The golden days of discovery and exploration may ultimately be over, but the relics of heroic adventures stretch to the most remote corners of the world. There they remain, largely cut off from human interference, victims only of time and the elements. Here are five amazing places that our ancestors visited, and in some instances remained.

These two images capture a unique moment in Cold War history – one photograph taken by an American pilot, the other by a Russian. Intercepts like this were common at the time, but even if adversary pilots both had their cameras with them, it is highly unusual that both pictures should finally find their way into the same collection.

Wonder and enchantment are two words that spring to mind when viewing the world through an infrared lens. Whatever your personal photography taste, there’s no question that infrared imagery spices up bland everyday life with a touch of the serene.

For decades during the Cold War, massive Titan nuclear missiles stood ready for launch in subterranean silos across America. In this article, we take a look at the inner workings of these sinister complexes, and venture deep beneath the Colorado farmland to explore the now abandoned lair of a Titan I missile.

The main thing about road signs is that they’re not supposed to be funny – which makes the following examples all the more amusing! It’s easy to imagine a group of gloomy civil servants debating whether or not the bike on the sign should have a cyclist on it, but these 20 images prove that even those in charge of our roads have a sense of humour.

One fateful day a pleasant city nestled beneath a dormant volcano was completely destroyed when the volatile peak rumbled to life. Sound familiar? Everyone knows the story of Pompeii in Italy, destroyed in 79 AD by Mount Vesuvius. But this was the city of Plymouth, Monserrat. The year: 1995.

There is nothing more fascinating in the aviation world than the “black projects” – aircraft programs that are so secret that even those with the highest security clearance have no idea they exist. But occasionally the veil of secrecy is accidentally lifted, offering a fleeting glimpse into this shadowy world. Here we take to the air with six of the world’s most classified aircraft (assuming they exist, that is!).

Some buildings are way ahead of their time, blazing their own trail decades ahead of the curve. Sanzhi Pod City is one such place – abandoned two years after it was begun, it lay abandoned for 28 years before finally being torn down. Up until that time, it was known as the mysterious “ruins of the future”.

American architect Julia Morgan said: “Architecture is a visual art, and the buildings speak for themselves.” Whether or not you agree with Morgan’s sentiments, her words could not have related more perfectly to these bizarre architectural specimens from far flung corners of the world. Here are six buildings that really do speak for themselves!

They say any landing you walk away from is a good one. But does the same thing go for ejecting? In this amazing sequence of footage we see aircraft colliding with one another, overshooting aircraft carrier runways and simply breaking apart in mid-air – with the pilots at the controls “banging out” out at the last possible second.

On May 17, 2006 the aircraft carrier USS Oriskany was sunk off the coast of Florida, becoming the world’s largest artificial reef. This article, including 41 great images, examines Oriskany’s naval career from construction to the Vietnam War to her final fate as a haven for marine life and recreation spot for divers.

Buffalo Central Terminal is an imposing art deco railway station in the city of Buffalo, New York. Opened in 1929 for the New York Central Railroad, it could more than 3,200 passengers every hour. The station boasts a 225 feet long domed concourse, a 15 storey office tower plus observation deck (not including the main floor), and a 450 feet long train concourse equipped with 14 high-level platforms (above). Come in and explore…