The BBC calls it a use for curry powder, but scientists really are working with turmeric. They have found a way to make thin films of it on transparent plates to look for the presence of explosives.

The idea would be to use an inexpensive light source – the team uses LEDs – shone on to the thin films, detecting the light they then put off. In the presence of explosives, the light would dim.

By using an array of sensors, each sensitive to slightly different colours of light, a range of different materials could be detected, and, crucially, reduce the risk of false alarms.

In tests, the films can currently detect explosive levels down to 80 parts per billion, but Mr Kumar said that for hgh-sensitivity applications like mine detection, they needed to increase the sensitivity further, by adjusting the chemical groups attached to curcumin.

This could be more accurate than the rats trained for mine detection. How will a plate of turmeric be made operational and sent into the field?

I am reminded of the Red Dwarf episode when a Vindaloo Beast rampages the ship. What if scientists go too far and make a curry detection monster that gets out of control – a mind of its own? “Of course, Lager, the only thing that can kill a vindaloo.”