New taste: Sweet, salty, bitter, sour, umami and … ammonium chloride?

Researchers have uncovered the mechanism by which our taste buds detect ammonium chloride, exemplified by the distinct taste of salty licorice, popular in Scandinavia and the Netherlands. They say the discovery provides evidence for the existence of a … Continue reading New taste: Sweet, salty, bitter, sour, umami and … ammonium chloride?

Artificial tongue may help build better chocolate

Few can deny that one of life’s greatest gustatory pleasures is that first silky smooth release of fat, sugar and cocoa that comes after biting into a favorite piece of chocolate. While many of us might prefer to keep this sensation in the realm of cul… Continue reading Artificial tongue may help build better chocolate

High-sugar diet desensitizes the tongue to sweet tastes, says rat study

Do people eating lots of sugar become desensitized to sweetness? Scientists at the University of Michigan (U-M) have found evidence that this might be the case, with a new study in rats finding that those on a high-sugar diet had as much as a 50% reduc… Continue reading High-sugar diet desensitizes the tongue to sweet tastes, says rat study

Violence-as-a-Service: Brickings, Firebombings & Shootings for Hire

A 21-year-old New Jersey man has been arrested and charged with stalking in connection with a federal investigation into groups of cybercriminals who are settling scores by hiring people to carry out physical attacks on their rivals. Prosecutors say the defendant recently participated in several of these schemes — including firing a handgun into a Pennsylvania home and torching a residence in another part of the state with a Molotov Cocktail. Continue reading Violence-as-a-Service: Brickings, Firebombings & Shootings for Hire

“Bioelectronic tongue” objectively assesses sweetness

A food that’s subtly sweet to one person may be very sweet to another, so how can food and beverage companies objectively determine just how sweet something actually is? Well, an experimental new “bioelectronic tongue” may one day do the job.Continue R… Continue reading “Bioelectronic tongue” objectively assesses sweetness

“Bioelectronic tongue” objectively assesses sweetness

A food that’s subtly sweet to one person may be very sweet to another, so how can food and beverage companies objectively determine just how sweet something actually is? Well, an experimental new “bioelectronic tongue” may one day do the job.Continue R… Continue reading “Bioelectronic tongue” objectively assesses sweetness

Under-the-tongue wafer could deliver vaccines – at room temperature

Patients don’t like getting needles, nor do clinicians like having to keep protein-based vaccines cold at all times. A new polymer wafer – which dissolves when placed under the tongue – could address both issues.Continue ReadingCategory: Medical, Scien… Continue reading Under-the-tongue wafer could deliver vaccines – at room temperature

3D-printed “biomimetic tongue” works like the real thing

While we have heard about “electronic tongues” recently, most of them have turned out to be flavor-assessing sensors that (disappointingly) didn’t look like actual tongues. Such is not the case with a new biomimetic tongue, however, which could have so… Continue reading 3D-printed “biomimetic tongue” works like the real thing

Shocking Tinnitus Therapy is Music to Sufferers’ Ears

Do you suffer from tinnitus? We were surprised to learn that 15-20% of people have this condition that amounts to constant ringing in the ears. Science doesn’t fully understand the ringing part, but one possible explanation is that the brain is compensating for the frequencies it can’t hear any more. …read more

Continue reading Shocking Tinnitus Therapy is Music to Sufferers’ Ears

Ear-pinging, tongue-buzzing tech used to treat tinnitus

Tinnitus is an aggravating disorder, causing sufferers to constantly hear a ringing in their ears. A new system could help, though, by simultaneously zapping their tongue and delivering sounds to their ears.Continue ReadingCategory: Medical, ScienceTag… Continue reading Ear-pinging, tongue-buzzing tech used to treat tinnitus