How many different types of beans can you name?  Maybe 8 - 10?  Well, you missed a few. Wikipedia says, "The world's gene banks hold about 40,000 bean varieties, although only a fraction are mass-produced for regular consumption."  Why are the others being ignored? Food process engineer Dr. Timothy Bowser explains that mass-produced beans generally come from a few cultivated varieties that have special qualities which have been proven over the years to work well for growers, processors, and consumers.

Imagine this: 1) a fork that tells you how fast you're eating and when to slow down; 2) meals that are packaged with a self-heating element. These innovations are not impossible or even futuristic. The first one is about to go on the market any day, and the second has been available for about 10 years. You may wonder how they work, how much they cost, and who would want them. Let's find out.