Melting moments

When we went to Lake Placid a few weeks ago we found that our hotel room had a microwave oven in it. We decided to make use of this facility and self-cater a couple of meals, so we bought a pasta dish to heat up. But the room didn't come with cutlery, so we bought ourselves some of that too, and as it was on special offer we picked a box of biodegrable knives and forks.

They are made out of cornstarch or something, and to look at they appear to be much like any disposable 'silverware'. But as we cheerfully tucked into our steaming pasta we discovered a major distinction:











they can't take the heat.