I washed some apples and served them on a hand-carved soapstone platter (see photo). When we began to eat them, we noticed the apples had left blue stains on the plate. What could have caused this?

Tony Wills, London, UK

I washed some apples and served them on a hand-carved soapstone platter (see photo). When we began to eat them, we noticed the apples had left blue stains on the plate. What could have caused this?

Tony Wills, London, UK

When I buy asparagus and keep it too long small beads of liquid appear on the tips. Why does it seem to decay preferentially from the tips, and what is the composition of the liquid that appears there? More importantly, can I still eat the asparagus after the liquid starts to appear?Tyler Keaton, Bolton, Lancashire, UK

I know that plants seperate oxigen from carbon dioxide. What chemicals are used in this process, and is there a way for humans to simulate it?

Who can tell me more about the rotten flesh plant?

  Fly catcher

The fungus in the photo (left) appeared on rotting, chopped-up trees used as mulch in our garden. It is about 10 centimetres in diameter and appears to feed on insects, and so has an appropriate stink of rotting flesh. What is it?Ted Webber, Buderim, Queensland, Australia  (no votes)

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• Answered by russell.berry
• on 2010-10-29 17:13:14 

 (no votes)

This fungi is as some people have mentioned, it resembles a wound or small recently deceased animal. It has found its way across continents and as I reside in Australia, the possibility is quite high that its originates from here. Many people mistakenly believe it eats flies, however it does use the flies as a means of distributing pollen spores and this would explain why it appears in several continents. The flies seem to know they cannot mate or use it parasitically. Imagery only, attracts the flies to a feast they can't resist. The black tar on the surface provides the flies with nutrients, apparently enough to make their way from OZ to the UK over generations. It is important to remember fungi are not carnivorous but parasitic of other plant material. How does it create a scent to attract flies, how does it know what a piece of rotten flesh looks like even in colour in the absence of intelligence? Because evolution is part of creation.

Richad Mabley's recipe for a blackerry junket is as follows:

"a junket made from nothing other than blackberry juice. Remove the juice from the very ripest blackberries with the help of a juice extractor, or by pressing them through several layers of muslin. Then simply allow the thick dark juice to stand undisturbed in a warm room. Do not stir or cool the juice, or add anything to it. After a few hours it will have set to the consistency of a ligh junket, and can be eaten with cream and sweet biscuits"

I have made this and it works beautifully (i highly recommend it). What makes it set? Would i work with an other fruit?