Tucked away in the Arabian Sea, Socotra Island, Yemen, feels like another planet. Often called the “Galápagos of the Indian Ocean,” this remote island is home to over 700 species found nowhere else on Earth. Its most iconic symbol, the Dragon’s Blood Tree—with its umbrella-like shape and crimson sap—looks like it belongs in a sci-fi…
As a cultural anthropologist with extensive experience studying Southeast Asian traditions, I find the Monkey Buffet Festival in Lopburi, Thailand, to be one of the most fascinating and unique events. Held annually, this festival is a grand feast organized for the local monkey population, particularly the macaques that inhabit the area. The event not only…
Ambient music, characterized by its atmospheric and immersive qualities, emerged prominently in the 1970s with pioneers like Brian Eno. Eno’s seminal work, “Music for Airports,” introduced a genre that prioritized mood and tone over traditional musical structures. This innovation laid the foundation for ambient music’s evolution, influencing subsequent artists to explore soundscapes that evoke specific…
Leonardo da Vinci (1452–1519) is celebrated as one of the most influential artists and thinkers in history. Best known for masterpieces like “Mona Lisa” and “The Last Supper”, Leonardo’s work blends artistic mastery with scientific precision. Trained in Florence during the Italian Renaissance, he elevated art through his understanding of anatomy, light, and emotion, setting…
Kabaddi, a high-energy contact sport native to South Asia, blends strength, strategy, and speed. While many know the basics—one player enters the opposing side to tag defenders and return—few outside the sport are aware of its unique “offside trap” rule. In professional kabaddi, stepping beyond the designated boundary line while raiding or defending results in…
Raw salmon is now a beloved ingredient in sushi around the world, but many don’t realize that it wasn’t traditionally eaten raw in Japan. In fact, until the 1980s, raw salmon was considered unsuitable for sushi due to concerns over parasites and freshness. The shift began when Norway, facing an oversupply of salmon, launched a…
Time dilation, a concept rooted in Einstein’s theory of relativity, reveals that time isn’t as absolute as once thought. From my experience studying physics, I recall the astonishment of learning that time can stretch or contract depending on relative motion and gravitational fields. This means that astronauts traveling at speeds approaching light would age more…
Rogue planets are one of the most intriguing and mysterious phenomena in space. These planets, which wander through the galaxy without being tethered to any star, challenge our understanding of planetary formation and the dynamics of the universe. Unlike typical planets that orbit stars, rogue planets are ejected from their solar systems due to gravitational…
The Post-it Note, a staple of offices and homes worldwide, owes its existence to a failed experiment and a stroke of serendipity. In 1968, Dr. Spencer Silver, a chemist at 3M, was tasked with creating a super-strong adhesive. Instead, he developed a weak, pressure-sensitive adhesive that could stick to surfaces but peel off easily without…
Mercury, the smallest and innermost planet in our solar system, is a world of extreme conditions and fascinating mysteries. With a diameter of just 4,880 kilometers, Mercury is only slightly larger than Earth’s Moon. Its proximity to the Sun results in extreme temperature fluctuations, ranging from a scorching 430°C (800°F) during the day to a…
