Page 8 - IAV Digital Magazine #518

iAV - Antelope Valley Digital Magazine
VAResearchersStudying Whether Chili-infusedBeer IsWorld'sSpiciest
By Ben Hooper
March 11 (UPI) - - A pair of alumni and a student from Virginia's University of Mary Washington are attempting to obtain a Guinness World Record for brew- ing the world's spiciest beer.
Ray Parrish, who obtained his degree in physics from the universi- ty in 1991, is now co-owner of the Maltese Brewing Company in Federicksburg, which produces Signal One 2.0 beer, a pineapple IPA infused with 500 Carolina Reaper chilies.
Parrish said he discovered Guinn ess World Records does not currently have a record for the world's spiciest beer, so
he decided to originate the record by meas- uring Signal One 2.0's heat -- but he needed help.
The brewer reached out to Sarah Smith, a 2012 graduate who is now a vis- iting professor in UMW's Department of Chemistry and Physics. Smith brought junior biochemistry major Valerie Ebenki onto the
team.
The trio said they are using the Scoville Heat index, a unit of measurement that calculates chili heat, and attempting to determine the brew's concentra- tion of heat- inducing chemi- cals capsaicin and dihydrocap- saicin.
The researchers said their findings will be submitted to Guinness in mid-March and they expect to hear within a few months whether Signal One 2.0 is indeed the world's spiciest beer.
WebsiteHiring'Minecraft' GardeningConsultantsFor Virtual Landscaping
By
Ben Hooper
March 11 (UPI) - - A British web- site that reviews garden sheds posted a job list- ing for an unusu- al $70-per-hour position: Minecraf t gardening con- sultant.
WhatShed said the consultants employed by
its Minecraft Gard ening Service will lend their video gaming and gar- den design skills to Minecraft play- ers seeking a lit- tle help landscap-
ing
in the virtual world of the game.
"Consultants will be able to lend their expertise for achieving garden- ing excellence while sticking to the player's Minecoin budget (in-game curren- cy)," the compa- ny said.
The website said it is seeking can- didates with a working knowl- edge
of Minecraft and a "creative flair."
"While
not essential, pre- vious experience in landscape gar- dening is benefi- cial. A passion for gardening/the outdoors must also be demon- strated," the job posting states.
WhatShed said the consultants will work remotely and can set their own rates, up to $70 an hour.
Applications are being accepted at whatshed.co.u k/virtual-land- scape-gardener- in-minecraft.