Sarah Durn's User Profile - Atlas Obscura

Sarah Durn

Sarah Durn is a freelance editor and journalist. Previously, she worked as an associate editor at Atlas Obscura and, before that, as the 2021-22 editorial fellow. Based in New Orleans, Louisiana, Sarah has written for National Geographic, Smithsonian, and Gizmodo, among others. Her first book, The Beginner's Guide to Alchemy, was published by Callisto and Rockridge Press in May 2020. Sarah also worked as Culture Trip's New Orleans writer, where she wrote and edited pieces about her adopted home. ⁣⁣⁣ Beyond her journalism work, Sarah is also a professional film and TV actor. She can be seen on Where The Crawdads Sing, NBC’s Chicago PD, and Ava Duvernay's Queen Sugar, among others. ⁣ When not typing away at her computer, Sarah can often be found on the trails in City Park listening to her favorite audiobook (something by Sophia Money-Coutts) or podcast (interviews with Dolly Alderton). ⁣ ⁣ Say hi at sarahdurn3@gmail.com⁣ or on Twitter @sarah_durn

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Marie Curie As You’ve Never Met Her Before

The world’s first two-time Nobel Laureate was a nerd’s nerd who broke the law for knowledge.

Stunning Wildflower Superbloom Photos That Will Have You Racing to the Hills

Orange, yellow, and purple petals blanket the southwestern United States.

10 Photos of Seaweed Blobs That Will Blow Your Mind

As a supersized sargassum bloom heads toward Florida and the Caribbean, we take a closer look at past big blobs.

Commander Liwayway and Other Filipino Women Who Fought During World War II

The “Huk Amazons” were military commanders, leaders, soldiers, spies, and more.

The Once and Future Luna Luna Art Amusement Park

Basquiat’s Ferris wheel, Dalí’s fun house, and other wild and whimsical designs are now being restored thanks in part to rap superstar Drake.

December 5, 2023

How the Best Underwater Photography Reveals a World of Wonder

Welcome to the home of pink coral-scapes and fluorescent lizardfish.

The Untold Stories of the Women Who Led Slave Revolts

Their inspiring acts of resistance were ignored or erased for centuries—until now.

The Stark Beauty of Tushetian Shepherds’ Journey Across Georgia’s Caucasus Mountains

These stunning photographs reveal the determination and resilience of a centuries-old way of life.

In Venice, Carnival Is a Visual Feast of 18th-Century Splendor

Every February, millions of people flock to Venice for Carnival, but few know the festival’s true origins.

February 16, 2023

That Time Eleanor Roosevelt Disappeared for 10 Days

She reappeared in World War II's Pacific theater where, for five weeks in 1943, she inspired troops and faced down air raids.

February 16, 2023

What Is a Fairy Fort?

In Ireland, fears about disturbing the fair folk have saved thousands of these mysterious ancient structures.

February 2, 2023

Meet Caterina Sforza and Other Warrior Queens History Forgot

From Italy’s fortress-seizing countess to Angola’s battle-hardened Queen Njinga, these women didn’t back down from a fight.

January 26, 2023

Kenya’s Maasai Mara Wildlife Reserve Is a Photographer’s Playground

At least while the lions behave.

February 6, 2023

Every January, This City in Ecuador Fills With Dancing Devils

Diablada de Píllaro is a rebellious but festive answer to a much older tradition begun by Spanish colonizers.

January 13, 2023

secret obsessions

In 2022, Celebrities Spilled Their Secret Obsessions to Us

From ghost hunting to masala chai, singers, authors, and other influencers revealed their unexpected interests.

December 28, 2022

History’s First Named Author Was a Mesopotamian Priestess

Her name was Enheduanna.

December 22, 2022

7 Trailblazing Women from Every Continent

In 2022, we traveled the globe to share the stories of powerful warriors, fearless activists, and more.

December 13, 2022

The Psychology Behind Why Identical Twins Inspire Fascination—and Fear

A history of othering, experimentation, and mystery.

November 22, 2022

The Untold Story of Henrietta Maria, England’s Warrior Queen

The “she generalissimo” nearly won the English Civil War for her husband, King Charles I.

November 17, 2022

The Secret History of Female and Nonbinary Occultists

A new book examines how supernatural beliefs have often offered a voice, visibility, and vulnerabilities.

October 25, 2022

The Haunting True Story of Bridget Cleary’s “Changeling” Murder

There's more to this 19th-century crime than the dark side of fairy lore.

October 21, 2022

The Time a Russian Empress Built an Ice Palace and Forced Her Jester To Get Married In It

Cruel joke, power move, or both?

October 4, 2022

Meet the Meteorite Hunters Who Rush In When Space Rocks Crash to Earth

For this community of “space cowboys,” entrepreneurs, and enthusiasts, a fireball streaming across the sky offers big risks and bigger rewards—and new tech is heating up the competition.

September 29, 2022

In Prehistoric Ethiopia, Otters Were as Big as Lions

But they didn’t eat our ancestors—probably.

September 21, 2022