A list of curious facts
One: The world’s ‘most dangerous’ cheese is an Italian delicacy called Casu marzu. The reason: It is infested with maggots—hatched from eggs of cheese skipper flies, Piophila casei. Here’s how it is made:
Maggots hatch, making their way through the paste, digesting proteins in the process, and transforming the product into a soft creamy cheese. Then the cheesemonger cracks open the top – which is almost untouched by maggots – to scoop out a spoonful of the creamy delicacy.. At this point, the grubs inside begin to writhe frantically.
Many locals prefer the ‘fusion’ version—where a centrifuge mushes the maggots into the cheese. Others “like it au naturel. They open their mouths and eat everything.” The cheese is only potentially dangerous—if the maggots survive and chew up your intestine. That hasn’t happened yet—at least not on record. But it is banned from being sold on the market. As you can see below, Gordon Ramsay was not impressed. (CNN)
Two: Sticking with gross things people do to themselves, did you know the latest trend in skincare is beef tallow? It is being hyped as Ma Nature’s answer to botox—much like snail slime, nightingale poop or salmon sperm. And in case you’re wondering what exactly beef tallow is: “Rendered beef suet, the fat from around the animal’s kidneys.” You slather it all over your face for that youthful look (see promo vid below). An added bonus: You will smell like old-fashioned McD fries. One thing for Indians to consider: You may run the risk of being lynched. (The Guardian)
Three: Did you know that a brave Air India crew averted a 9/11-style disaster fifty years ago—on Christmas Day in 1974. A Czech-Canadian man rushed into the cockpit of a New York-Bombay flight—and tried to crash the plane into St Peter’s cathedral. More on this astonishing story in this X thread—or these New York Times and Pittsburgh Post Gazette articles.
Bonus fact: Vincent Van Gogh created around 150 paintings when he was committed to an asylum in Southern France. A group of conservators, scientists and historians say they’ve discovered #151—a previously unknown portrait of a fisherman found at a Minnesota garage sale. It sold for less than $50. But, but, but: It hasn’t been authenticated yet—and not all are convinced. (Wall Street Journal)
