Category: Article of the Day

Although deadly nightshade, a perennial herbaceous plant that has bell-shaped flowers and shiny black berries, is related to potatoes, tomatoes, and eggplants, it is one of the most toxic plants found in the Western Hemisphere. It contains alkaloids that can cause tachycardia, hallucinations, blurred vision, and, in extreme cases, death. Also known as belladonna, meaning “beautiful lady” in Italian, the plant was once used cosmetically by women to enhance the appearance of what feature? Discuss

Though cockroaches are insects commonly associated with human dwellings, only about 20 of the 3,500 known species are suited to thrive in the typical home. Once a home is infested, however, it is extremely difficult to eradicate the pest. One of the world’s hardiest insects, the cockroach can live without food for up to a month and without breathing for up to 45 minutes. Even decapitation does not immediately kill the bugs. Experts believe cockroaches could even survive what cataclysmic event? Discuss

Widely recognized as Japan’s greatest swordsmith, Masamune is thought to have forged most of his swords in the 14th c, but because no exact dates are known for his birth or death, he has attained an almost legendary status. With a reputation for superior beauty and quality—remarkable at a time when the steel used in sword making was often impure—his swords are often referred to by the name of their maker, much like famous works of art. What is the best known Masamune, and where is it today? Discuss

Proteus is an early sea-god of Greek mythology, an old man whose responsibilities include tending to Poseidon’s seals. Though he is said to have the gift of prophecy, Proteus goes to go to great lengths to avoid disclosing this knowledge and only does so if trapped. A shape-shifter, he evades capture by changing his appearance. For this reason, the adjective “protean”—meaning “versatile” or “capable of assuming many forms”—is derived from his name. Who captures Proteus in Homer’s Odyssey? Discuss

The term handedness refers to the habitual or more skillful use of one hand as opposed to the other. Approximately 90% of people are right-hand dominant, and a number of biological, sociological, and environmental theories have been proposed to explain the trend. In 2007, researchers discovered the LRRTM1 gene, the first gene linked to an increased likelihood of left-handedness. Many cultures have associated “lefties” with evil or bad luck. What is one advantage associated with left-handedness? Discuss

Named after Zeus, the supreme god of Greek mythology, Zeidae are a family of large, showy fish found in the Atlantic, Indian, and Pacific oceans. Members of the Zeidae family have fairly discoid, laterally-compressed bodies with massive jaws, large eyes, and a conspicuous, crest-shaped dorsal fin containing up to 10 spines. Typically found close to the sea bottom, these edible fish are primarily caught via deep-sea trawling. How do they reproduce? Discuss

The Reading Terminal complex is located in the Market East section of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Completed in 1893, the complex houses a massive trainshed as well as a flourishing market that continues to do business today. At the time of its construction, the terminal’s single-span arched-roof trainshed was one of the largest in the world. Now the world’s oldest structure of its kind, the trainshed has been declared a National Historic Landmark. What is now housed in the trainshed? Discuss

Aerial exploration of the arid tableland surrounding Peru’s Palpa valley has revealed a remarkable network of geometric and zoomorphic forms etched in the desert floor. Created by the Nazca, a pre-Incan civilization that flourished from about 200 BCE to about 600 CE, the Nazca Lines span about 200 sq mi (500 sq km). The glyphs are only recognizable as coherent figures from the air, but the Nazca never possessed the technology to view them from that vantage point. Why, then, did they create them? Discuss

Found floating in warm seas or washed up on the shore, ambergris is a solid, waxy substance formed in the intestines of sperm whales. Possessing a sweet, earthy odor, it has been used throughout history as a food flavoring and a material for jewelry, though its primary commercial use has been as a fixative in perfumes. However, because ambergris is quite rare and expensive, many of today’s perfumes use synthetic replacements. What function does ambergris serve within the whale’s digestive tract? Discuss

The Kayan are a Tibeto-Burman ethnic group known for their unusual tradition of body modification, which consists of coiling lengths of brass around women’s necks. The coils are first applied to young girls when they are approximately five years old, and each coil is replaced with a longer one as the weight of the brass pushes the collar bone down and compresses the rib cage. Contrary to popular belief, the neck vertebrae are not actually lengthened. Can wearers remove the rings entirely? Discuss