A list of curious facts
One: This is one of our favourites in a list of very cool maps—which teach you new things. Consider this: 50% of Canadians live below the red line in this one. We also love the Topologist's Map Of The World—which places countries solely according to their borders, irrespective of shape or size. See the rest here.
Two: Egyptian vintage telephone collector Hassan al-Tourky collects and restores rare telephones—and personally uses one that dates back to the 1800s.
Three: Grapefruit has a very strange creation story that dates back to Barbados in the mid-1600s—and is potentially dangerous for anyone taking medication. Atlas Obscura offers a fascinating long read (skip to latter bits for drug interactions which truly blew our mind).
Four: The best way to eat sushi is with your hands NOT chopsticks. These and other mind-blowing tips on how to sushi, courtesy Nobu’s first woman head chef, Eleni Manousou. (FYI: Nobu is a very fancy Japanese restaurant much loved by the chi-chi set).
Five: Even though India consumes 40% of the world’s production of hing (aka asafoetida), we don’t actually grow any of it… until now. The Print has this fascinating story.
Six: A new study finds that even a tiny patch of nature (i.e. little pots of plants) in your garden or balcony reduces stress and increases happiness. So what are you waiting for?
Seven: Finally, this is a “cosmic water spout”—created when two galaxies are slowly pulled toward each other, and one literally ‘drips’ stars into the center of the other.
