Along with an estimated six million people around the world, Rudi Zygadlo lost his sense of smell after having had Covid. He presumed it would return. But three years later his food still tastes like cardboard. Can anything be done?

For some, nothing that beats the sweet, creamy, slightly baked flavour of British chocolate, while others find it an affront to their tastebuds. But why does it taste that way at all?

Next step: human studies.

Watermelon seeds are safe to consume and even have health benefits. Continue reading to learn more. (Photo: Pexels/Karolina Grabowska) Will Watermelon Seed Grow In Your Stomach? Consuming watermelon seeds, it is difficult to avoid munching on this thirst-quenching fruit because they are tiny.

This was a fruitful year for Gastro Obscura.

Transistor performs energy-efficient associative learning at room temperature

Nonalcoholic beer sounds like an oxymoron, but newer techniques are producing tasty, high-quality options in this growing beverage category.

What does 'banana' have to do with 'handball'?

Students and scientists have been getting festive again at schools and labs around the world

Community matters among bacteria when it comes to producing full-flavoured cheddars

Let's take a geek's journey to the heart of olfactory receptors, sources of unexpected hope, with Jérémie Topin, Assistant professor at Université Côte d'Azur, and Matej Hladis, PhD student, both members of GDR 03.

Interspecific hybridization is a key process in plant evolution and breeding that can lead to phenotypic changes and the formation of new species. The merging of different genomes in a hybrid often triggers ...

Sniffing emotional tears from women can cut male aggression by more than 40% and cause changes in brain

It takes more than knowing how to swirl cognac in a snifter to become a bona fide brandy aficionado. We present the basics to truly enjoy eau de vie.

Sensory analysis of food is an essential tool to evaluate the quality of the products we consume daily. Through

Odeuropa is an online database of scents from 16th- to early 20th-century Europe culled from historical literature and art

This study presents an innovative framework for classifying and predicting odor intensity in perfumery, combining scientific machine learning with mechanistic modeling to enhance fragrance design precision. A probabilistic weight assignment is introduced, utilizing scent classifier outputs to determine the contribution of each fragrance component, thereby recognizing the subjective nature of scent classification and variability in olfactory perception. Additionally, an uncertainty analysis framework is integrated, quantifying uncertainties within perfume diffusion and human sensory perception models, thus improving model adaptability and reliability. The methodology comprises three parts: a perfume diffusion model that simulates fragrance molecule evaporation and dispersion, an odor perception model using Odor Value for scent intensity quantification, and an uncertainty quantification that rigorously analyzes model parameters and predictions. This approach aims to scientifically advance the art of perfumery, allowing for the creation of sophisticated fragrances with enhanced predictive accuracy.

The humble bag of chips has come a long way, with flavours like cheeseburger, curry, and cucumber now available. To get the flavours right involves a bit of technology — and a whole lot of noses.

Descriptive sensory analysis was paired with temporal check-all-that-apply gas-chromatography olfactometry (TCATA GC-O) to compare differences in perc…

Research published in the International Journal of Entrepreneurship and Small Business has taken a close look at the innovation dynamics within Baja California's flourishing wine and craft beer industries. ...

The genetic alphabet contains just four letters, referring to the four nucleotides, the biochemical building blocks that comprise all DNA. Scientists have long wondered whether it's possible to add more ...

The human brain uses up 20% of the energy we consume.

Christmas can feel like one long hangover – but a new generation of alcohol-free alternatives is emerging which claim to offer the fun of alcohol without the painful morning-after. Madeleine Finlay, Ian Sample and Hannah Devlin investigate

You likely know that the sight and smell of food can trigger cravings. But internal cues from your gut and your brain play just as important a role in the decisions you make around food.

In a ‘co-evolutionary arms race,’ fungi and plants use similar molecular weapons.

Understand the age-old process of cocoa cultivation and learn a little more about the work of chocolate smell and taste evaluators. I'll start with a completely opposite question: Who here doesn't like chocolate? Since I know that the vast majority of people, with rare exceptions, eat chocolate frequently and some even admit to a certain addiction to this food, I thought it would be interesting to share a few things abou

This mysterious ingredient was often found in medieval Arabic books of medicine and botany.

French wild pansies are producing smaller flowers and less nectar than 20 to 30 years ago in ‘startling’ act of evolution, study shows