Super spud
Scientists are helping to fight malnutrition and childhood blindness in Africa with new varieties of starchy, orange-fleshed sweet potatoes
WORDS: JOHN C SILCOX
PHOTOGRAPHY: BENEDICT MORGAN
With its red-brown, knobbly skin, the humble sweet potato won’t be winning beauty pageants any time soon, but as with many things in life, it’s what’s on the inside that really matters.
In this case it turns out to be bright orange flesh packed full of nutrients such as vitamin A. To you and me that may not sound like a big deal, but for millions of children in sub-Saharan Africa it could mean the difference between life and death. Vitamin A deficiency causes nearly half a million children to go blind each year, and six per cent of deaths under the age of five are caused by a lack of this vital nutrient. To tackle the problem, scientists from the International Potato Center are convincing people to swap their staple diet of nutrient-poor white sweet potatoes for special biofortified tubers of the orange variety. More than two million families across ten countries have now made the change, and this success has earned the scientists the 2016 World Food Prize for food and agriculture innovation. Not bad for a spud.
Space plants
According to NASA, plants are one of the best ways to fight interior air pollution. This doesn’t only help astronauts – you can reap the benefits at home too
WORDS: JOHN C SILCOX
PHOTOGRAPHY: BENEDICT MORGAN
When we all live on Mars, opening the window to freshen up a stuffy room will no longer be a viable option. That is why scientists at NASA have studied efficient ways to reduce interior air pollution – and it turns out that houseplants are up there on the list. Thanks to photosynthesis, all greenery takes in CO2 gas and produces oxygen as a byproduct. However, some plants go one step further and also absorb a range of toxic agents such as benzene, formaldehyde and trichloroethylene.
These elements can be emitted by a host of objects we interact with in everyday life without thinking about it, such as synthetic fibres, paints, plastics, dyes, detergents, glue and pesticides. Bringing a little nature into your home, then, will not only bring the outdoors in, but help filter the air too. Most of the plants here evolved in tropical environments, such as dense jungle with reduced sunlight, meaning they thrive in household light – or even on the dark side of the moon. Just be aware that, while great for humans, some of the plants below are toxic to pets, so check which are best for your household.