Curiosities

🔗 99% Invisible is a project that, since 2010, has explored the unseen aspects of design, architecture, engineering, and material culture. Originally launched as a podcast by Roman Mars, it has since grown into a full-fledged website featuring articles, photographs, audio recordings, and videos. Each episode and article tells the story of seemingly ordinary elements of our surroundings – from the shape of road signs, to the construction of bridges and buildings, to the hidden meanings behind patterns and urban systems. These are narratives about the subtle forces that shape our lives, often unnoticed, yet profoundly impactful. ...

🔗 Atlas Obscura is a unique guide to extraordinary places, cultures, and phenomena from around the globe. Founded in 2009 by travel enthusiasts, it was created to build a knowledge base of places and stories overlooked by traditional travel guides. Today, the site contains thousands of entries contributed by travelers, historians, researchers, and enthusiasts. The platform features an interactive map that allows users to explore geographical and cultural curiosities anywhere in the world. Descriptions cover natural phenomena – such as unique geological formations and rare plant species – as well as man-made wonders, including forgotten buildings, abandoned sites, quirky museums, and unusual art installations. ...

Futility Closet is a delightful trove of curious historical episodes, logical puzzles, and forgotten oddities. Run by Greg Ross, the blog has for years served as a destination for the intellectually curious. Its posts are short, precise, and often unexpectedly profound – covering strange inventions, brilliant hoaxes, language trivia, and puzzling paradoxes. The site also includes an extensive archive of podcast episodes, in which Greg and his wife Shelley explore remarkable real-life stories. A must-visit for lovers of logic, weird history, and brainy entertainment. ...

Damn Interesting is a long-running publication dedicated to sharing strange-but-true tales from history, science, and technology. Founded by Alan Bellows in 2005, it features meticulously researched stories that dive into forgotten disasters, ingenious inventions, covert operations, and astonishing real-life twists. More than a blog, it’s a library of compelling nonfiction that feels like reading a novel. The site also offers a podcast that brings some of the most compelling stories to audio format. A must-read for lovers of obscure knowledge and expertly told narratives. ...