May 3, 2016

Did you know that in Japan, Hina Matsuri (雛祭り) is celebrated on March 3rd? Hina Matsuri, also known as Girls' Day and Doll Festival, is celebrated by displaying hina ningyo (雛人形) on a platform covered in red carpet. The dolls represent members of the imperial court. Family members gather together to enjoy snacks, like hina arare (雛あられ), and wish the girls good health and happiness. It is said that hina matsuri came about from nagashi bina (流し雛), a custom in which paper dolls (with bad luck written on the backs) were placed on small straw boats and floated down rivers. It was believed to dispel impurities and misfortune.

May 2, 2016

Did you know that high fructose corn syrup is made from cornstarch by converting glucose into fructose? This conversion is possible thanks to the amazing glucose isomerase, which is found in many species of bacteria. (Unfortunately organic chemistry was never forte but I tried to understand the process.) When the glucose enters the active site of the enzyme, a histidine residue catalyzes a proton transfer to an oxygen molecule. After gaining the positive hydrogen, the oxygen breaks its bond with a carbon. The carbon then creates a pi bond with another oxygen, forming an open chain. The metals in the enzyme catalyze a hydride shift creating a carbocation. The resonance structure allows the sugar to become an enol. However enols are reactive and will react with surrounding water molecules, leading up to fructose.

April 23, 2016

Did you know that the chocolate shop, Max Brenner, was named after TWO co-founders? Oded Brenner was the bald man behind all the sweets. He shadowed a chocolatier in Paris before creating his own shop with Max Fichtman in 1996 in Israel. Since then the store has expanded to a chain AND all of the chocolate is kosher. In case you guys haven't tried it, there's a store at Union Square. :P

April 22, 2016

Did you know that there are predatory worms lying underneath the sands of the ocean floor? The bobbit worm is an aquatic worm that bury itself underneath the sand and waits for a prey to swim by. This critter has 5 antennae, which it uses to detect prey close by. Once it senses a meal, it darts out of the sand and latches on with all of its sharp teeth. The worm can also inject a toxin into the prey, allowing the worm to stun or kill prey much larger than itself.

April 21, 2016

Did you know there is a 10 foot living fossil swimming in the freshwater bodies of North America? Usually found near the South, the alligator gar is the largest fish in the gar family. This primitive fish has kept some of the characteristics of its early ancestors such as the spiral valve intestine. It can also breathe underwater and on land thanks to its swim bladder. Now if the 10 foot part doesn't scare you, maybe the fact that these guys have two rows of jagged teeth on the top jaw will. This characteristic is not found in other gars. But thanks to those extra teeth, the fish can impale and hold prey.

April 20, 2016

Today is more like a fun fact about me.

Did you know that I like writing poems?

Almost An Adult

I am almost but not yet an adult.

Because I find that I have many faults.

There’s a lot I know and a lot I don’t know.

Mistakes will be made and sometimes my confidence fades.

But I remind myself that I am still a seed.

I depend on you friends to do me a good deed.

Please sprinkle some wisdom and occasionally constructive criticism.

Help knowledge take root and my skills bear fruit.

I promise with some patience and dedication,

I will tackle problems without hesitation.

But you might be teaching for a while because learning makes me smile.

No matter how old I may be, there’s always a bit of child still in me.

So I am almost but not yet an adult.

April 18, 2016

Did you know that nails can curve upward to look like spoons? This condition is called koilonychia and is actually pretty common. There is a dip in the nail bed that causes the nail above to also curve upward. However most cases are mild and the nails only appear wavy. Spoon nails can be related to trauma, iron-deficiency anemia or family history. In severe cases, the nails curve so much that they are able to hold droplets of water in the indents. The nails can even split down the middle!