MORE → SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA Vedanta Society's Old Temple Vedanta, one of the six schools of Hindu philosophy, was brought to America by Hindu disciples of Ramakrishna. The Vedanta Society of San Francisco was established in 1900, and within a few years, they had raised enough funds to build a new home for the society at the corner of Webster and Filbert streets. The Vedanta Society published that architecturally “this temple may be considered as a combination of a Hindu temple, a Christian church, a Mohammedan mosque, a Hindu math or monastery, and an American residence.” READ MORE → ATLAS OBSCURA COURSES Playing With Experimental Music In this four-part lecture series, join singer, engineer, and composer Jamie Stewart of Xiu Xiu for an active exploration of experimental music. Designed for music makers and appreciators alike, we’ll be doing lots of listening, discussing, and creating—with opportunities to walk through techniques of producing musical and creative experiments as we go. LEARN MORE → FROM THE ARCHIVES Hairy Competition Even in the dark, subarctic winters of the Yukon Territory, hot water flows from the depths of Earth’s crust into Takhini Hot Springs at the toasty temperature of 116 degrees Fahrenheit. During winter months, the pools become heated arenas for the world’s only frozen-hairdo competition, which is a challenge of both art and science. Participants dunk their heads underwater, emerge into the frigid air, and style their locks into stiff, eye-catching sculptures, with results ranging from frosty, mop-like tangles to dramatically manicured spikes. READ MORE → JAIPUR, INDIA Jal Mahal More than half of this Indian palace is drowned but it looks all the more spectacular for it. Located in the middle of the Man Sagar Lake, the Jal Mahal (or “Water Palace”) only appears to be one story high, although there are four more levels to the building hidden beneath the water. Although the name translates to “Water Palace,” the building was never intended to be a palace, as such, but was instead conceived as a hunting lodge for the local Raja. READ MORE → ATLAS OBSCURA COURSES Big Shots, Small Creatures Some of the most stunning creatures are also among the smallest, and aren't always easy to spot. In this four-session course, join photographer Joseph Saunders and see insects, amphibians, reptiles, and small mammals in a new light—up close—using the art of macro photography. We’ll cover everything from camera gear to photography techniques, discussing the best ways to find, engage, and photograph your subjects. LEARN MORE →