Genius-modified food: What's up Duck?

I, Science 8 June 2006
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Ever the food fanatic, David Brill went to find out what makes the Fat Duck the 'Best Restaurant in the World'.

"No food is intrinsically disgusting." This simple statement has driven chef Heston Blumenthal from kitchen to lab and back to kitchen, in a quest to discover what makes some foods taste good while others taste bad.

The results of his experimentation are on display at The Fat Duck in Bray, voted 'Best Restaurant in the World 2005' by Restaurant Magazine.

With such a reputation, entering through a little nondescript door to discover that the restaurant looks completely normal in every respect is somewhat disappointing. The true experience begins with opening the menu.

Imagine sitting down to the news that you are about to face a 16-course dinner, featuring salmon poached in liquorice with asparagus and pink grapefruit. That, of course, is after the mustard ice cream with red cabbage gazpacho. You can only hope desperately that the critics got it right, because it's going to be a long, torturous evening if they didn't.

Blumenthal's laboratory-based approach to cooking has been described as 'gastronomic alchemy'. Flavours are extracted and concentrated into small cubes of jelly, cooking times and temperatures are comprehensively tested to discover the perfect dish, while the psychological impact of colours and textures are never left unconsidered. He has lectured at Oxford University's Science Week and the Cheltenham Science Festival, while head chef Ashley Watts appeared on last year's Royal Institution Christmas Lectures.

And it doesn't take long to feel the science. The opening course is the Nitro-Green Tea and Lime Mousse, excitingly prepared at the tableside. Plum-sized blobs are squeezed from a canister of green paste and dropped into a bowl of liquid nitrogen, creating what must be the world's coldest meringue. It dissolves instantly in the mouth, leaving only its flavour behind.

Many courses would raise a smile from all but the most humourless of diners. Two anonymous-looking squares of jelly are placed in front of you: one deep purple, the other a pale yellow. "Beetroot and orange jelly," announces the waiter. "We recommend you start with the orange." Colour or f avour? Surely an irrelevant question when both must signify the same square. But not when you realise that the purple jelly is made from blood orange, and the yellow from pale beetroot - a course best enjoyed watching other people for their bemused reactions.

Snail porridge with Joselito ham and shaved fennel, sardine on toast sorbet, quail jelly with langoustine cream and parfait of foie gras - where else in the world do these dishes even exist?

All this from a man who left school with one A-level and became a photocopier salesman. Yet the truly remarkable thing is that his cookery is self-taught, limited only by his imagination.

Much of Blumenthal's experimentation has involved capturing flavours and experiences from his childhood. This is particularly evident in the desserts, one of which is simply a sherbet fountain; another a chocolate cake made with popping candy in the base (again, time well spent observing other diners). And of course the grand finale: the world-famous bacon and eggs ice cream.

Few would question the creativity, flair and dedication that has gone into making the food at The Fat Duck. But do these bizarre dishes actually taste good?

The answer can be given with a simple reflection on the experience as a whole. It shouldn't work, and you almost want it not to. But it does, and it's an incredible experience. I never thought that mustard ice cream would rank amongst my all-time nicest foods, or that pea puree and foie gras would be such a great combination. Never has a meal been so thoroughly entertaining from start to fi nish, particularly when it takes some three or four hours to complete.

Don't be fooled by the modest interior. The Fat Duck is a special place. The critics got it right after all.

Physics made Fun

I, Science 8 June 2006
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David Brill learns science with Superman.

"I don't need to know about no bleeping balls thrown off no bleeping cliffs." Thus spoke an anonymous physics student at the University of Minnesota, unwittingly providing the inspiration for James Kakalios, his professor, to write a book.

The Physics of Superheroes is the result. It represents a commendable attempt to make physics more interesting – a task that would surely see the Man of Steel himself quaking in his little red pants.

"One trick I've hit upon in teaching physics involves using examples culled from superhero comic books that correctly illustrate various applications of physical principles," explains Kakalios, frustrated with the "overly stylised" and "artificial" situations traditionally used by teachers.

The book follows a sensible, easy-to-navigate formula. Take a key principle of physics, then use a superhero to explain it. No balls, no cliffs. All the old school classics are represented: forces and motion, Newton's law of gravity, electromagnetism and thermodynamics. The book is intended to reach undergraduate physics level, and more daunting topics like quantum mechanics are also bravely tackled – in this case with the help of The Flash.

"What initial velocity would Superman need, lifting off the sidewalk, so that he would vertically rise 660 feet? Is Spider-Man's webbing strong enough to support his own weight as he swings in his parabolic trajectory?" You get the idea.

Hardened comic book fans may of course crave tenuous explanations for the wondrous feats they have read so much about. Helpfully, there is a brief history of the genre in the introduction for those of us who spent their childhoods outside. Yet suspension of reality is surely the very point of reading a comic book, and some enthusiasts may not appreciate attempts to justify the laws of the superhero world using those of our own.

The Physics of Superheroes is primarily a book for physics students, and as such it is thoroughly enjoyable. Those long nights poring over a GCSE revision guide would have been infinitely more entertaining had we learnt why Magneto becomes Electro when he runs. Imagine being stuck on a tricky exam question. Why recite your notes over and over in your head when you could just visualise a comic strip to jog your memory?

Teachers and lecturers would also do well to purchase this book. Science is perceived by many students as dull, lifeless and alienating, and is often dropped at the first possible opportunity. Physics particularly suffers from the 'boring' tag, and Kakalios should be roundly applauded for his imaginative attempt to liven it up. There is of course the potential for such ideas to be overly gimmicky, but the book does an excellent job of keeping the science intact. Traditional physics teachers will most likely scoff, but declining university applications and the closure of departments tell us that the pure sciences are in desperate need of fresh teaching approaches.

The aesthetics also make for an easy read. Plenty of examples are illustrated with relevant clippings from the comic strip in question, providing some light relief when the formulae are mounting up. The title fonts are also taken straight from comics and help to soften the educational blow.

Kakalios attempts to assert his coolness in the opening line of the book: "I was a comic book fan as a kid, but I abandoned the hobby in high school upon discovering girls." Yet some cringe-worthy moments are inevitable – he is, after all, a comic book loving physicist. Chapter titles such as "Not a dream! Not a hoax! Not an imaginary tale! Quantum mechanics" suggest that his voyage of female discovery may have been short-lived. The closing line: "Face front, true believer!" entirely counteracts the opening one, while the titling of the section "Ask Dr. K!" also made me squirm somewhat. Prospective authors take note: if you're going to write a book entitled The Physics of Superheroes, do not attempt to salvage any 'street cred'. Spell your surname in full, drop the exclamation marks and be proud of the geek within.

If you were wondering, to jump 660 feet, Superman would need to leave the ground with a velocity of 140 miles per hour. And yes, it is "entirely plausible" that Spider-Man can swing from building to building, stop a runaway train or weave a bullet-proof shield using his webs. Kaliakos has convinced me at least, that physics can actually be pretty cool.

Truth not out there

I, Science 8 June 2006
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MAY: Four years, £100,000, 10,000 interviews and 500 pages later, the Ministry of Defence has concluded that UFOs do not exist.

The top-secret study, code-named Project Condign, was commissioned to investigate sightings of alien spacecraft. It was completed in 2000 but has only just been released under the Freedom of Information Act.

"Evidence suggests that meteors� and possibly some other less-known effects, are responsible for some unidentified aerial phenomena," concludes the report.

"No evidence exists to suggest that the phenomena seen are hostile or under any type of control, other than that of natural physical forces."

The large number of UFO sightings has also been explained: "The close proximity of plasma related fields can adversely affect a vehicle or person," states the report.

"Local fields of this type have been medically proven to cause responses in the temporal lobes of the human brain. These result in the observer sustaining (and later describing and retaining) his or her own vivid, but mainly incorrect, description of what is experienced."

Many believers will remain skeptical at the report's conclusions. "The evidence that the earth is being visited by at least one extraterrestrial civilization is extensive," claims Dr. Steven Greer, director of the Center for the Study of Extra-Terrestrial Intelligence in the USA.

Gone with the Wind

I, Science 8 June 2006
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APRIL: Venezuelan scientists appear to have created flatulence-free beans.

The research, published in the Journal of the Science of Food and Agriculture, utilises a new fermentation technique. Beans produced in this way were also found to be more nutritious. "The implementation of processes which allow for nutritious and non-flatulence-producing beans to be obtained would be interesting," said Marisela Granito, head of the team at the Simon Bolivar University.

Certain compounds, such as soluble fibre and raffinose, are not digested until the large intestine, where the action of specialised bacteria gives rise to wind.

But the researchers found that adding Lactobacillus casei bacteria to the fermentation process reduces the amount of these compounds. The new beans also had higher levels of insoluble fibre, thought to aid the digestive system in removing toxins.

It could be some time before the beans are commercially available. Students concerned about excessive gas in the meantime should not worry. "Despite the obvious social concerns, there is no physiological harm from the flatulence caused by eating beans," explains Dr. Frankie Phillips, a spokeswoman for the British Dietetic Association.

"Oi, Flipper!"

I, Science 8 June 2006
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MAY: Dolphins seem to have specific names for each other, according to new research carried out in Florida.

The discovery gives a new insight into the animals' intelligence and social interactions. "Bottlenose dolphins are the only animals other than humans to have been shown to transmit identity information independent of the caller's voices," said researcher Dr. Vincent Janik, of the University of St. Andrews.

The group of dolphins has been closely studied for more than 30 years. Researchers had previously managed to isolate the signature whistles believed to be their names. They caught the animals in nets when they came near the shore, and played synthesized recordings of these sounds underwater.

They found that the dolphins generally ignored the 'names' of unknown animals, but responded strongly to those of family and associates.

"It is a very exciting discovery because it means that these animals have evolved the same abilities as humans," added Dr. Janik. "Now we know they have labels for each other like we do."

Sexy women - bad choice

I, Science 8 June 2006
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APRIL: The damaging effects of women on hearts, cars and credit cards are well documented. But it seems that men's ability to make important decisions may also be under threat.

A new study suggests that the mere sight of a pretty lady could be enough to wreak havoc on a man's judgement. Men with high levels of testosterone appear particularly susceptible.

"We all think we are rational beings, but our research suggests ... that people with high testosterone levels are very vulnerable to sexual cues. If they see sexual images they become impulsive," said Dr. Siegfried De Witte, one of the researchers at the University of Leuven, Belgium. The paper appeared in Proceedings of the Royal Society B.

176 heterosexual males were split into groups to play a game that involved making financial decisions. The groups were shown different images before playing the game.

Volunteers shown pictures of beautiful women, or asked to rate a new range of lingerie, fared poorly at the game, being more likely to accept low offers and unfair play.

Testosterone levels were also measured. Those with the highest levels performed worst on the test, suggesting that men's vulnerability to women may extend beyond their conscious control.

Conversely, it is not yet known whether the sight of attractive men can affect a woman's judgement. Rumours of a repeat study, where women must take critical decisions to match shoes with dresses and handbags, have not been confirmed.

Flu good to be true

I, Science 8 June 2006
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APRIL: A flu pandemic in the UK would peak in two or three months but be over in four, according to researchers at Imperial. The team modelled how the disease would spread, considering preventive measures such as treatment, school closures and travel restrictions.

"The modelling shows there is no single magic bullet which can control a flu pandemic, but that a combination of interventions could be highly effective� potentially saving many lives," said Professor Neil Ferguson.

School closures alone would have little impact, but could halve the number illnesses if combined with a wide antiviral drug program. Restricting travel would also have a beneficial effect.

The model, published in Nature, suggests that vaccines should be made available within two months of the start of the pandemic effectively reduce infection rates.

Pot-ential pain relief

I, Science 8 June 2006
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MAY: An extract from the cannabis plant provides effective pain relief after surgery, according to new research published in Anesthesiology.

"Pain after surgery continues to be a problem because many of the commonly used drugs are either ineffective or have too many side effects," said Dr Anita Holdcroft of Imperial, lead researcher on the team.

"These results show that cannabinoids are effective, and may lead to the development of a wider range of drugs to manage postoperative pain."

The drug, Cannador, was tested on 65 postoperative patients. As the dosage increased, pain intensity reportedly decreased. There were however some side effects, such as nausea, increased heart rate and an insatiable craving for Cheesy Wotsits.

Now you see it...

I, Science 8 June 2006
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MAY: Harry Potter's invisibility cloak may not be so far-fetched after all.

Two leading mathematicians have claimed that we may one day be able to make solid objects invisible to the naked eye. The theory relies on developing a cloaking material using superlenses, invented at Imperial College.

The team, led by Professor Graeme Milton at Utah University, calculated that when objects are placed near a superlens, the light reflecting off them could be cancelled out by light from the lens.

"Effectively, they are making a piece of space seem to disappear, at least as far as light is concerned," explained Professor Sir John Pendry of Imperial, pioneer of the superlens.

At this early stage the paper, published in the Proceedings of the Royal Society, refers only to cloaking specks of dust, although the authors do argue that larger objects could one day be possible. The effect only works at certain wavelengths of light however, and some objects could become just partially invisible.

Professor Pendry commented on the potential uses for the technology: "The secret is having the cloak itself be invisible and if you can do that cheaply and efficiently� it would be extremely valuable for stealth. Even if you could cloak a single frequency, it would be very useful. The military is extremely interested in this."

"We will do everything in our powers to prevent this technology from falling into muggle hands," said a spokesperson from the Ministry of Magic.