HAPPY SPRING!

Have you ever tried a scratch and sniff? A Japanese company has developed what is being nicknamed a smelliphone. Yes, you read correctly. It's a smartphone which can send scents to someone via their phone. Adding the Scentee device to an IPhone will allow you to send a smell to someone else.Maybe, you want to send a fragrant flower scent to cheer up a friend or perhaps you are playing a video game and would like to experience the smells of a race track or candy. The Scentee will be able to do just that. It is expected to be for sale later this fall.

Photograph from DailyMail.co.uk

An ice cream store in Los Angeles, California,makes ice cream in an unusual way...the energy needed to generate the power to the ice cream churn uses a stationary bicycle! It only takes 3-4 miles on a old Schwinn bicycle to churn 5 gallons of ice cream. Owner Edward Belden says that's about 15-20 minutes on a bike. And, if you want to help out, customers of Peddler's Creamery are welcome to hop a seat on the bike located at the entrance to the shop, to pedal away!

picture from Peddlerscreamery.com

More than 2 billion people around the world eat bugs including water bugs,scorpions,locusts,crickets, grasshoppers, ants,larvae,stink bugs,tree worms and more.The United Nations' Food and Agriculture Organization released a study hoping that more people will consider adding munching on insects in their diet. Why? Insects are very nutritious containing lots of protein, fiber, vitamins and minerals. With an estimated nine billion people walking the planet by the year 2050, insects would provided a food source for an increasing number of people,especially as farmlands continue to dwindle replaced by cities and towns. With an estimated ten million types of bugs, there would be many varieties in which to chose!

Photograph from wtvr.com

Researchers in California are working to develop bioluminescent plants(plants that glow) with hopes that one day street lights might be replaced with glowing plants and glow in the dark trees! Using a gene found in fireflies that enables them to have glowing abilities,researchers are developing plants whose DNA has had this gene inserted causing the plants to glow as they grow.The researchers are working with a mustard plant and hope to work with developing a glowing rose, too. One day, you might be able to sit in a room reading you IPad by the glow of a plant instead of a lamp!

Photograph from DiscoveryNews.com