Potatoes can be grown on Mars, according to scientists at the International Potato Center in Peru, who have successfully grown them inside a satellite recreating the temperature, air pressure and atmosphere on the red planet ahead of planned manned missions in the 2030s.
Capsaicin is an active ingredient in the chilli plant and an irritant to humans. In fact, not only humans but all mammals. TRPV1 or capsaicin receptors are proteins that react with the body to produce a sensation of scalding and pain. Chilli seeds evolved to produce this protein to protect themselves from being eaten. However, remarkably birds do not have these receptors, unlike most living things, allowing them to carry the chilli seeds far and wide, spreading the plant. Nature is no accident!
HP Sauce got its name from the Houses of Parliament. The inventor of the sauce, Frederick Gibson Garton, called the sauce HP after he heard that a restaurant in the Houses of Parliament had begun serving it, which is why the labels to this day carry a picture of the building.
Have an important meeting or job interview and you realise that you don’t have enough time to polish your shoes? Rub a freshly cut cucumber over the shoe. Its chemicals will provide a quick and durable shine that not only looks great but also repels water.
Most wasabi, the fiery green paste that accompanies sushi, sold in the UK is usually just horseradish and mustard with green food colouring.