July 28, 2016

Did you know that Caterpie is based on the Eastern Tiger Swallowtail caterpillar? Its swollen thorax is green and decorated with two large spots. These spots and the large thorax make the caterpillar's body look like a head. When the caterpillar is attacked, its osmeterium (a fleshy organ that releases smelly odors) becomes inverted and protrudes out of its head. It makes the caterpillar resemble a snake's head. Now to test if you're really a Pokemon fan...what color is the osmeterium?

July 25, 2016

Did you know that you can make ice cream out of fish? Akutaq, or Eskimo ice cream, is a traditional dish of the native people of Alaska. This dessert can be made of reindeer fat, seal oil, ground fish, snow, and fresh berries. (No wonder the name translates to mixed them together.) The dish is usually served during ceremonies. Each family has their own unique recipe and you can lose social standing if you're caught making more than one kind of akutaq.

July 24, 2016

Did you know that white tuna sushi may not actually be made of white tuna? Escolar (occasionally called butterfish) is sometimes used as a substitute. Although delicious and much cheaper than the white tuna, the escolar is full of wax esters. Those esters cannot be digested by humans, and so end up acting like laxatives. Those who have eaten the fish reported symptoms such as cramping, nausea, and explosive diarrhea. That may be why Japan and Italy banned it.

July 23, 2016

Did you know that you can eat raw whale? Muktuk is a traditional Inuit/Eskimo dish that consists of whale skin and blubber from the bowhead whale (and occasionally beluga and narwhal). Although usually eaten raw, the dish can be served breaded and fried.