Smelling in stereo – the real reason snakes have flicking, forked tongues

Two tongue tips are better than one – an evolutionary biologist explains why snakes have forked tongues.

Kurt Schwenk, Professor of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Connecticut • conversation
June 16, 2021 ~7 min

Taste evolved to make sure animals eat the right stuff

Mammals, fish, and insects may have evolved the ability to taste to make sure their food contains the elements they need for healthy growth.

Michelle Jewel-NC State • futurity
June 14, 2021 ~7 min


Music streaming: listening to playlists drives down the revenue of smaller artists

Most of your Spotify subscription fee goes to pop stars in curated playlists – even if you never listen to them.

Amelia Fletcher, Professor of Competition Policy, University of East Anglia • conversation
March 26, 2021 ~7 min

COVID-19 has made a cancer side effect more stressful

People with advanced prostate cancer should know that the loss of taste and smell can be a treatment side effect, not just a sign of COVID-19.

Barri Bronston-Tulane • futurity
March 19, 2021 ~5 min

Gritty or smooth? How flies gauge food texture

New research reveals how some creatures assess food texture, or whether it's smooth or gritty.

Harrison Tasoff-UC Santa Barbara • futurity
March 3, 2021 ~7 min

Feelings make people pass up perfectly tasty brown fruit

To end food waste, we need to stop thinking that oddly-shaped, bruised, or discolored fruit is bad, but our emotions can get in the way, researchers report.

Ida Eriksen-U. Copenhagen • futurity
Feb. 9, 2021 ~4 min

Sake beats other drinks for umami flavor

Which fermented drink has the most umami flavor: champagne, beer, wine, or sake? New research points to sake, and to the most savory-delicious pairings.

Ida Eriksen-U. Copenhagen • futurity
Jan. 29, 2021 ~5 min

People from different places don’t taste bitter stuff the same way

A new study finds Danish and Chinese people taste bitter stuff like broccoli and chocolate differently, suggesting ethnicity may play a role in taste.

Maria Hornbek-Copenhagen • futurity
Jan. 5, 2021 ~6 min


Daily DIY sniff checks could catch many cases of COVID-19

COVID-19 patients often lose their sense of smell and taste. This is rare for a viral infection. At-home smell tests could be used as a screening tool and help slow the spread of the coronavirus.

Cara Exten, Assistant Professor of Epidemiology, Penn State • conversation
Dec. 9, 2020 ~8 min

Team solves mystery behind oysters and bubbly combo

New research has a tasty explanation for why the combination of oysters and champagne works so well. The work applies to other food pairings, too.

Michael Skov Jensen-Copenhagen • futurity
Nov. 19, 2020 ~4 min

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