Skyrocketing raw commodity prices and growing sustainability pressures are pushing chocolate and confectionery companies to pour funding into finding alternative ingredients for sweet treats. Mondelez International, the maker of Oreo, was among the investors that took part in a $4.5mn seed funding round for cell-based cocoa start-up Celleste Bio earlier this month, while British food […]
Ground squirrels usually eat seeds and nuts, but in a park in California, these cute, furry creatures have turned into carnivorous killers, mercilessly hunting down voles to peel the flesh from their bones. The unusual new behavior, which researchers caught on camera in Briones Regional Park in Contra Costa County, could be driven by an […]
American officials are apoplectic about alleged mystery drones flying over the United States. Last Thursday, New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy sent a letter to President Joe Biden, expressing “growing concern” about the drones and seeking federal help “to fully understand what is behind this activity.” Tri-state area Democratic Sens. Cory Booker, Andy Kim, Chuck Schumer, […]
Virtual reality (VR) experiences could soon get a lot more realistic thanks to a lickable device that lets you “taste” in virtual environments. The small, lollipop-like interface simulates up to nine flavors and can even be combined with smells to make the sensation of taste feel lifelike, scientists said in a new study published Nov. […]
Demonstrating lollipop user interface to simulate taste in virtual and augmented reality environments. Credit: Lu et al, 2024/PNAS Demonstrating lollipop user interface to simulate taste in virtual and augmented reality environments. Credit: Lu et al, 2024/PNAS Virtual reality (VR) technology has long sought to incorporate the human senses into virtual and mixed-reality environments. In addition […]
Name: Northern sea robin (Prionotus carolinus) Where it lives: The shallow waters of the western Atlantic, from Nova Scotia to Florida What it eats: Shrimp, crabs, squid, worms and small fish Why it’s awesome: Northern sea robins are weird fish with big, spiny heads; bright-blue eyes; two giant wing fins; and six crab-like legs. It’s […]
