An interesting archive article from the brilliant Ark-in-Space engrossingly (and timely for summer) profiles the bizarre life-cycle of the ladybug. This through treatment presents quite a few surprises like who knew of their voraciousness that includes cannibalism (called intraguild predation) and that nightmare, gila monster phase of development that they go through after hatching.
Sunday 31 May 2015
marienkรคfer
catagories: ๐ฉ๐ช, environment, language
Saturday 30 May 2015
melmac
curdling
After several decades of speculation—reverting to staple theories of bacteria or nibbling mice in the mix, researchers have determined why what’s classed as Swiss cheese was traditionally riddled with “eyes” but has now more or less become “blind” (in cheese-talk). The lack of the characteristic holes does not affect the flavour of course but their source was an enduring mystery—until, that is, the holes started to disappear. It was not the fermenting agents, however, that carved out these voids but rather other impurities, like splinters of hay, in the customary wooden milking buckets that have been employed for centuries. In fact, it was not really until modern times that the holes were considered desirable at all and cultivated as something of a trademark for foreign markets. With processes becoming more automated and sanitary, however, large holes are not likely to develop.
Friday 29 May 2015
hirsute
five-by-five
imperial units: boss lunch box issued to promote US adoption of the metric system
animatronic: BRETT (Berkeley Robot for the Elimination of Tedious Tasks) learns to put things together
allusive: visual homages in Tarantino films
subterrania: mysterious, amazing sea-shell grotto discovered accidentally
franking privilege: one man’s daily journal in the form of tiny postage stamps for a make-believe country
alles gute zum geburtstag!
catagories: ๐ฉ๐ช, holidays and observances, Saxony