FoodTechLite

Cartoon “Microbe Heretic” by Nick D. Kim, Ph.D.
Take a look at Nick’s home page.

Mr. Roboto
According to a story in the August issue of New Scientist magazine, researchers at the University of South Florida in Tampa have developed a robot that runs on food. Dubbed “Chew Chew” by its inventor, Stuart Wilkinson, the gastrobot is a 12-wheeled train-like robot that runs on a microbial fuel cell. The fuel cell breaks down food with bacteria and converts it into electrical energy. “The ideal fuel in terms of energy gain, is meat,” explains Wilkinson. “Vegetation is not nearly as nutritious.” Nonetheless, developers suggest early applications for gastrobots may include lawnmowers that eat grass clippings.

Spaghetti Steals Tortellini in Bologna!
(or, Food in the News)
The story appeared in a recent edition of the Italian newspaper Corriere della Sera, so it must be true: Alerted by neighbors of suspicious noises coming from a Bologna, Italy tortellini shop, local police arrived to find Stephano Spaghetti, 38, chowing down to a free pasta meal while the store was closed for lunch. “I don't even like tortellini,” Spaghetti reportedly grumbled as police dragged the burglary suspect away.