The mysterious letter written by Queen Elizabeth II

Saving ancient artifacts, the search for ambergris, and more. Happy Monday. It's the start of a new week, so we're kicking it off with some amazing stories, including [a mysterious letter written by Queen Elizabeth II in 1986]( the [search for the prized ingredient ambergris]( and a conversation with a man who believes he's discovered the [secret to feline longevity](. Saving Shattered Ancient Glass Artifacts On August 4, 2020, the capital city of Lebanon was rocked by a devastating explosion of ammonium nitrate at the Port of Beirut. The catastrophic event caused an estimated 218 deaths, 7,000 injuries, and billions of dollars in property damages. At the Archeological Museum at the American University of Beirut (AUB), 72 of the ancient glass vessels on display lay shattered on its gallery floor. Only two of the fragile artifacts made it out intact. A team of more than a dozen international institutions and a group of volunteers set out to repair the country’s shattered history, one glass fragment at a time. [READ MORE →]( Places of the Day The Queen's Letter Sydney, Australia This letter was written by Queen Elizabeth II in 1986 and allegedly includes a message to the people of Sydney—but it's sealed and won't be open until the year 2085. [READ MORE →]( Alicante Zero Level Alacant, Spain After years of observing the sea level in Alicante, the zero level was set. This serves as an origin to calculate all the other levels of the country. [READ MORE →]( Venetian Pool Coral Gables, Florida Every day during the summer, the Venetian Pool is emptied and refilled to keep the waters fresh and clean. It’s the only swimming pool to be protected by the National Register of Historic Places. [READ MORE →]( In Search of Ambergris For well over a thousand years, ambergris, a key component in classic perfumery, has been called such things as the “universal cordial,” “the dearest and most valuable commodity in France,” and “the odor of sanctity.” It is highly prized, and highly priced. But for years, it was one of the world’s most intoxicating mysteries; no one even knew where this rare waxy substance came from. Turns out it’s a highly prized slurry of squid beaks and whale feces. [READ MORE →]( The Life of a Saturation Diver Shannon Hovey works in one of the least known, most dangerous, and, frankly, most bizarre professions on Earth. He is a saturation diver, who can go to the seabed to perform the delicate maneuvers required to put together, maintain, and disassemble offshore wells, rigs, and pipelines. It’s one of the world’s most hazardous jobs, and is quite literally known for its intense pressure. [READ MORE →]( Tough-Time Dishes At the height of the pandemic, many home chefs were looking for ways to use every last bit of what was in their cupboard or refrigerator. History to the rescue: there are examples everywhere of cooks getting creative in times of hardship. From the crispy burger born during the Great Depression to the simple delights of “desperation pies,” here are seven delicious dishes born from tough times that you can make at home. Most involve ingredients that you can find in your kitchen. [READ MORE →]( Feline Longevity Anyone who’s met Jake Perry will tell you—first and foremost, he’s a cat man. Perry’s cats broke the Guinness World Record for oldest cat. Twice, actually. About a third of his cats, Perry says, lived to be at least 30 years old—about twice the average feline life span. Now, toward the end of his own life, he believes he’s discovered the secret to feline longevity. [READ MORE →]( Engage With Us Learn the Secrets of Trees In this course, get to know the woody giants around you, from learning basic botany and tree identification to performing your own fieldwork. We'll cover trees’ evolutionary history, plant families, communication, and botanical function as well as how to engage with tree-filled spaces in an enriched way. [ENROLL IN THIS COURSE →]( Barcelona, Behind the Scenes There’s lots to see in Barcelona, but on this trip, we’ll peel back the layers and dive into a bevy of unusual experiences, visiting marvelous locations such as a Baroque anatomical amphitheater, a former Masonic Temple, and a subterranean bomb shelter. Whether it will be your first time in Barcelona or your fifth, this adventure is an extraordinary immersive opportunity. [BOOK THIS TRIP →]( [Facebook]( [Twitter]( [Link]( [Website]( Copyright © 2022 Atlas Obscura Inc., All rights reserved. You are receiving this email because you once requested to be included on the Atlas Obscura Newsletter mailing list. You can unsubscribe at any time. Our mailing address is: Atlas Obscura Inc. 61 Greenpoint Ave Suite 210Brooklyn, NY 11222 [Add us to your address book]( Want to change how you receive these emails? You can [update your preferences]( or [unsubscribe from this list](.