travel
The loneliest roads in America
If you find yourself on one of these roads, it might be a while before you see another fellow traveler.
Digital nomad: why work from home if you can work from anywhere in the world?
Digital nomads can fully immerse themselves in their surroundings while advancing their career and stimulating the local economy. But there is one potential downside.
U.S. road deaths far outnumber those in Europe. Why?
Wyoming's roads are nine times deadlier than Ireland's. California's road safety is on par with Romania's.
If the ancient Romans had Google Maps
OmnesViae is a modern route planner based on the roads of the Roman Empire.
How Njoya the Great put his African kingdom on the map
This representation of the Bamum kingdom is a rare example of early 20th-century indigenous African cartography.
Maps of Great Lakes shipwrecks detail one of North America’s biggest graveyards
There have been some 6,000 Great Lakes shipwrecks, which have claimed an estimated 30,000 lives. These maps show some of them.
NATO-Russia border: “No peeing towards Russia,” warns a sign in Norway
Urinating in the direction of NATO’s staunchest opponent could cost you $350 or more. For world peace, aim wisely.
How do birds navigate? When they face north, their brains do something incredible.
Head direction cells act like internal compasses to help the birds navigate during long flights.
Derinkuyu: Mysterious underground city in Turkey found in man’s basement
A basement renovation project led to the archaeological discovery of a lifetime: the Derinkuyu Underground City, which housed 20,000 people.
Canceled megaprojects: Alternative visions of New York and London
Take a look at the Times Square Totem, the Trafalgar Square Pyramid, and other landmarks that were never built.
Twisted cities: 10 places synonymous with psychological disorders
Stockholm Syndrome is the most famous of 10 psychological disorders named after world cities. Most relate to tourism or hostage-taking.
Let George Orwell guide you through 1920s Paris
Famished, not famous: retrace Orwell’s hunger days, when he was one of the city’s legion of poor foreigners.
Hypersonic flight: coast-to-coast in 30 minutes
One day, we could fly across the U.S. in half an hour. A state-of-the-art hypersonic flight testing facility at UTSA could help make that dream a reality.
There’s a desert hiding in the heart of France
France is split in two by its very own "desert," the Empty Diagonal. The area’s depopulation is fairly recent, and Paris is to blame.
“Welcome to Lake Toiletbrush”: How IKEA ruined the map of Sweden
Many of the furniture giant’s products are named after Swedish locations. Not everyone is happy about that.
Exotic and sustainable, night trains are coming back to Europe
The “Euro Night Sprinter” map is utopian, but Europe’s rail future could look a lot like it.
Why do in-flight maps show shipwrecks?
On long-haul flights, some airlines show shipwrecks on their in-flight maps. The aim is to entertain; the result is often to horrify.
Why do holidays feel like they’re over before they even start?
People tend to reflexively assume that fun events – like vacations – will go by really quickly.
Virtual reality tourism can boost travel in a post-pandemic world
Virtual tourism has thus far been a futuristic dream, but a world shaped by Covid-19 may be ready to accept it.
Get back in the sky for cheaper than ever with flights up to 90% off
These prices are too good to pass up on.
What the rise of digital nomads can tell us about the next wave of remote working
The pandemic has many people questioning whether they ever want to go back to the office.
Mysterious “Plain of Jars” in Laos has been dated
After years of speculation a team of researchers has pinpointed the age of this ancient mystery.
We have a new word for that feeling when travel makes everything new
A tourist generally has an eye for the things that have become almost invisible to the resident.
The lost art of rest: How to relax
In her book The Art of Rest, one researcher conducted a thorough analysis of the top 10 activities we find most restful.
An ancient migration across the ocean was no accident
A new study shows that at least one long-ago journey would have required deliberate navigation.
Newly discovered mineral petrovite could revolutionize batteries
A mineral made in a Kamchatka volcano may hold the answer to cheaper batteries, find scientists.
In praise of nudity: The nudist beaches of Central and Eastern Europe
"Nothing but naked people: fat ones, thin ones, old, young…"
Why virtual reality is necessary on a planet of 11 billion
Virtual reality is more than a trick. It's a solution to big problems.
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Virgin Galactic uses space tech to create new supersonic jet
The space tourism company Virgin Galactic teams up with Rolls Royce to create a new Mach 3 supersonic aircraft.