Lumière, Le Cinéma!
In one of those wonderful coincidences of history, “lumière,” the French word for “light,” was also the surname of brothers Auguste and Louis, whose brilliant invention, the cinematograph, helped to…
Pecan Pie without Corn Syrup from 1914
This 1914 recipe makes a kind of pecan custard for the filling. It’s smooth, not gelatinous and gooey like modern pecan pie, and isn’t as sickly sweet. You get way…
The Roots of Mother’s Day are in women organizing for peace, protecting their communities and pushing for change
On Mother’s Day, Americans go all out with gift-buying and dining out to honor the women in their lives. In fact, according to some estimates, consumer spending in the United…
American Masters: Harper Lee
American Masters: Harper Lee explores the mysterious life of the author of "To Kill a Mockingbird" (1960) and the phenomenon behind her iconic novel. One of the most influential American…
Song Exploder: Yusuf / Cat Stevens
The legendary singer/songwriter Yusuf / Cat Stevens released his first album in 1967. He’s a member of the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, and his albums have sold millions.…
The Atlas Obscura Podcast: Enchanted Woods
In this episode of The Atlas Obscura Podcast, we visit a four-acre garden in Wilmington, Delaware, with characters and exhibits created using castoff materials and greenery. It invites kids to…
The Atlas Obscura Podcast: Wonder in Your Backyard: The Aztec Ruins
A listener shares a wonder from his backyard, this time in the small town of Aztec, New Mexico.
HistoryExtra podcast: Attenborough: a life on screen
This May marks the 100th birthday of leading British documentary-maker and natural historian David Attenborough. But what's the longer history of wildlife broadcasting? What inspired Attenborough to report back from…
Religious Residue: What Sticks After You Leave Religion
This video explores “religious residue," how religious beliefs, habits, and emotions persist after deconversion, and what psychology reveals about why religion is so hard to fully leave behind.
COLOUR WORDS: The astounding origins of “blue”, “black”, “orange”, “red” & other colors
Prepare to be amazed by the surprising origins of the English words for colours (or colors for our American friends).