VYNOVA

Alkaline batteries have literally become an essential part of our lives. They are used in everything from hearing aids to remote controls, toys and video games. In fact, the industry has grown into a multi-billion dollar industry since its inception in the 1950s. The market for alkaline batteries is expected to grow to a value of 8 billion euros by the year 2022.

Preservation of food is something humans have had to do for generations. This is the way we prevent food from deteriorating due to microorganisms, light, heat or oxidation so that it lasts longer. In ancient times salt was the primary preserving agent. The process of smoking meat also originated from the need to prolong its storage time before it becomes harmful for human consumption.

According to the World Health Organisation, worldwide obesity has nearly tripled since 1975. The problem is that we are consuming more calories than we are using, which leads to a build-up of fat in the body. Sugar is a major source of calorie intake in our diet. In fact, satisfying our craving for sweet tastes but avoiding the calories that come with sugar, is how sugar substitutes came into being in the first place.

The origins of chocolate stretch back to the 18th century when a Swedish botanist, Carolus Linnaeus, gave the cocoa tree its Greek name Theobroma Cacao, which means “food of the Gods.” However, it was during the 19th century that many of the innovations and improvements in chocolate production were developed. The first conche (a machine, used during the manufacture of chocolate, which mixes and smooths the chocolate mass) was developed in 1879 by Rudolph Lindt. Daniel Peter found a way to blend milk into chocolate in 1876, and Casparus Van Houten created the cocoa press in 1828. But one of the most significant developments was the introduction of alkaline salts by Coenraad van Houten in 1828.

Ice and aircraft are a dangerous combination. On 17 November 2018, a passenger aircraft partially slid off the taxiway at Denver International airport. Fortunately, the plane was not moving too fast when it hit the ice, and none of the 85 passengers or 6 crew were injured. However, the incident highlights just how dangerous it can be for an aircraft to encounter ice on the runway.