Tara is a multimedia storyteller and freelance writer of culture, science, travels, soul-sucking books, movies/TV and great eats. In addition to HowStuffWorks, Tara has been published in The New York Times 360, PBS NewsHour, Paste, Bedford + Bowery, Hyperallergic and The New Food Economy. She’s also worked as a fact-checker for The New York Times. Before subsisting on instant ramen as a freelance journalist, Tara received an M.A. in Literary Reportage from New York University’s Arthur L. Carter Journalism Institute and a B.A in Political Science/South & Southeast Asian Studies from the University of California – Berkeley. Follow her on Twitter @TaraYarla, for writing-related musings and check out her website here: tarayarlagadda.com.
Recent Contributions
If you're a gamer, you've got Jerry Lawson to thank for inventing the first commercial home video game console with interchangeable game cartridges.
When the "killing stone," or "Sesshō seki," split March 5, 2022, on the plains of Mount Nasu in Japan, was the devious spirit Tamamo-no-Mae released into the world to wreak havoc?
Asian Americans continue to challenge injustice and a rising tide of hate crimes directed at them, while mainstream narratives fail to address their bravery, history and struggles.
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You've probably seen Tibetan prayer flags fluttering in the breeze, but what do they symbolize and who should hang them?
This warm, fluffy, Polish treat is stuffed with a cream- or fruit-based filling and is a pre-Lent staple served on both Fat Tuesday and Fat Thursday.
Papa Legba is a figure that stands as a mysterious link between the human and spirit worlds in the religion of Vodou, but who is he and what's his story?
On National Cheeseburger Day, we're celebrating — what else? — the all-American cheeseburger.
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At 91, Dolores Huerta, the activist who inspired Barack Obama's "Yes, we can" campaign, continues to work tirelessly developing leaders and advocating for the working poor, women and children.
There are some 50 Chinatowns in America and hundreds more in other countries. What led to their creation and will they survive into the next century?
There are two types of huskies and they both look an awful lot like malamutes, so it's no wonder people can't tell them apart.
This stunning sight is totally natural and totally cool.
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Many scientists say that the response to climate change will require planting new trees. A whole lot of them.
It is the largest animal ever to exist on the planet.
It may seem like just the cutest thing in the world to you, but owning a pet monkey is a really bad idea. Here's why.
Also known as winter radish, icicle radish, Chinese radish and Japanese radish, daikon has the crunchy texture of a red radish, but with a much milder taste.
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This banana has soft, sweet flesh and tastes a lot like vanilla custard or ice cream. One scoop or two?
This native New Zealand 'liquid gold' honey may make you want to abandon the bear. But does it really have medicinal properties, and why is it so expensive?
Aaah, mushrooms – all those beautiful shapes and colors, textures and flavors. But what about the dirt and debris that always seem to come along? We find out whether it's best to wash them, brush them or just go au naturel with them.
By studying these geological formations here on Earth, we may be able to learn how to live on other planets.
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Taro is a starchy root tuber that looks a lot like a potato, but it's rich in polyphenols, giving it a bigger bang as a healthy alternative.
The word "hibachi" has its origins in Japan, where it translates to "fire pot."
Shallots belong to the same family as onions, leeks, scallions and garlic. They look like small, elongated onions but have a sweeter, milder flavor.
Heart of palm, with a similar taste and texture to artichoke heart, is a staple in Central and South America and a healthy addition to almost any menu.
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The modern city of Istanbul, Turkey, has a long and tumultuous history. Once known as Constantinople, it was the capital of the Ottoman Empire, the center of cultural and religious activity and a hub for trade in Eurasia.
Set over Bear Run, a tributary of the Youghiogheny River in the mountains of southwestern Pennsylvania, Fallingwater is perhaps the architect's best-known work.