The M&G‘s Faranaaz Parker rounds up five odd things you may have missed this week.
Three course gum
So much for cinnamon and spearmint — a British company has invented three-course chewing gum. The Independent reports that the process is based on “nanotechnology and flavour release chrystals that change as you chew”.
So you chew a bit and get your soup flavour, and after a while the roast beef flavour kicks in, and then you get your blueberry pie, say the food scientists behind the invention.
As with all things in science, this invention hasn’t come out of the blue. Food scientists have been talking about the process for years, at least in theory. Now it just seems closer to coming to fruition.
Maybe in 50 years will we all be eating prepackaged triple-flavoured soy-based meal wafers. Soylent Red anyone?
No more pill-popping for women
Women could soon have something else to add to their daily beauty routine. Cleanse, tone, moisturise and … prevent ovulation?
The New Scientist this week reported on a new form of contraception that has just come through early testing phases — contraceptive gel.
If you keep forgetting to take your pill or find your patch peels off in the shower, you could soon have another option for preventing pregnancy. Just massage it into your arms, legs or stomach and voilà, you absorb the contraceptive hormones through your skin.
The clear gel works just like the pill but so far has had no reported side effects — no weight gain, no nausea and no diminished libido.
But best not to toss the pills in the bin just yet. The trial was tiny; it followed just 18 women over seven months. The gel will first need to be tested on a much larger scale before the regulatory process of getting it to market can even begin.
Trade your tomatoes for a shoe
An Australian anti-war protestor threw his shoe at the head the country’s former Australian prime minister John Howard this week during the taping of a television talk-show. The man shouted: “That is for the Iraqi dead,” before he was hustled out of the studio by security guards.
The incident references a similar event two years ago when Iraqi journalist Muntazer al-Zaidi threw a shoe at former US president George Bush during a press conference in Baghdad. Al-Zaidi however used much stronger words when addressing Bush — he shouted: “This is a farewell kiss from the Iraqi people, you dog.” Although he was dragged off and detained by police, he became a hero in the Arab world overnight.
Throwing a shoe at someone is considered extremely insulting in the Middle East, while in the West angry citizens are more likely to brandish eggs or rotten vegetables. Perhaps this latest incident will help bring East and West together, at least when it comes to public dissent. Though it’s a lot more expensive to cast of shoes than week-old tomatoes.
If you’re not quite ready to fling an All-Star at the head of a wayward politician, you can try your hand at this virtual version. Hey, over 100-million other people already have.
Caster can’t get a break
In a true testament to the longevity of stigma, South African corporates are steering clear of South Africa’s one-time golden girl Caster Semenya.
Semenya’s image took a battering after a gender testing controversy broke out shortly after she won the women’s 800m gold medal at last year’s IAAF championship.
Contrary to the implications in another new report, Semenya is by no means broke. She earns a government stipend, has a sports clothing sponsorship and help with her tuition fees at the University of Pretoria. But most athletes make their money through endorsements and in this Semenya, who hails from a humble rural village, has been left high and dry.
Now a pair of loyal fans have started a Facebook campaign to raise cash for Semenya by selling T-shirts and holding car washes.
And at this point I have to ask where are Semenya’s staunch supporters, the ANC Youth League?
Sunday Times launches isiZulu version
Next weekend the Sunday Times will launch its isiZulu version of the paper in KwaZulu-Natal. The Sunday Times Zulu Edition will carry national news as well as local news from the province.
The Zulu-language daily Isolezwe has been in circulation since 2002 but a weekend paper will fill a useful niche. There are about 10-million isiZulu speakers in South Africa and Isolezwe has 340 000 readers.
Literacy and linguists experts like Thandeka Mapi, who earlier this month argued in favour of African language newspapers, are sure to welcome this news. Not only is more diversity needed in the media sector but vernacular languages could do with more support.
Faranaaz’s interests span science, technology and development. Read her weekly wrap every weekend on the M&G and follow her on Twitter here