In Sights

This pedal-powered grain crusher — a mechanical device that attaches to a bicycle — is used to process various grains from large to small pieces suitable for cooking. As a rider pedals, the back wheel moves a contact element that turns a pulley, which moves plates in the crusher to grind grains such as corn, lentils, and barley. The device could help produce food for people in Third World countries and let some of them earn a living by traveling from village to village crushing grains for wages. The project is under development at Rowan University, Glassboro, N.J. For more information, visit www.rowan.edu.