Spring fever may have a basis in scientific fact. A drop-off in melatonin from the longer days of light and a rise in the happy hormone seratonin create the giddy, restless symptoms of spring fever. But historically, spring fever may actually have been reference to scurvy, which occured after a winter without fresh fruits and veggies.

A new possible reason for the flu’s higher transmission rate in winter months is that the influenza virus has a lipid coat that gets harder when it is colder. Like a protective shell, the more solid coat allows the virus to survive longer when the temperatures dip. Once it has successfully reached a new host, body temperature warms up the coat and the virus does its thing. (via Robot Wisdom aux)

Pinchas Zuckerman played the “world’s most expensive violin” on March 21st in Moscow. Maxim Viktorov paid $3.9 million for the Guarneri del Gesu last month and he lent it to Zuckerman for a private concert at the Great Kremlin Palace and a performance at the Tchaikovsky Moscow State Conservatory. Zuckerman, when asked to compare the violin to his own Guarneri, said that would be like comparing two Rolls Royces, “your Rolls might be a Silver Shadow or a Corniche, but they’re both wonderful cars.”

Here’s a mini-roundup of interesting chopstick designs: the twist, the taper, the portable.

Aptonyms are names which suit their bearers’ occupations or roles, such as
Nita House, Real estate agent. (via Follow Me Here)

Ferrets are still illegal as pets in California and Hawaii. Gov. Schwarzenegger vetoed the last California bill legalizing existing ferret pets in 2006. Christie Keith makes the argument that ferret owners are less likely to seek out vet care for their illegal pets, thus increasing the chance of transmitting diseases that are preventable by vaccines, which may be just as damaging as the presumed environmental impact of stray ferrets. Who is really behind the anti-ferret-pet lobby? Environmentalists have much bigger things to worry about, don’t they?

If you’re feeling at all sorry for yourself or whiny about it being Monday and having to go to work and face the grind again, read this little bit about a hockey goalie who stopped 96/100 shots at a playoff game in Germany that took 168 minutes 16 seconds of gameplay (hockey games have 60 minutes of regular play; scoreless overtimes rack up extra time in playoff games where ties must be broken). That goalie, Robert Müller, is in his first season back from surgery to remove a malignant brain tumor. He still gets chemotherapy five days a month. And his team won.

It’s opening day for the Seattle Mariners and what really matters is the food. OK, not really, but the P.I. leads off their opening day story with a rundown of the new items fans will get to nosh on: The Sea Dog (a “hot dog for fish lovers”), cedar-planked salmon, catfish and fries, caramel popcorn, foot-long bratwursts, Auntie Anne’s pretzels, French dip sandwiches, prime rib nachos, and Garlic Jim’s pizza. Don’t worry, you can still get peanuts and beer.

Patti Lupone has completely bowled over The N.Y. Times’ theater critic, Ben Brantley, with her portrayal of Mama Rose in the Gypsy revival on Broadway. After criticizing her Mama Rose of last summer’s limited run, his praise is now effusive…”And yes, that quiet crunching sound you hear is me eating my hat.”

Seattle Times restaurant critic, Nancy Leson, has gone public with a photo and a blog. She’s giving up reviewing. She’s sticking with the topic of food & restaurants for the paper, but leaving the reviews to Providence Cicero.