Last week my father received a phone call from the branch director of his long-standing bank to offer him a new product. My father, instead of listening with confidence to the advice of a trustworthy agent, was immediately suspicious. The … Continue reading →

A spiny ant, Polyrhachis armata, from Thailand biting a rainforest leaf following infection by the fungus Ophiocordyceps unilateralis. The large stalk and two spore-producing bodies are visible. Image and caption courtesy David Hughes. Absurd Creature of the Week: The Zombie … Continue reading →

Last week, we discussed the airline trend of banning children from special “quiet” sections of the airplane. This week, the UAE’s national airline Etihad Airways introduces us to the inverse: special traveler liaisons for children, known as “flying nannies. See … Continue reading →