August 21, 2017

Did you know that the endometrium can grow in places besides the uterus? In endometriosis, the tissue can end up growing around the vagina, fallopian tubes, bladder, rectum, and even the lungs. Normally during menstruation, the endometrium sheds and the extra tissue exists via the vagina. However in endometriosis, the tissue doesn’t always have an exit. So it ends up causing internal bleeding, tissue damage, pain, scar tissue formation, bowel and urinary problems, and even infertility. 

June 17, 2017

Did you know that in Cambodia, the level at which you hold your hands up is correlated with the amount to respect you show? Sampeah is the traditional form of greeting. You place your palms together (like for Reverse Phalen's Test). Hands are held at chest level when greeting friends, at chin level when greeting superiors and teachers, at nose level when greeting parents or grandparents, and at eyebrow level when greeting monks and royalty. So the higher the hands, the more respect. Similarly in Japan, the level at which you bow is correlated with respect. The deeper the bow, the more respect you show. Cool huh? You can also say hello and goodbye when you hold your hands up. In Khmer, hello is choum reap sor and goodbye is choum reap lir.

April 12, 2017

Did you know there is a Rat Island? Actually there are two of them! One is located in Alaska and the other in New York. The island in Alaska was named Rat Island because it became infested with rats after a Japanese shipwreck in 1780. The invasive species caused a drop in native bird populations. In 2007, the US FWS launched a campaign to eradicate all the rats. Now that the island is rat-free, it is called Hawadax Island. As for the Rat Island in New York...we're not really sure how it got its name. Some say it was where escaping prisoners (who were called rats) from Hart Island fled to. Pelham Penthouse, a quarantine hospital for yellow fever patients, was built on island in the 1800s.

April 9, 2017

Did you know that there's sushi made of fish sperm? Although the entangled appearance of shirako (白子) makes it look like a brain, it's actually the sperm sac from fishes like the cod, salmon, anglerfish, and pufferfish. It has a salty creaminess that some enjoy. Japanese cuisine isn't the only one to use milt. Herring milt is served in a traditional Russian dish!