Category: Article of the Day

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

Accidentally introduced into the US in the 1930s from its native S America, the red imported fire ant (RIFA) is an invasive ant species that has since spread to Asia and Australia. These resilient, aggressive pests possess a painful sting and build mounds that can destroy crops. US officials estimate that the ants cause more than $5 billion in damages annually. While RIFA stings are rarely life-threatening to humans, the insects are responsible for at least 80 deaths. What causes them to swarm? Discuss

The USS Spiegel Grove was a US Navy dock landing ship that was slated to be intentionally sunk off the coast of Florida to create an artificial reef. On May 17, 2002, the Spiegel Grove sank prematurely and ended up upside down on the sea bottom—a position that was corrected in 2005 when Hurricane Dennis forced the ship right-side up. After the ship was sunk, the site was opened to recreational divers, drawing thousands of visitors. How many divers have died exploring the wreck? Discuss

The Hindu god Shiva is the subject of an elaborate and sometimes contradictory mythology. He is seen as both destroyer and restorer, the great ascetic and the symbol of sensuality, the benevolent herdsman of souls and the wrathful avenger. The trident he is often depicted holding represents his three aspects as creator, preserver, and destroyer, while the snakes his is garlanded with show his power over deadly animals. Shiva is one of three gods that make up the Trimurti. Who are the other two? Discuss