Eric Grundhauser

2 months ago | atlasobscura.com | Eric Grundhauser |Ashley Stimpson |Gemma Tarlach |Roxanne Hoorn

Having trouble landing a date? Take some tips from the animal kingdom. In these stories, meet the peacock spider that shakes its electric-blue butt to Beyoncé, the squid that puts on a seductive color show, and the fish whose guttural mating call can wake up a city. Peacock spiders are particularly great dancers, shaking and shimmying their colorful abdomens to woo over mates.

Nov 1, 2024 | atlasobscura.com | Eric Grundhauser |Vittoria Traverso |Mark Johanson |Sarah Durn

As we prepare for the election of the next president of the United States, here at Atlas Obscura, we’re reflecting on the shocking stories of presidents and their partners. From sea slugs to first lady escapades, these are odd, interesting, and out-of-pocket details you probably didn’t learn in any high school history class. Explore the secrets of Oval Office desks past and present, find out what went down when Lyndon B.

Jun 14, 2024 | atlasobscura.com | Dan Nosowitz |Eric Grundhauser |Reina A.E. Gattuso |Sarah Laskow

Flags are one of those things most people don’t think much about—except, of course, for vexillologists, who study flag design—but maybe they should. Flags tell fascinating stories. From the Atlas Obscura archives: the weird tales behind some of the world’s most unusual and ugly, protected, and reviled national symbols. Plus a few tips for designing your own. You might be able to tell where in the world you are by what happens if you set a flag ablaze.

Mar 8, 2024 | atlasobscura.com | Peter Schumer |Sarah Laskow |Eric Grundhauser |Uri Bram

Math is everywhere—in landscapes, in language, in the kitchen, on the calendar. On those calendars, March 14 is the mathiest of dates—Pi Day, in honor of the mathematical constant that begins 3.14. To celebrate this year, we’re bringing you the best of Atlas Obscura’s words about numbers.

Oct 14, 2023 | bigthink.com | Eric Grundhauser

As any horror film fan can attest, the bathroom can be a scary place. From Janet Leigh’s infamous shower scene in Psycho to the blood-spewing drain pipes of Stephen King’s It, there’s no shortage of genuinely startling imagery connected to lavatories. But when it comes to conjuring up the most terrifying possible interruptions to our most private moments, no one beats Japan. In Japanese folklore, there are a number of spirits rumored to appear in bathrooms.