October 26, 2022

THEY’RE ALIIIIIIVE  Real Zombies and Body Snatchers  Zombies are real—sort of. They’re real in fungus form, at least. When a parasitic “zombie” fungus from the genus Ophiocordyceps infects flies, ants, and other insects, it controls their hosts’ movement, forcing them to relocate to higher areas. Once there, fruiting bodies erupt through the host’s exoskeleton and release “spore bombs,” which rain down from their high position, infecting as many nearby insects as possible. Shudder. Thanks to advances in imaging and molecular analysis, scientists are now able to understand some of the insidiously clever ways the body snatchers take over their victims.  READ MORE → GASTRO OBSCURA Food and Cults When it comes to the role of food and drink in cults, most people immediately think of the tragic mass poisoning at Jonestown in 1978. But diets within fringe communities can be a more complex mingling of good and sinister intentions. Here’s a deep dive into the role that food has played in American cults, and how in some cases, it became a tool of manipulation and control. READ MORE → OAK RIDGE, NEW JERSEY The Ghost Bridge of Oak Ridge Reservoir In the 1890s, a new reservoir was built in New Jersey to supply the growing population of Newark with fresh water. Unfortunately, the village of Oak Ridge was located right where the planned reservoir was set to go. The small town was vacated, and most of its buildings torn down—though a stone bridge was left in place. The bridge remains there to this day, and is occasionally visible in times of drought. READ MORE → SPONSORED BY LOS ANGELES TOURISM San Fernando Valley’s Kitschy Scene The San Fernando Valley is as American as apple pie. Los Angeles’s endless suburb was developed as an ideal, family-friendly oasis—mid-century tract homes, kitschy cafés, mimetic architecture, and theme bars to visit. It’s no wonder countless “wholesome” family sitcoms have been filmed in the Valley, where the mid-century American Dream is alive and well. LEARN MORE → MONSTER ORIGINS An Overlooked Dracula Inspiration Say the word “Dracula” and people automatically think of a pale man in a tuxedo and cape, with bloodshot eyes and gleaming fangs. (Or a bat.) Bram Stoker’s creation is known the world over, and famously, he’s said to have been inspired by Vlad III, the 15th-century ruler of Wallachia in what is now Romania. But few are familiar with another, older creature that is believed in part to have contributed to his creation: the Hindu trickster spirit known as the vetala. READ MORE → MISNÉBALAM, MEXICO Misnébalam The hacienda of Misnébalam, along with its surrounding abandoned village, is the only ghost town in the state of Yucatán. Located at the first turnoff at kilometer 21 of the Mérida-Progreso highway, this unique hacienda, or estate, was built in the early 20th century, and inhabited for about 100 years before being abandoned around 2010. Locals say that Misnébalam ended up empty due to multiple paranormal phenomena. READ MORE → ATLAS OBSCURA COURSES Learn the Art of Visible Mending In this course led by maker and mender Erin Eggenburg, you'll not only learn how to mend torn textiles, but also how to transform a mundane chore into a unique and expressive art. After touching on the history of mending, stitching techniques, patching, and pattern transfers, you'll have the chance to begin working on a mending project of your own. ENROLL TODAY → GHOST ALERT 11 Haunted Bridges Here at Atlas Obscura, we love wondrous bridges for their striking history, fantastic views, and marvelously intricate engineering. But they’re not all exactly welcoming. Some bridges seem to attract frightening legends and tales of hauntings, with some even said to have been designed by the devil himself. Here are 11 of our favorite spans that might make you pause before crossing. ENROLL TODAY → MOUX, FRANCE Tomb of Henry Bataille On the outskirts of the town of Moux stands a curious mausoleum, which features an unnerving sculpture of a grinning cadaver holding a human heart aloft in one of its skeletal hands. This curious and macabre tomb is the last resting place of the famous 19th and early 20th-century poet and playwright Félix-Henri “Henry” Bataille. READ MORE →