Beeting the ice: Those familiar with winter conditions know that roads have to be kept clear of ice. Sometimes sand is used to cut back on the “skid” factor, while at other times salt is applied. But something new is being tried in the Canadian town of Williams Lake in the province of British Columbia – beet juice mixed with a bit of saline. When applied before a storm, this unique solution apparently works quite well by stopping snow from bonding to the surface of the road. There is also an extra bonus. No reside is left on the roads, as there is with sand, so an expensive spring clean-up is unnecessary.

Bottle washers: When you throw your empty plastic water and pop bottles into the recycling bin, did you ever wonder how undesirable material is removed before the plastic is recycled and used for other purposes? According to Darlene Gray of the Canadian Plastics Industry Association, the bottles are run under a magnet that attracts any metal pieces. Then, the bottles go through a huge washing machine that works just like the ones people use in their homes. Soapy water in this big machine removes the old labels, along with dirt and debris.

Going bananas: A zoo in Paignton, England, has put its monkeys on a banana-free diet. While that may puzzle folks who consider the yellow fruit as stereotypical monkey food, the zoo’s animal nutritionist, Amy Plowman, provides a good reason for the change. She explains that the bananas grown for a human diet are different than those that grow in the wild. They have a high sugar content and are lower in protein. She likens cultivated bananas to a rich dessert if eaten by monkeys. But don’t worry, the zoo’s monkeys are doing just fine on green vegetables, which have lots of nutrients.

Twinkie time: There is a well-known snack in the United States called the Twinkie. This oblong, cake-like, cream-filled treat was first created in 1930. One of these treats has survived without being eaten for almost 40 years. That Twinkie belonged to teacher Roger Bennatti of Maine (US) who put it on his classroom’s intercom box in 1976. When he retired, he passed ownership on to a new teacher, Libby Rosemeier, who was a student in Bennatti’s 1976 class. Currently, the Twinkie is so hard it’s inedible, but it still looks to be in pretty good shape. However, it’s probably not a good idea to take a bite!