2011

Smog Tasting

The Smog Tasting project maps air quality by harvesting air from highly polluted areas. Egg foams are up to 90% air, and whipping the eggs causes particulate matter to be trapped in the batter. The batter can be tested for heavy metals and VOCs, compared in a microscope or baked and served as trojan horse sweets.

Take a snapshot of the air quality in any location. Serve it to politicians or business owners for a blind taste test of the air quality in their area. The tragedy of the commons never tasted so good!
One shouldn’t worry too much about getting sick from these cookies: we breath this air everyday!

As a workshop students or community groups can harvest air in egg foams from different parts of the city, test the results, and place one of each baked cookie on a map for comparison, sending the remainder of the cookies as gifts to interested parties.

The Center of Genomic Gastronomy

India
Air Pollution / Public Awareness