Pretend you're an astronaut...

and apply now for the Cornell/University of Hawaii Mars analogue mission and food study.  This could be an interesting experience, you get get to spend four months in Hawaii and are paid $5,000 if selected.  The application window closes 29 February.

Good luck and bon appétit.

Not quite Soylent Green...

but nearly as creepy:  Test tube hamburgers to be served this year.  As yucky as the process sounds, culturing strips of meat from stem cells in laboratories, at least animals aren't being slaughtered so it's "ethical" meat.  (I sure hope the burgers taste like bacon.)

NOTE:  If you're a young person and don't get the title reference for this post, then click here.  It's a sci-fi classic.

A wilderness by another measure...

that's defined by the most remote point relative to a McDonald's.  The "McFarthest" spot in the 48 coterminous states:  Where The Antelope Roam.  There's a cool map showing the density and distribution of the restaurants at the link.

Can you guess where it is before following the link?

My personal favorite...

in the cake bake-off to celebrate Charles Darwin's birthday is this chocolate iguana. Although it wasn't the winner overall, it stood out among more than 50 entries because it is a.) chocolate and b.) reptilian. Congratulations to all who entered the contest for demonstrating their creativity in this annual event.

Talking turkey...

• Science Supersized Your Turkey Dinner
• How to Roast a Perfect Turkey
• Al Dente: Talking Turkey With Harold McGee

What I'm reading...

right now:  On Food and Cooking - the Science and Lore of the Kitchen by Harold McGee.

This encyclopedic work on culinary science isn't really meant to be read, chapter by chapter, but explored by "dipping" into various sections depending on your curiosity at the moment.  If you enjoy food  - the joyous intermingling of water, protein, fat and carbs - and are a serious science geek, then you'll definitely appreciate this tome.

Hat tip:  RT.  Thanks for the gift!

DIY dismemberment...

How to Be a Butcher: 4 Pro Tips.

It is, after all, barbecue season, and ribs are oh so delicious.