I saw that on the news. I'm gald we're spending valuable money researching this.

Man, I could have guessed that.

I wish there were some *real* scientific breakthroughs recently. It seems like it's all about engineering now rather than groundshattering new inventions.

who pays for these things?

Am i the only one who sees the possible applications this knowledge might have for like small-size structural engineering models [particularly ones that would have high temperature/moisture variance in their environment], or perhaps such that are /intended to blow up, like quinine-filled sky-popcorn.. or something.

Except you're not. It was funded by Purdue's Whistler Center for Carbohydrate Research.



The big 'thing' lately is nanotech, and that has had many breakthroughs. There have been breakthroughs in theoretical fields, in quantum physics and cosmology.

But if you're looking for actual 'inventions', then you're about 150 years too late. There aren't going to be any 'inventions' in the classic idea, because that sort of stuff is no longer done by bored people tinkering with stuff in a garage, it's done by teams of scientists working together making steady progress.

Yes. I'm aware of that. I'm aware that Purdue a a private school and so on. I still think it's a waste of money and time.

It's improving a product. Increasing the amount of popcorn you get every time you pop. Nothing huge, no, but certainly nothing wasted.

But real science doesn't need a 'purpose', science is answering questions simply for the sake of answering questions, even if that question is:
why didn't that sodding popcorn kernel pop?

We've answered that question. A triumph for science.

Oh, I actually thought this was serious. Why do them brainiacs waste their time on this garbage. I honestly never cared about the unpopped kernals, I eat them anyways.

You're gonna grow a corn tree in yer insides!!