8,000 yen

Ice cream first appeared in 1869 (Meiji 2) and was sold under the name “aisukurin,” but at about 8,000 yen in today’s money it was so expensive that ordinary people could hardly afford it. While the price seems shocking compared to today’s cost of living, it was because the techniques and ingredients needed to make ice cream were very rare at the time.

sugar

Slugs are made mostly of water. So if you sprinkle sugar on them, the water in their bodies is drawn out, and they shrivel up. This happens because the surrounding substance works to absorb water. Like salt, sugar strongly attracts water. As a result, the moisture in the slug’s body is taken away, making it look as if it has melted. But it’s cruel, so let’s not do it carelessly. What’s important is understanding why it happens.

Become a transparent egg

If you put an egg, shell and all, into vinegar, after a while the shell will gradually dissolve. Eggshells are made of calcium, and the acidity of the vinegar dissolves them. Once the shell is gone, only the white membrane inside remains. When you touch it, it feels soft and springy, like a rubber ball. And because there’s no shell, you can see through from the outside to what’s inside. This is why it becomes a “transparent egg.” You can even see a bit of the yolk inside—it’s a very fascinating experiment.

sugar

When you get the hiccups, it can be troublesome because they’re hard to stop, right? At times like that, it’s said that licking a little bit of sugar can make them stop more easily. When sweet sugar enters your mouth, it startles your throat and tongue, which resets the bodily movement causing the hiccups. If you’re having trouble, don’t panic—just try a little bit.

cross

The way the four leaves meet in the center makes them look like a tiny cross. People in the past cherished the cross as a special symbol, so when they found a clover of this shape, they felt happy and protected. That’s why finding a four-leaf clover makes you feel lucky.

Make ice by pouring in boiling water

When you bring hot water to a boil once, the air and impurities that were dissolved in the water are reduced. If you then freeze that water slowly, you can make clear, solid ice. Ice with little air inside melts more slowly, so the chill lasts longer even in a glass. It’s a bit mysterious, but it’s a method that makes you want to give it a try.

cherry tomato

Because cherry tomatoes are small and round, you can hold them and eat them as they are. They also don’t spill much juice and don’t have a strong smell, so they’re safe to eat on airplanes. Plus, they’re packed with nutrients and add a nice pop of color, making them perfect for in-flight salads or snacks. In this way, they were designed so you can easily get your vegetables even while traveling.

Because you'll get caught by humans right away

The name “ahōdori” (albatross) carries a somewhat unfortunate meaning. Long ago, this bird was not very afraid of people and was slow to flee. Because it could be easily caught by humans, it came to be thought of as a “foolish” bird. But in truth, it is an amazing bird that can fly long distances out over the open sea in search of food.

Wash your hands thoroughly

It is said that Beethoven would carefully wash his hands many times before playing the piano or writing music. Perhaps he felt that if his hands weren’t clean, good music wouldn’t be born. He used so much water that people around him were sometimes astonished. It’s interesting to think that even someone who created such wonderful music had quirks like this, isn’t it?

blood type

In fact, it’s said that plants, like humans, have blood types. Of course, they don’t have red blood flowing through them, but flowers and trees do have different types. For example, even within the same species of plant, fruit may not form if the types are incompatible. This is thought to be a mechanism similar to human blood types.