Library archives, STEM, and desserts

[med_cat]

23 of the weirdest, funniest, creepiest, most surprising items found by archivists.

Ever wondered what goes on in a library's dark corners, where you aren't allowed to go?

Wonder no more, thanks to The Society of American Archivists' Ask an Archivist Day.

This pastry chef leans on her STEM background to design impossible-looking desserts.Dinara

Comments

[acelightning]

There are cakes that are primarily meant to be as delicious as possible, and often the texture that contributes to the deliciousness won't hold together in anything more than a very simple shape (round, square, rectangular, loaf, or roll). Nothing wrong with that kind of cake, especially as a "family" or "everyday" dessert. But then there are cakes (and other desserts) that are intended to be visually spectacular. Too often, texture and flavor are sacrificed for appearance, which is why people usually expect wedding cakes to be dry and overly sweet. Many visually stunning cakes are actually decorated with inedible plastic ornaments!

But being able to create a structurally complex cake out of things that taste good ought to be one of the fundamental principles of cake and pastry making. I don't have any formal architectural training, but I've been cooking and baking for more than 60 years, which has given me an empirical understanding of the structural properties of various foods. And I particularly like to make cakes in the shapes of objects, using only edible components. I've made cars, trucks, fantasy castles, a stegosaurus, a heap of books, a mug of beer (complete with foam), a pirate's treasure chest overflowing with gems and gold coins, a "sushi deluxe" platter, a guitar, a computer, and a mug of coffee, among other things.

Oh, and in the article about the engineer/pastry chef, it appears that she uses the 3D printer to create things to use in shaping the various edible substances (e.g., a gelatin mold). I wish I had a 3D printer (and not only for food design)!

[notabler]

Thank you very much for your explanation. I have respond more for fun, in reality I find very positive every new developemnt of technology in every area of human activity (except weaponry, but even here can be found some valuable things)

[acelightning]

Like you, I love technology and science, and every new kind of machinery that comes along. Machinery seems to like me, too - I'm comfortable with everything from old Victorian stuff with gears, to electronic devices with tubes, to computers and renewable power sources. I'm like a small child playing with toys, and I can't wait to see what comes next!

And, of course, advances in kitchen technology make it possible for me to make new kinds of delicious and beautiful things to eat :-)