Smartphone tech can detect spoiled milk

Researchers at UNSW have developed ‘VibMilk,’ a smartphone-based method to detect spoiled milk, using its vibration motor and sensors.

VibMilk analyses milk’s physical changes, like density and viscosity, caused by spoilage. Using machine learning, it predicts freshness with up to 98.35% accuracy, even without opening the container.

Unlike expiration dates, VibMilk provides real-time freshness checks, reducing food waste and the risk of spoilage. It could soon become a practical tool for everyday use.

The world’s largest rooster-shaped building

The Campuestohan Highland Resort in Negros Occidental, Philippines, now holds the Guinness World Record for the largest rooster-shaped building.

Standing 114 feet, 7 inches tall, the Rooster Hotel features a giant, realistic rooster design, reflecting the region’s cultural ties to game fowl. The resort director, Ricardo Cano Gwapo Tan, aimed to create an eye-catching structure that also honours the local gamefowl industry, which is a major part of the economy.

The hotel, which includes 15 air-conditioned rooms, was completed in September 2023 and celebrates both local culture and resilience.

Artist cuts 108-metre strip from A4 paper

Chinese origami artist Pei Haozheng set a world record by cutting a 108.15-metre-long, 0.5mm-wide strip, without any breakages, from a single A4 sheet. Over a year, he perfected the process, using scissors and a reflective silver paper for precision.

The strip, transformed into an artwork resembling cerebral nerves, highlights Pei’s mastery of paper art and his pursuit of creative challenges.

The minimum to beat was 2.75 m, but he absolutely obliterated that.

He said, “The entire process, from initial preparation to trials and errors to the official attempt and the final artwork, Between Chaos and Order, took approximately one year.”

Junk food diet causes boy to go blind

A 12-year-old boy in Massachusetts, diagnosed with autism, lost his sight after consuming a nutrient-deficient diet mostly consisting of burgers, fries, donuts and sugary juices. The boy had a severe phobia of certain food textures, making it impossible for his parents to introduce essential nutrients. Over time, his vision deteriorated and he was eventually not able to see at all.

Tests revealed that his optic nerves had atrophied due to a lack of crucial vitamins, and by the time he was diagnosed, the damage was irreversible. Despite being given supplements and a slightly varied diet with lettuce and cheese, his condition remained unchanged.

Doctors explained that the damage was too severe to reverse, although earlier intervention could have improved his chances.

This case highlights the dangers of ARFID (Avoidant/Restrictive Food Intake Disorder), which affects many children with autism, and echoes similar incidents reported in the UK and the US.

Published in Dawn, Young World, December 14th, 2024