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Even colorful rainbows can carry spooky superstitions.
horror

5 Superstitious Stories for Friday the 13th

Explore these tales of death, sacrifice, and bad omens—if you dare.
Roxanne Hoorn December 13, 2024
Christchurch, New Zealand

Cardboard Cathedral

This semi-permanent cathedral was built of cardboard, wood, and steel after Christchurch's 2011 earthquake.
Dubrovnik, Croatia, was devastated by an earthquake in 1667, as captured in this illustration by Dutch artist Jan Luyken. New research shows that seismic activity is slightly more common in the region than previously thought.
science

How Algae Revealed Ancient Earthquakes in Croatia

Rocky algal rims offer new evidence of Croatia’s seismic past.
Vedrana Simičević October 14, 2024
Yokohama, Japan

Indian Drinking Fountain

A memorial to the Indian victims of the devastating 1923 earthquake, built in glorious Mughal style.
Chigasaki, Japan

Sagami River Bridge Ruins

These medieval wooden bridge pillars appeared out of nowhere in the aftermath of a huge earthquake.
An interferogram of Kathmandu shows the amount of land deformation after a 2015 quake: Each color represents about an inch of deformation. In areas that appear speckled, including the large area on the right, the ground deformed more than three feet.
science

Plate Tectonics Has a Surprise Silver Lining

Without this restless geologic process, which triggers destructive earthquakes, Earth would not be habitable.
Robin George Andrews May 29, 2024
Lisbon, Portugal

Church of St. Dominic

The scorched Lisbon church that survived two earthquakes and a massive fire.
Is your state in danger of an earthquake? Well, yes.
disasters

Not Even Minnesota Is Safe From Earthquakes

Was the recent New York quake really all that uncommon? Here's a state-by-state map.
Frank Jacobs April 12, 2024
Tacoma, Washington

'We Honor a Hero' Memorial

This statue honors Marvin Klegman, a heroic child who died while saving another boy's life in a 1949 earthquake, and shares his long untold story.
San Francisco, California

'City of Paris' Stained Glass

The historic building's ornate stained glass fixture has survived the devastating 1906 earthquake, ensuing fires, and multiple redevelopment attempts.
science

Wonder Is Everywhere: Ancient Lampreys, Outdoor Learning, and More From Around the Web

Get a peek into what we’re obsessed with right now.
April White November 10, 2023
Oarfish sport red spine-like fins on their head and a long dorsal fin running the length of their body, as well as two oar-like pelvic fins, giving them their name.
disasters

The Legend of Japan's 'Earthquake Fish'

The serpent-like oarfish has long been considered an omen of natural disaster. Scientists are shaking up that old superstition.
Roxanne Hoorn October 3, 2023
Bucharest, Romania

Chimopar

A chemical factory damaged by two earthquakes and an explosion that became abandoned after bankruptcy.
Port of Kobe Earthquake Memorial Park
Kobe, Japan

Port of Kobe Earthquake Memorial Park

This massive section of quay destroyed by an earthquake is preserved to remember the past.
Anchorage, Alaska

Earthquake Park

The now-serene site of the largest earthquake ever recorded in North America.
In the aftermath of the 1906 San Francisco earthquake, the government built 5,610 "earthquake shacks" to help resident weather the winter months.
disasters

The Earthshaking History of San Francisco's Quake Shacks

You can still spot these tiny reminders of the 1906 earthquake in the city today.
Laura Kiniry February 23, 2023
Dance-O-Mat machine
Christchurch, New Zealand

Dance-O-Mat

A coin-operated washing machine turned jukebox, complete with an outdoor dance floor.
Farol dos Rosais
São Jorge, Portugal

Farol da Ponta dos Rosais

On the cliffs of São Jorge in the Azores stand the remains of a lighthouse that was struck by a series of earthquakes.