September 30, 2015

Did you know that the gritty stuff in exfoliators is bad for the environment? These tiny balls of plastic, microbeads, are used in many personal care products. However did you ever wonder about what happens after you wash the exfoliator off? The beads go down the drain, past through our filtration system, and eventually end up in the ocean. Microbeads aren't biodegradable. Marine animals will take them into their bodies and the plastic will travel up the food chain, possibly ending up in humans too. The good news is that cosmetic companies are removing microbeads. Some have switched over to biodegradable alternatives. I recommend a homemade treatment of honey, lemon juice, and sugar.
*Special thanks to a friend for the suggestion. I definitely enjoyed looking this topic up!*

September 29, 2015

Did you know that nail polish can be quite harmful? Researchers have labeled three of the ingredients (toluene, formaldehyde, and dibutyl phthalate) as the "toxic trio." Not all three are always found in a single bottle. This has caused some concern because of the potential health risks to nail salon workers. Shops do not always have proper ventilation and so these employees have prolonged exposure to nail polish. What if you like painting your nails? Try some toxic free brands like Piggy Paint and Zoya.

September 28, 2015

Did you know that today is the birthday of Jodie Williams? She's a British sprinter who has won many recognitions. In 2009, she competed in the World Youth Championships and won gold medals in both the 100m and 200m dash. This made her the first girl to win both races in a single competition.

September 27, 2015

Did you know a spider only has flexor muscles to pull its legs inward? Instead it depends on a spike in blood pressure to extend its legs outward. When the poor guy dies, the lack of heartbeat causes the hydraulic system to shut down. The flexor muscles then go back into their relaxed state. Thus the legs stay permanently curled in. Now you know why spiders curl up when they die.

September 26, 2015

Did you know Ban Lan Gen, a Chinese herb, can be used to treat the common cold and other upper respiratory infections? Ban Lan Gen, also known as Isatis root, is used in traditional Chinese medicine. In animal tests, it has been shown to reduce inflammation and fever. It is believed that the herb stimulates the immune system to kill pathogens. However more research needs to be done on its effect on humans. Funny thing is that this same plant is used in indigo dye.

September 25, 2015

Did you know that only one Hercules baboon spider has ever been found? Believed to be one of the biggest spiders in the world, this specimen was collected about a hundred years ago. Either it's super rare or the poor guy went extinct already. But some pet stores try to pass the king baboon spider off as the Hercules. So for anyone looking for a giant pet spider, don't be fooled!

September 24, 2015

Did you know there is a Venice...in Japan? Yanagawa is a city located in the Fukuoka prefecture and is well known for the numerous canals that branch out from the main river. These canals have served as defense and transportation. But what if you want to ride a gondola? No worries. You can take the donkobune. Don't forget to check out the beautiful castle.

September 18, 2015

Did you know that getting a vaccine doesn't automatically make you immune? Some people get the vaccines but do not develop the antibodies (or they don't develop an adequate response). They are called non-responders. Such individuals need to be more wary especially when working in the healthcare field.

September 17, 2015

Did you know that puffin is hunted in Iceland and the Faroe Islands? The bird is part of Iceland's national diet. In fact, eating a raw puffin heart is considered a delicacy. Unfortunately the puffin is a threatened species and does not have any legal protection in those areas. This situation reminds me a bit of shark fin soup...except the birds are usually killed humanely. What are your thoughts?

September 16, 2015

Did you know you can eat monkfish liver? The monkfish, also known as the sea devil, is a deep sea creature with a distensible stomach that allows it to eat prey almost as big as itself. Don't be frightened. You can turn it's liver into a tasty Japanese dish called ankimo. All you have to do is take the veins out, rub with salt, soak in sake, and then steam it. Although I want to try ankimo, you catch it using bottom trawling...not exactly good news for seafloor habitats.

September 11, 2015

Did you know there is candy made from a dragon's beard? Just kidding! The dragon's beard candy is a traditional Chinese candy made from corn syrup and glutinous rice flour. You stretch the dough until you have many thin strands and then wrap the strands around a filling so it looks like a cocoon. But not to worry. There are no bugs inside. Instead you would be biting into crushed peanuts, sesame seeds, chocolate, or even coconut. Yum!

September 6, 2015

Did you know you could make okonomiyaki in two different ways? The Osaka style mixes all of the in a batter containing flour, water, eggs, and grated nagaimo (yam). Sometimes it contains meat and shredded cabbage. On the other hand, the Hiroshima style is layered with batter, cabbage, negi (green onion), meat, egg, and sometimes yakisoba! This version actually uses more cabbage because as it cooks on the grill, you push it down. It also uses a very generous amount of that yummy okonomiyaki sauce. I know what's next on my bucket list.

September 5, 2015

Did you know that the first macaron (not macaroon) was made in Italy? Its name comes from the same origin as macaroni..."fine dough". I know what you're thinking. Macarons aren't flat. They actually used to be! Macarons were simple cookies with no flavors or fillings. It wasn't until the 20th century when someone decided to stick two of them together with jam or ganache.

September 4, 2015

Did you know that there are angels in the ocean? The sea angel is a tiny slug found in both cold and warm bodies of water. (Temperature doesn’t seem to bother it.) Its appendages are the equivalent of a land slug’s foot. Now it may look innocent, but it actually eats other mollusks. It especially likes the sea butterfly. Its mouth contains tentacles that pull the poor butterfly from out of its shell. If not, the angel can just scrap the victim out using its radula.

September 3, 2015

Did you know there are tiny little crabs that live in oysters? I didn't know until I found one while eating an oyster. It's called the pea crab, a tiny parasitic crustacean that lives within clams, oysters, and other bivalves. The crab lives within the host's gills, feeding on the food the bivalve filters in. Despite the gill damage, the host does not die. However because the crab gets to eat first, you oyster might not be as plump as it could have been. On the bright side, you can take it out on the crab by eating it. Some people prefer them raw.