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!

December 29, 2016

Did you know that the largest ant in the world can grow to about an inch or inch and a half? In addition to its large size, the Dinoponera (giant Amazonian ant) is equipped with strong venom. Its sting is known to cause pain that can last for 2 days. Like with many insects, males tend to get the short end of the stick. After copulation, the queen ant will bite through the male's gaster (part of its abdomen) and pulls out the genital capsule so that it may serve as a sperm plug. Ouch...

November 16, 2016

Did you know that maggots can live in your mouth? Myiasis is a condition in which fly larvae infest and feed on the tissue of a living host. I thought this condition would only happen when there was broken skin, but apparently the mouth works too. When someone sleeps with their mouth open, the flies can be attracted to the smell of their breath. However this is more applicable in tropical areas where oral hygiene isn't important. Other risk factors include dental extractions and infections. Eeps!

November 14, 2016

Did you know that carnations are not only perfect for Mother's Day, but as a snack too? Yup! You can eat carnations. They are said to have a peppery, spicy taste. You can add them to a salad, place them in wine, or even candy them for desserts. Yum!

November 12, 2016

Did you know that there are spiders that look like the black widow? The false black widow spider is smaller and a bit paler in color than its cousin, the black widow. They are quite common in the United Kingdom and do bite humans, but only when humans disturb them. Are those bites deadly? Not really. There is swelling and pain, but the symptoms are less severe than those associated with the black widow's bite. What's so awesome about these little guys? Some of them eat the BLACK WIDOW!