The Malaysian Insider :: Features
The Malaysian Insider :: Features |
| Israeli scientists develop date-rape drug detector Posted: 03 Aug 2011 12:57 AM PDT  The device can accurately detect the presence of two of the most-commonly used date-rape drugs: GHB and ketamine. — AFP/Relaxnews pic Professor Fernando Patolsky and Doctor Michael Ioffe of Tel Aviv University's school of chemistry say the sensor can tell you in real time whether your martini or your mocktail has been spiked with either of the two most common date-rape drugs. "You just dip it into your drink, it might actually look like a stirrer in the final production, it's tiny, very tiny," Ioffe told AFP. "And you don't even have to hold it up to the light and the system will let you know whether there are drugs dissolved in your drink." The device sucks up a tiny drop of the suspect beverage and puts it in contact with the patented chemical formula devised by Patolsky and Ioffe. "The drug itself is reacting with this chemical formulation and the previously clear formula becomes dirty and when the light shines it you can detect it," Ioffe said. "You don't have to do anything but dip it in your drink." The two scientists tested their device on a range of popular cocktails as well as soft drinks and other beverages and found it was able to correctly tell which had been spiked 100 per cent of the time. "What's amazing is that there is no false positives until now," Ioffe said. At present, the device can accurately detect the presence of the two of the most-commonly used date-rape drugs: GHB (gamma-hydroxybutyric acid) and ketamine. The scientists are also working to expand the device's detection capacity to include Rohypnol, another drug commonly used to sedate the victims of date rape. "We have some very, very optimistic preliminary results," Ioffe said. "All we need is money." The pair expect the first batch of sensors could be commercially available within a year and a half. The chemical formula that the device uses is cheap to produce and is not poisonous, meaning companies should be able to produce the sensor without requiring government approval. All that remains is for the producers to decide how the device will let its users know whether their drink is safe for consumption, and a range of options are being considered, Ioffe said. "We haven't decided how it will let you know. Maybe it will just light up or a part of it will rotate or maybe it will send a signal to your cell phone because you want to be discreet about it." — AFP/Relaxnews Full Feed Generated by Get Full RSS, sponsored by Used Car Search. |
| Posted: 02 Aug 2011 07:26 PM PDT  Hakkasan Mayfair. — quintessentially.com pic But for overseas visitors from East Asia whose tastes may bend toward piping hot Thai white rice, throat-scorching curries and roasted meats, here are five in-the-know spots to find a taste of home: SEDAP Tuck into this Chinese-Malaysian eatery close to the City financial district during your lunch break for a quick and affordable meal. Managed by a family from Penang, Malaysia, Sedap serves up homely favourites such as beef rendang, Hainanese chicken rice and nasi lemak. On the dessert menu try nonya kueh, a traditional Peranakan (Straits Chinese) baked sweet that often contains ingredients such as pandan flavouring and coconut milk. For those working overtime in the office, or who prefer a lazy night in the hotel room, Sedap offers free deliveries for orders over GBP10 (RM48) within a one-mile radius. (102 Old Street, www.sedap.co.uk) RASA SAYANG Nestled in the middle of Chinatown, Rasa Sayang is well placed for a night out in nearby Soho. Don't be put off by the sparse furnishings; find full-flavoured, spice-infused Malaysian cooking at decent prices. One of few venues in London that has hawker dishes like oyster omelettes and grilled satay on the menu, Rasa Sayang also serves the well-loved spicy laksa curry alongside fishball meepok noodle soup, Straits curry chicken and Singapore-style mee Siam. Those who pine for coffee and tea Singapore/Malaysian style should also not miss Rasa Sayang's 'Milo dinosaur' or 'teh tarik'. (5 Macclesfield Street, rasasayangfood.com)  Rasa Sayang's nasi lemak. — mostlyasianfood.com pic A favourite for both client meals and lazy Sunday brunches, Hakkasan is a one-Michelin starred modern Chinese restaurant in the West End. Founded by Hong Kong-born restaurateur Alan Yau, who also opened the Wagamama chain of restaurants, this dimly lit and stylishly decorated venue offers traditional dim sum and Chinese dishes with a twist. Sample treats such as black truffle roast duck or stir-fry lobster in black bean sauce, or eat Chinese tapas-style by ordering foie gras crab balls, scallop siew mai dumplings and Wagyu beef cheong fun. Be sure to save some space for their fusion-inspired desserts. (17 Bruton Street, w3.hakkasan.com/mayfair) LEONG'S LEGEND Soup dumplings, or xiao long bao as they are known in Mandarin Chinese, are one of those dishes that once tried are hard to get enough of. Delicate and notoriously labour-intensive to make, they usually contain either pork or crab and a rich soup broth. One of the best places in London to get a taste of these sumptuous bites is Taiwanese eatery Leong's Legend in Chinatown. Designed to look like a traditional Chinese cafe with its wooden stools and tables pushed close together, Leong's also serves up traditional dim sum favourites such as har gao and siew mai, as well as comfort Taiwanese dishes like spicy beef noodle soup and pork belly rice. (26-27 Lisle Street, 020 7734 3380) FOUR SEASONS Known far beyond British shores for its delectable roast duck, Four Seasons' name gets passed on among overseas relatives as a must-try when visiting London. Though similar in concept to many Chinese restaurants with its big round tables and noisy, chattering atmosphere, the tender, fatty roasted duck served here in black sauce is the restaurant's USP. The delicacy is best eaten with rice, along with house special tofu and steam pak choi, and is great washed down with an ice-cold beer or Chinese black tea. Booking in advance requires a minimum spend of GBP15 per person, or expect long queues (especially over the weekend). (Wardour Street, Gerrard Street or Bayswater). — Reuters Full Feed Generated by Get Full RSS, sponsored by Used Car Search. |
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