This Week in Science!!!

Here's the occasional wrap-up of anything noteworthy in the world of science.

Starting off with the magical allure of sweet potatoes:


Story One:

Britain has gone exotic and figured out how to grow a sweet potato!!!

A thousand years of literature, a language that dominates the world, a former empire that swept the planet--and now the British have figured out the sweet potato. The circle is complete.

After centuries of being thwarted, farmers have used polythene covered raised outdoor beds to create a warm enough environment for the sweet starchy deliciousness to grow. This after a white-toned Caribbean version of the sweet potato was considered "too sweet" for the British palate. Don't worry, there was a quick flash of the British showing culinary personality, but--phew--they wisened-up and ditched that idea quickly

Now the new, hearty, less-sweet sweet potato with a cockney accent is going to market, being sold at grocery stores throughout the U.K for the first time. It'll pair nicely with all gruel and porridge dinners served seven-days-a-week.


Story Two:

Younger Australians making it rain for washed and organic potatoes!!!

The English-speaking world is beside themselves with Potato Fever, and the only cure is more potatoes.

A poll of Aussies aged 25-34 showed they were willing to spend more potatoes than older people. Don't give them that 5lb bag o' potatoes in plastic stuff--they want their potatoes like they want their morals: organically grown and loose

Australian vegetable industry representative body AUSVEG wants farmers to be able to raise the prices on their organic potatoes as the fever sweeps the nation. Research organization Colmar Brunton finds that Australians already pay more for potatoes than any other vegetable--so if farmers can easily organically grow them in Australia's warm climate (take that, Britain!), farmers can increase prices even further still.

Alexander Miller, spokesperson for AUSVEG, says, "While mashing, roasting and boiling are the most popular methods of preparation, potatoes are also regularly served alongside carrots, pumpkin and broccoli as a tasty accompaniment."

The real news here is that Australia eats pumpkins and think they're tasty.


Story Three:

Power! Power!! Merciless Potato Power!!!

Britain isn't going to drown in potatoes now that they're banging them out. They're putting them to use.

The 2 Sisters Food Group, known throughout the nation for their shepherd and Cumberland pies, mashed potatoes, and keeping Brits ruddy-cheeked and satiated, has developed a bio-refinery at their Carlisle plant using waste left over from their sea of potatoes to create energy. Now picture eating a shepherd's pie while thinking of "waste." Mmmmmmm.

With power being generated from a single waste source, the process is streamlined at the plant. Everything from potato peelings, whole unused potatoes, and discarded cottage pies are used. A pie not eaten in Britain? Clearly it was overlooked.

The bio-refinery will produce 3,500 megawatt hours per year in electricity (the equivalent of powering 850 homes) and a further 5,000 megawatt hours per year in steam, ensuring that no Brit will go without bland food for years to come.


Story Four:

Potato mania has overtaken the Ecuadorian government!!!

Tired of lackluster potatoes? Unimpressed with their performance? Do they remind you of any average lumpy citizen of Rhode Island?

Ecuador hears you.

The government of Ecuador is heavily investing in high-performing, high quality, pest and disease-resistant potato varieties. Under this new push, the government hopes to see 30% of arable land devoted to the tater.

The varieties come under a myriad of names, from the Super Chola to the Puca-Shungo, the Yana-Shungo to the Fripapa, the Victoria to the Libertad.

You know who isn't free of the potato's grip though?

Humanity.