18 Tales of Curious Pursuits and Offbeat Obsessions

You thought they were gone? You were wrong.

The world’s most obsessive breakfast-food fans demonstrate just how far humans will go for the sweet taste of nostalgia.

In gathering old photographs of daily life, family scenes, and illness, hobbyists get an intimate view into past lives.

What seems like a simple hobby can take you across the world.

Cemetery-loving hobbyists have uploaded millions of photographs of headstones from all over the United States.

The perverse thrill of metal detecting, the world’s worst hobby.

Plane spotting can be a soothing sky-watching habit, but its community also regards itself as a coterie of amateur detectives.

Victorian culinary trading cards are a feast for the eyes... but maybe not for your stomach.

Dozens of “rare Cheetos,” shaped like everything from Donald Trump to a squirrel, are up for sale on eBay. But who’s buying?

When it comes to their stuff, people often have a hard time letting go. When the objects of their obsession are rooms full of old clothes or newspapers, it can be unhealthy—even dangerous. But what about a stash that fits on 10 5-inch hard drives?

BONUS READ: Everything We’re Reading about NFTs via Pocket Collections

Counterfeit Lego kits, made illegally in China, are giving collectors a headache.

Their collections may look like trash to you, but these guys know every can has a story—and some have shockingly high price tags, too.

BONUS READ: The Archaeology of Those Weird Metal Things That Open Your Soda Can via Atlas Obscura

Gunpowder used in cannons helped change the nature of warfare, but it took a while to get the recipe just right.

Here’s hoping they’ll create a buzz.

Remember downloading songs? Even in 2022, it’s still a viable—and rewarding—way to collect music.

I became unreasonably passionate about fantasy sports for the very first time in my life. Not fantasy football or baseball or anything like that. I got into fantasy birdwatching.

BONUS READ: 21 Great Reads for Bird Nerds via Pocket Collections

Most of us try to avoid radiation, but not Andrew Walker, who collects radioactive objects. The surprising part? These items can be found in antiques shops, parking lots, and buildings everywhere.

Apples, blue honeysuckles, and the Soviet seed collector who protected the Earth’s biodiversity.

BONUS READ: Meet the Man on a Quest to Document Every Apple in North America via Atlas Obscura