Category Miscellaneous

How April 1 became the world’s day of mischief

Every April 1st, the world indulges in pranks, hoaxes, and gleeful mischief. But where did this peculiar tradition actually come from? Despite being observed for centuries, the true origins of April Fools’ Day remain unknown and effectively untraceable. The most…

Cauliflory: nature’s trunk-blooming marvel

Ever seen a tree where flowers and fruits sprout directly from the thick trunk or woody branches instead of leafy twigs? This fascinating botanical phenomenon, called cauliflory (literally “stem-flowering” from Latin caulis and flos), is an evolutionary adaptation prevalent in trees such as jackfruit, figs,…

The significance of 786 in Islamic culture

In many South Asian Muslim communities, the number 786 is a common sight, appearing on storefronts, letterheads, and even license plates. While some mistake it for a “lucky number,” its significance lies in Abjad numerals, an ancient Arabic tradition in…

Picture depicting The Last Supper of Jesus

Why the world fears Friday the 13th

Friday the 13th occupies a peculiar corner of human psychology. The dread surrounding it has a formal name: paraskevidekatriaphobia, derived from the Greek words for Friday (Paraskevi) and thirteen (dekatreis). An alternate term, friggatriskaidekaphobia, draws from Frigg, the Norse goddess after whom…

DMD: a rare diagnosis, and expensive hope

We often see news stories about a child diagnosed with DMD, with families turning to crowdfunding and kind strangers to afford a life-saving injection. Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy (DMD) is a rare but severe genetic disorder that mainly affects children, especially…