Last week's Curios covered a new formula for non-melting ice cream, Natasha Wagner's perfect rear end, and 6th century rhinoplasties.
Curio #888 | Nose jobs from the 6th century B.C.
With the nose so prominently featured on the human face, I guess it's no surprise that people throughout history have tried to change theirs. Rhinoplasty, or plastic surgery on the nose, has been around since the 6th century BC! The first recorded rhinoplasty nose job occurred in India, and involved taking a flap of skin from the patient's cheek to mold a new nose. But the procedure didn't take off until the 16th century, thanks to syphilis. At that time... keep reading.
Curio #887 | Some holiday cheer for your waistline
The holiday season is in full swing, which means you are likely consuming an above average amount of food and drink. Nothing ruins holiday cheer like waistline anxiety, so here's some good news: reports of holiday weight gain are greatly exaggerated. Media outlets have long reported the average person gains between 5 and 10 pounds from Thanksgiving to New Years. This turns out to be completely false! According to a recent study, the typical person... keep reading.
Curio #886 | Cars from the underground get a second life underwater
Ever wondered what happens to old subway and train cars when they are retired? Besides the .00001% that are made into tourist restaurants, it's historically a challenge to dispose of thousands of 180-ton metal cars. Not anymore, thanks to the ingenuity of Delaware's Department of Natural Resources. That US state's "artificial reef" program has figured out a way to recycle the train cars--primarily from the New York City subway--as luxury condominiums for...keep reading.
Curio #885 | Seriously, stop feeding the ducks
It was recently estimated that in England and Wales alone, six million loaves of bread are fed to ducks every year. Nutritionists don't have much nice to say about humans eating bread--particularly of the white variety--and the same goes for ducks. It is packed with empty calories, and acts like junk food for ducks. They eventually get addicted to it, and then have little interest in eating anything else. This not only causes malnourishment, but can also lead to a horrible and incurable... keep reading.
Curio #884 | The pH of a perfect grilled cheese
Grilled cheese enthusiasts, keep reading! A recent study by the American Chemical Society has revealed the secret for making the perfect cheese sandwich. Most grilled cheese lovers agree the gooier the texture, the better. Soft and stretchy is definitely preferable to oily and lumpy. Which is where chemistry comes in. Achieving the perfectly gooey consistency depends on the acidity and calcium content of the particular cheese. More scientifically, it's about how the... keep reading.
Curio #883 | The woman with the perfect rear end
You've probably never heard of Natasha Wagner, but she is the secret weapon of the women's denim industry. Or, rather, her derriere is. Women's jeans are known for coming in a confusing and inconsistent sizes. It can be almost impossible to find two pairs that fit the same. That's where Wagner's "perfect" rear end comes in. While having a "perfect" backside may seem incredibly subjective, for clothing manufacturers it means incredibly... keep reading.
Curio #882 | We all scream for (non-melting) ice cream
It's about time. Scientists have formulated ice cream that doesn't melt! The secret is a naturally occurring protein called Bacterial Surface Layer A (BsIA). BslA is a common bacteria, found in water, air, food, and our own gastrointestinal tracts. That's important, because it means it's a "friendly" bacteria, safe for human consumption. The protein is extracted from the same Bacillus subtilis that we recently learned could... keep reading.
Want more amusing facts? Check out the archive of 875+ Daily Curios, or sign-up for Curious.com to get the Daily Curio email delivered right to your inbox!