1

Igloo City, Alaska

Image: Tim Oun

Igloo City in Cantwell, Alaska, is a massive, unfinished hotel built in the 1970s that never opened due to building code issues . Despite multiple owners and redevelopment plans, it remained abandoned and eventually deteriorated too much to renovate.

Now a roadside oddity between Fairbanks and Anchorage, its giant igloo shape continues to draw curious visitors.

2

Spectre Set, Alabama

Image: Dan Meyers

The abandoned film set of Spectre from Big Fish still stands on a private island along the Alabama River. Originally built for the 2003 movie, the town was left behind after filming and has slowly decayed.

Fires and flooding destroyed much of it, but a few buildings, spooky trees, and crumbling columns remain, giving the site a haunting atmosphere.

3

Dogpatch USA, Arkansas

Image: Matt Gross

Dogpatch USA, a hillbilly-themed park in Arkansas based on the Li’l Abner comic strip , opened in 1968 but never met visitor expectations. With low-key attractions and rustic charm, it struggled to draw crowds and ultimately closed in 1993.

Attempts to sell the land largely failed, and parts of the park still stand abandoned. While some parcels have been sold over the years, most of the site remains a curiosity for urban explorers.

4

Gibraltar, Delaware

Image: Johannes Beilharz

Hidden behind a stone wall in Wilmington, Delaware, Gibraltar is a crumbling 1840s mansion surrounded by beautifully restored gardens . While the house itself is abandoned, ivy-covered, and slowly decaying, the gardens remain vibrant and full of life.

5

Atlanta Prison Farm, Georgia

Image: Dan Meyers

The Atlanta Prison Farm has sat abandoned for over 25 years , now covered in graffiti and fast-growing kudzu. Though there's talk of turning it into a regional park, disagreements between counties have stalled any concrete progress.

6

Custer Ghost Town, Idaho

Image: Ruth Durbin

Custer, Idaho, was born from the 1870s gold rush, and later grew after a fire destroyed the nearby town of Bonanza. As mining dried up, the once-busy one-street town was abandoned, leaving behind rusted equipment and relics like a bullet-riddled poker table.

Thanks to its designation as a historic site in 1981, parts of Custer have been restored. Summer visitors can tour cabins, a schoolhouse, and the old saloon.

7

Cairo, Illinois

Image: Steffen Lemmerzahl

At the southern tip of Illinois, Cairo once thrived as a key port town during the steamboat era and later as a railroad hub. But as industry shifted and economic opportunities dwindled, the city entered a long period of decline.

Today, Cairo is eerily quiet. Its historic downtown is filled with crumbling buildings and boarded-up windows , and decay is spreading into nearby neighborhoods.

8

Knightridge Space Observatory, Indiana

Image: Daniel Gregoire

Hidden in the woods near Bloomington, Indiana, the Knightridge Space Observatory was built in the 1930s for early astronomers . Its wooden dome once held a four-ton telescope, but city growth and light pollution made it obsolete.

Abandoned since the 1960s, the building was left to decay, with its dome rusted shut, the floors unstable, and the telescope relocated. It has since been demolished due to safety concerns.

9

Waverly Hills Sanatorium, Kentucky

Image: Dan Meyers

Waverly Hills Sanatorium opened in the early 1900s to treat tuberculosis patients with rest, fresh air, and isolation . As the epidemic grew, the facility expanded to hold hundreds of patients, including children.

After closing in 1961, it became a nursing home but was shut down in 1982. Today, Waverly Hills is famous as a haunted attraction, drawing ghost hunters and tourists from around the world.

10

Jazzland, Louisiana

Image: Dmitry Lakhno

Jazzland was a theme park in New Orleans that opened in 2000. After major investments, it reopened in 2003 as Six Flags New Orleans. Following Hurricane Katrina in 2005, the park was submerged, with murky floodwaters destroying roughly 80% of the property. Rides were wrecked, stands overturned, and only the Batman coaster survived on higher ground .

Deemed too costly to repair, the park was abandoned and now draws curious urban explorers.

11

St. Mary's College, Maryland

Image: Pavel Neznanov

Built in 1868, St. Mary’s College trained young men for the priesthood until declining enrollment forced its closure in 1972. The abandoned campus, soon nicknamed "Hell House," became a hotspot for ghost stories, local legends, and thrill-seekers.

12

Yellow Creek Nuclear Power Plant, Mississippi

Image: Lukáš Lehotský

Yellow Creek was one of 17 nuclear plants planned by the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) in the late 1970s, but construction was halted before completion. The cooling tower base and nearby processing building were left abandoned .

Originally intended to process nuclear fuel components, the site now stands as a vast, unfinished shell.

1

Yankees vs. Red Sox

Image: Chanan Greenblatt

This feud has colored baseball for more than a century. The teams clashed often in the early 1900s, and the sale of Babe Ruth to New York only fanned the flames. Generations of fans have passed down the lore, and every game still feels like a chapter in a never-ending story.

2

Coca-Cola vs. Pepsi

Image: Nik A.

The "Cola Wars" picked up steam in the late 20th century with taste tests, jingles, and flashy commercials. Each brand tried to outdo the other in ads and sponsorships. Many households still swear one tastes better, even if most folks can barely tell the difference in a blind sip.

3

Lakers vs. Celtics

Image: Tim Hart

When basketball fans talk about greatness, these two names pop up right away. Their battles in the 60s, 80s, and 2000s created unforgettable moments. From Magic and Bird to Kobe and Garnett, each era brought its own flavor. Even non-fans recognize the spark between these teams.

4

Democrats vs. Republicans

Image: Bruno Ngarukiye

The nation’s two major parties have been sparring since the mid-1800s. Their disagreements shape elections, public debates, and dinner conversations across the country. While their views often pull in different directions, both sides trace their roots deep into American history.

5

Michigan vs. Ohio State

Image: Jakob Rosen

College football’s "The Game" is a yearly event that can tilt an entire season. Families in the Midwest grow up picking a side before they can spell the names. The rivalry took shape in the late 1800s and still ends with dramatic finishes, loud crowds, and plenty of bragging rights.

6

Mickey Mouse vs. Bugs Bunny

Image: steven lozano

Disney and Warner Bros. shaped our childhood. Mickey brought gentle charm while Bugs introduced quick wit and a wink at the audience. Their studios battled for box office success, theme park magic, and Saturday morning loyalties, giving generations a favorite to root for.

7

Duke vs. North Carolina

Image: Markus Spiske

Just eight miles separate the schools, and that short drive holds decades of college basketball tension. Their first meeting was back in 1920, and each season brings new storylines. The noise inside their arenas can practically shake the floor when these two square off.

8

Giants vs. Dodgers

Image: Hongbin

This rivalry began in New York before both teams headed west in the 1950s. The move did not cool things down one bit. Whether in Brooklyn and Manhattan or Los Angeles and San Francisco, these clubs have carried the same competitive spark for well over a hundred years.

9

Hamilton vs. Jefferson

Image: Sudan Ouyang

These two founding figures clashed over just about everything. Hamilton leaned toward strong federal power while Jefferson preferred a lighter touch from the central government. Their debates set the stage for questions that still guide the country’s political landscape.

10

Marvel vs. DC

Image: Rachit Khurana

Comic book fans have compared these two universes for generations. Marvel’s heroes often feel grounded and human, while DC characters carry mythic, larger-than-life qualities. Their films, shows, and comics compete for audiences who proudly cheer for their chosen side.

1

Give up your favorite food to lose weight

Image: amirali mirhashemian

Small amounts of your favorite high-calorie foods can be included in a weight-loss plan . Just remember to keep track of your total calorie intake. To lose weight, you must burn more calories than you consume.

2

Avoid bread, pasta, and rice

Image: Eaters Collective

Grains themselves aren’t necessarily bad or unhealthy. Consuming whole grains—such as brown rice, whole-wheat bread, cereal, and pasta—as part of a healthy eating plan is a good idea because whole grains provide iron, fiber, and other important nutrients .

3

Choose gluten-free foods

Image: mohamed hassouna

Gluten-free foods are not necessarily healthier if you don’t have celiac disease or a gluten sensitivity. Gluten is a protein found in wheat, barley, and rye grains. If you don’t have these health issues but avoid gluten anyway, you may miss out on important vitamins, fiber, and minerals.

4

Avoid all fats

Image: Kelly Sikkema

Despite all the bad press, not all fats are bad. Fat provides essential nutrients and should be an important part of a healthy eating plan. However, because fats have more calories per gram than protein or carbohydrates (or "carbs"), it is important to limit fat intake to avoid consuming extra calories.

5

Avoid dairy products

Image: Kenny Eliason

Dairy products are an important food group because they provide proteins needed to build muscles and support organ function , as well as calcium to strengthen bones.

Most dairy products, such as milk and some yogurts, have added vitamin D to help the body absorb calcium, since many Americans don’t get enough of these nutrients.

6

Go vegetarian to lose weight

Image: Anna Pelzer

Embracing a fully vegetarian diet only leads to weight loss if you reduce your total calorie intake . As often happens, some vegetarians may make food choices that could lead to weight gain, such as eating large amounts of foods high in sugar, fat, and calories.

Eating small amounts of lean meats can also be part of a healthy plan to lose or maintain weight.

7

Don’t snack between meals

Image: Shreyak Singh

There is nothing wrong with snacking. It can help prevent overeating at meals , provided the snacks are healthy —like apples, peanut butter, low-fat cheese, or whole-grain crackers.

8

Healthy eating is expensive

Image: Louis Hansel

Healthy eating can be expensive, but it doesn’t have to be. With a little planning and smart shopping , you can enjoy a much healthier diet on a budget . Many people think produce is too costly, but there are plenty of examples that prove otherwise. For instance, a large bag of lettuce is affordable and lasts a long time.

9

Avoid late-night snacks

Image: nrd

Late snacking isn’t inherently a problem. The real issue is when your late-night snacks are unhealthy . The time of day is not as important as what you eat. If you’re eating ice cream or chips and dip, you’ll gain weight—no matter what time it is.

10

Diet soda is better than regular soda

Image: Kenny Eliason

Multiple studies have linked diet soda to an increased risk of diabetes , metabolic syndrome, and obesity, though causation is still debated. Nonetheless, if you’re looking for a healthier soda alternative, try flavored water, sparkling water, or unsweetened tea.

11

Non-nutritive sweeteners are healthy

Image: Towfiqu barbhuiya

The increasing demand for low-calorie, low-carb, sugar-free foods has led to a larger portion of products containing non-nutritive sweeteners (NNS).

While it’s clear that a diet high in added sugar increases disease risk, intake of NNS may also raise the risk of type 2 diabetes by causing negative changes in gut bacteria and promoting blood sugar dysregulation.

12

White potatoes are unhealthy

Image: Lars Blankers

Delicious potatoes are often labeled as "unhealthy" because they are frequently eaten in unhealthy ways. However, these starchy vegetables are highly nutritious , providing potassium, vitamin C, and fiber , and can be included as part of a healthy diet. The key is to cook or bake potatoes, but never fry them.