Finest Curiosities

In the this post more than one commented that they don’t see what’s interesting in Gantz, so I thought I’d give some reasons to prefer it over a lot of similar stuff.
The story is about a bunch of people who, after dying, are resurrected in a room, given weapons, and sent to fight alien creatures [...]

For today’s curiosity I would like to introduce you to an item used to turn sour food into sweet food. Enter the miracle berry or Synsepalum dulcificum.
The miracle fruit has been around about forty years, but managed to remain a fringe product in the eastern world. It affects your taste buds by altering the way [...]

Japanese animation is big business. The public loves it, and that means producers love it. But not all anime concepts are original and worthy of consideration. Far too many series have so much in common that it seems you’re watching the same thing over and over again.
The main character in these series is way too [...]

Genetics: Spiderman vs Blade Runner

What Spiderman does wrong:
No matter how “radioactive” a spider can be. There’s no way a bite from it can turn you into a mutant. This is even less believable than radiation or slime induced mutations.
What Blade Runner does right:
Replicants can’t change their DNA to increase their lifespan because, well, [...]

Cordyceps

Some species of this fungus infect insects by entering their spiracles (tiny opening on the surface of some animals that usually lead to respiratory systems), and begin to feed on their flesh and non-vital organs. When this parasite has consumed almost all of the insect’s body, it enters the insect’s brain and interacts with its [...]

5. Fat Activism

Is being fat good or bad? There are associations whose answer could be different than yours. While other minorities have won the right not to be joked about, fat people remain real punching bags when it comes to comedy: these organizations are there mainly to promote respect and self-acceptance. That’s commendable, but [...]