This sea lily fossil just solved an evolutionary mystery

Skatepark landscapes, South Asia's 'living bridges,' and more. Email not displaying correctly? View in your browser. December 18, 2019 Mystery Solved Modern sea lilies resemble flowers fastened to the seafloor, crowned with a pinwheel of frilled arms. But researchers have never known exactly how these lilies evolved from earlier, armless echinoderms, a phylum that includes starfish, sea urchins, and sand dollars. Until now. Read More → Skatepark Landscapes Photographer Amir Zaki recently captured the concrete sculptural landscapes of California’s skateparks. The resulting photos appear timeless and otherworldly and have no board in sight, save for the occasional bird in flight. Read more → ‘Living Bridges’ On the border of India and Bangladesh, bridges can build themselves. Under the dripping green overgrowth, these root systems—guided by human hands—twist and tether together gradually, forming structurally sound “living bridges” that have stood across ravines and rivers for centuries. Read more → ATLAS OBSCURA TRIPS Last Chance: Folklore of Dartmoor Join us next fall for an immersive exploration of Southern England’s Dartmoor National Park. We’ll experience medieval villages, sprawling moors, and Bronze Age ruins, all while hearing about the enduring tales they’ve inspired and the legends rooted in each landscape. Hurry, refer a friend to join you and you’ll both receive $250 off if you book before December 31st! Learn more → Tulsa, Oklahoma Stay Gold, Outsiders House After several years of work, the home of the Curtis brothers in The Outsiders is now a museum that celebrates the story that has touched countless lives. Read more → Community 2019 Atlas Highlights From the incredibly detailed Manasilja Monastery in Despotovac, Serbia, to the historical candy store, True Treats, in Harpers Ferry, West Virginia, there were many unforgettable places added to the Atlas this year. Tell us about some of your favorite places you've discovered. Share Now→ Tandil, Argentina The Shifting Stone For years, a 300-ton granite boulder balanced atop a hill overlooking the town of Tandil in eastern Argentina. The stone was so popular that decades after the beloved boulder fell from its hilltop, a replica was installed in its place. Read more → From the archives Ancient Egg Ovens A hatching system devised 2,000 years ago is still in use in rural Egypt and is considered more wondrous than the pyramids. Read more → ANTWERP, BELGIUM Hand of Druon Antigoon A sculpture depicting the severed hand of the legendary villainous giant, Duron Antigoon, sits on Antwerp's popular shopping street. Read more → Visit AtlasObscura.com · View in Browser · Unsubscribe · See All Newsletters 61 Greenpoint Ave #622, Brooklyn, NY 11222