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Hitting the books: The ancient technology behind astronaut ice cream
And what orbital party would be complete without the most American of freeze-dried fare, astronaut ice cream?
Experiment suggests potatoes really will grow on Mars
It looks like Mark Watney, the fictional, stranded astronaut in The Martian, was right about one thing. Potatoes can grow on Mars. The International Potato Center (CIP) in Lima placed a special potato inside a sealed container that simulates Mars temperature, air pressure, oxygen and carbon dioxide levels. The results so far are positive; cameras inside the canister show sprouts.
If you're part of the 'younger set with high income,' you might like this purple potato
Potato breeding programs at Michigan State University and Texas A&M have been churning out modified spuds for the better part of a decade, if not longer, but thanks to A&M's Creighton Miller, we now have a better idea of the 'designer' potato's target market. "What we're doing now is developing unique varieties that appeal to the younger set that is high-income that are willing to try something different," he explained in an interview with AgriLife Today, holding a variety of product, including a "gourmet" potato sporting "red flesh with splashes of yellow." Michigan State's program, meanwhile, has developed a variety called "Raspberry." According to a report in Txchnologist, that potato has vibrant red flesh and a skin that's flavored like the fruit. You might get a good feel for how it tastes by taking a bite while it's still garden-fresh, but that particular potato, along with another simply referred to as "MSQ558-2RR," are likely destined to end their lives as thin-cut chips. De-licious. [Photo credit: Texas A&M AgriLife Communications]
Boeing tests the effect of WiFi on flights, substitutes potatoes for humans
Boeing has hauled in around 20,000 pounds of potatoes to use as human substitutes during its tests with airplane WiFi. The aircraft maker is checking that onboard wireless signals don't interfere with navigation and communication systems. Groaningly titled SPUDS (Synthetic Personnel Using Dielectric Substitution), the tubers apparently replicate how airborne signals are bounced and absorbed by real-life passengers, but without the need for Boeing to offer complimentary snacks or tiny drinks during testing.
Yissum develops potato-powered batteries for the developing world
Researchers in Jerusalem have just announced they've developed super simple, sustainable, organic electric batteries which are powered by treated potatoes. Their findings have just been published in the Journal of Renewable and Sustainable Energy, and detail uses of the batteries in the developing world where infrastructure is lacking. The apparently highly efficient battery is made from zinc and copper electrodes and a potato slice which has been boiled. The act of boiling the potato increased the electric power around 10 fold in comparison to an untreated potato, giving it power for days, and sometimes weeks depending on the conditions. The potato batteries are also, of course, way cheaper than regular commercial cells. The technology has officially been made available free of charge to the developing world. We knew there was a reason we loved potatoes so much. The full press release is below.
Opera parodies Google's Chrome speed tests mercilessly (video)
This, dear friends, is the height of comedy. Opera's pair of Scandinavian browser testers are back, this time applying some extremely high-tech speed tests to determine whether the Norwegian browser is faster than boiling a potato. Seriously, if you're not laughing at this, you either work for Google or you have a funny bone missing. In more concrete news, the acceptance of Opera Mini to the iPhone has accounted for a cool 70 percent of the Mini's growth over the month of April, with 2.6 million Apple users downloading the software worldwide. But that's not what you're here for, you're here to see the epic video, which awaits after the break along with Google's original. [Thanks, Ian G.]
Google Chrome: faster than a flying potato
Google's never been shy to make claims that Chrome is the fastest browser on the planet, but it's truly pulled out all the stops to drive that point home for its latest beta. Rather than rely on some simple benchmarks, Google decided to test Chome against some other things that are fast -- namely, a potato cannon, sound waves, and lightning. We won't spoil all the surprise for you, but you can rest assured that Chrome comes out looking pretty good, and that everything else gets a little messy. Head on past the break to check out the speed tests for yourself, as well as the requisite making-of video.
Crapgadget: Tacky USB knicknacks edition
When the fine folks of the USB Implementers Forum put together the specs for USB 2.0 some nine odd years ago, they certainly never dreamed that this technology would be the standard connectivity option for the tacky knickknacks of the 21st century. We know you won't be lining your mantelpiece with any of these things (the space being reserved for your Franklin Mint collector plates depicting the cast of Gone With The Wind) but maybe your cube could use some gussying up? We have 2GB thumb drives for you that almost-not-really pass themselves off as cat's ears, a USB hub that comes with "chocolate" balls of dubious provenance, a hub that might look at home next to your skull bong, and lastly, a USB powered fan with a fetching Spider-Man motif. Do any of these sound good to you? We didn't think so. But feel free to hop on past the break for a good laugh.Read - USB Chocolate 3-Port Hub Read - USB Memory Cat Ears Read - Wacky Skull and Potato Polyresin USB HubsRead - USB Spider-Man Fan
Well Fed Buff: Runn Tum Tuber Surprise
Well Fed Buff serves up tasty dishes to boost your HP, stats and appetite – with that special WoW twist, of course. The calendar says that spring has spring, which means we should be out Bar B Queuing, but the Earth Mother seems to disagree. It has been unseasonably cold and windy in many areas, which gives us plenty of opportunities for hot chili, soup, and stew. This week we indulge in Runn Tum Tuber Surprise. In game the recipe calls for Runn Tum Tubers and Soothing Spices. The tubers are found in Warpwood Pods in Dire Maul or drop from Pusillin, who also drops this recipe. This dish can be consumed by characters 45 and higher. It restores 1933 health over 27 seconds and increases your Intellect by ten for ten minutes. The real life version is relatively simple to make, and requires considerably less talent than the 275 Cooking skill required for the virtual version.
The Joystiq Weekend: March 24 - 25, 2007
One of our readers, Luigi Hann, produced this killer-toy hybrid, dubbed Mr. Pyramid Head. If you can't guess the toy, perhaps this picture will help. Check out the highlights for this weekend:JoystiqueryGamestop shenanigans sell open games as 'new'Metareview: Puzzle Quest: Challenge of the Warlords (PSP, DS)Reminder: turn 'on' your PS3 tonight for Folding@home foldathonToday's comparingest game video: Virtua Tennis 3 360/PS3Weekly Webcomic Wrapup: mainstream editionNewsDreamcast homebrew game coming to the DSCarpentry sim turns Wii gaming into workIslandofRhodes.org, elaborate fake or new announcement?Broken PlayStation murderer gets four years'This is Living' toilet girl helps flush PAL PS3 salesXbox 360's Red Ring of Death visits Weekly Geek Show2D Ocarina of Time creator dies in car accidentTarget $24 DS game saleCulture & Community10 things to hate about the PSP and DSHow to make the DS betterBanking and insurance adverts show gamer demo growing upOld people experience Wii, could this help grandkids?
