evolution

What are the differences between Japanese yam (Dioscorea japonica), Chinese yam (Dioscorea japonica), Japanese yam (Dioscorea tokoro), and bitter yam (Dioscorea japonica)? We explain how to distinguish between similar species! Why do they produce bulbils? Their reproductive strategies were diverse!

Japanese yam (Dioscorea japonica), Chinese yam (Dioscorea longa), Japanese yam (Dioscorea tokoro), and bitter yam (Dioscorea japonica) all belong to the genus Dioscorea in the family Dioscoreaceae. They produce edible tubers and bulbils, and are very common climbing perennial plants often seen in urban areas. The genus Dioscorea, also known as yam, is a group that includes a vast number of species...

2026.03.18

plant

What are the differences between white magnolia, kobushi magnolia, star magnolia, and tamushiba magnolia? We'll explain how to distinguish between similar species! Is it a myth that their flowers are primitive? What is the purpose of their conspicuous red seeds?

White magnolia, kobushi magnolia, star magnolia, and tamushiba all belong to the Magnolia genus of the Magnoliaceae family. Being deciduous trees, they shed their leaves in winter, and around April, like cherry blossoms, they produce large, white, polypetalous flowers—one per branch—before the leaves appear. A key characteristic of these trees is...

2026.03.10

plant

What are the differences between European pumpkins, Japanese pumpkins, and pepo pumpkins? European pumpkins are eaten in Japan, and Japanese pumpkins are eaten in the West! Were the fruits eaten by extinct animals!?

European pumpkins, Japanese pumpkins, and pepo pumpkins are all annual vining plants belonging to the Cucurbitaceae family, Cucurbita genus. Originally from the Americas, they are very popular in Japan, playing an important role in both everyday meals and Halloween celebrations. However, the three species are often confused, and their differences...

2026.03.05

plant

Posts 8805 Featured Image Cochineal Lac Shellac Differences

Are you actually eating them every day? The differences and dangers of insect-derived food colorings: cochineal, lac, and shellac.

In Japan, except in some regions, eating insects is extremely rare, and it's safe to say that it's almost unheard of among younger generations, especially in urban areas. While some advocate for insect consumption as a way to prepare for food shortages, cries of "Absolutely not!" are heard, mainly on social media. Even I, who work with insects...

2026.02.19

animalhistory

Posts 18779 Featured Image Spice Myth Age Of Exploration

Is the theory that spices were used to mask the smell of rotten meat during the Age of Discovery a myth? A thorough explanation of the real reason.

I originally have a science background, but I enjoy reading world history content. I came across something interesting: the idea that spices (spices excluding stems, leaves, and flowers) don't have much antibacterial properties, and that "spices were used to mask the smell of rotten meat"...

2026.02.13

planthistory

Posts 18742 Featured Image Ruminant Stomach Compartments

The differences between the four stomachs of a cow (tripe, honeycomb tripe, omasum, and abomasum) and how to remember them! Why do cows have four stomachs?

When you go to a yakiniku (Japanese barbecue) restaurant, you might see four parts of the cow's stomach (fore-stomach) listed as offal: mino, hachinosu, senmai, and giara. Because they have a distinctive taste and are internal organs, people either love them or hate them, but their chewy texture and the fact that they pair well with alcohol make them popular...

2026.01.22

animal

Posts 18617 Featured Image Adlerian Psychology Scientific Evidence

Is Adlerian psychology dubious? A thorough examination using modern science to determine the extent of its scientific basis.

If we were to summarize Adlerian psychology in one sentence, it would be: "A psychology that fosters the ability to live in cooperation with others (community feeling) by choosing one's own life (self-determination), acting in accordance with one's purpose (teleology), and letting go of unnecessary control over others (separation of tasks)." However, his psychology...

2026.01.20

animalhistory

Posts 16293 Featured Image Origin Of Rhythm And Meter

Why can humans move in rhythm? Unraveling the origins of 2/4, 4/4, and 3/4 time signatures from an evolutionary biology perspective.

When listening to music, singing, or dancing becomes a hobby, you naturally develop an interest in rhythm and time signatures. However, if you try to pinpoint the origins of this interest, you might find it difficult to answer. Often, we just naturally find ourselves moving to the rhythm...

2025.11.12

animalhistory

What are the differences between Japanese walnut, black walnut, dwarf walnut, and Japanese walnut? We'll explain how to distinguish between similar species! Did the hard fruit evolve specifically for squirrels and mice?!

Japanese walnut (Juglans mandshurica), Japanese walnut (Juglans regia), Japanese walnut (Juglans mandshurica), and Japanese walnut (Juglans rhoifolia) all belong to the Juglandaceae family and are deciduous trees characterized by odd-pinnately compound leaves with serrated edges. They grow in Japanese forests, and in the case of Japanese walnut, Japanese walnut, and Japanese walnut, the so-called "walnut nuts" are found inside the false fruits and hard fruits...

2025.05.12

plant

07.2093 Chinese tallow tree (Unripe fruit)

What are the differences between Chinese tallow tree and Japanese wax tree? We explain how to distinguish between similar species! Why did the white seeds, which contain a lot of fat, evolve?

Both the Chinese tallow tree (Toxicodendron sylvaticum) and the Japanese wax tree (Toxicodendron succedaneum) are deciduous trees, and both share the name "haze." This name comes from the fact that their fruits or seeds contain a large amount of fat, which has historically been used as wax. However, perhaps because of this, the Chinese tallow tree and the Japanese wax tree are often confused...

2025.05.08

plant