2025 3+4

We developed models to predict the odors of structurally similar molecules by focusing on human olfaction mechanisms. These models differentiated odors between similar molecules, including optical is...

Over 10% of the US population are prescribed glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1 RAs) to combat obesity. Although they decrease cravings …

Ají charapitas are tiny yellow chile peppers from Peru that can cost hundreds of dollars per pound due to their small size and desirable flavor.

The cannabis-derived compound CBD is gaining traction as a treatment for a multiple conditions. Now a breakthrough production method has removed a major roadblock to its bioavailability.

A version of a popular cooking cheese made with 25% pea protein is a step towards more sustainable dairy products with nutritional benefits.

When you see pasta, your brain probably doesn't jump to the secrets of the universe. But for almost a century, physicists have puzzled over spaghetti's counterintuitive properties.

To protect crops from rising droughts, scientists are looking to the genes of a small group of plants that can survive months of drought then regreen within hours.

When exposed to high temperatures and pressure, water enters a state in which liquid and gas can no longer be distinguished. For a long time, there has been controversy about how this looks like o ...

Cambridge University researchers have uncovered evidence that two distinct populations of ancient hominins, separated for over a million years, before reuniting around 300,000 years ago. It's a missing chapter of evolution that left its mark in the DNA of every human alive today.

The price of orange juice has fallen dramatically since the start of 2024. Why?

A rice wine native to the Philippines has grabbed the attention of researchers looking into new, natural ways to slow biological aging. But it's not the wine itself – sorry – in the spotlight, but what's leftover after the liquid is ready to bottled.

A pioneering study investigating the brain activity of dogs during scent detection has unveiled crucial insights into their remarkable olfactory capabilities. Researchers at Bar-Ilan University have developed an optical sensor capable of remote sensing dogs' brain activity in three key regions—the olfactory bulb, hippocampus, and amygdala—that play a critical role in how dogs distinguish between different smells. This breakthrough could lead to the development of a compact, non-invasive device capable of interpreting and translating a dog's olfactory perceptions for human understanding.

Superfoods are a great way to add more nutrition to your meals, but you should first debunk some superfood myths before you buy them at the grocery store.

L’Anses vient de publier une étude sur les  effets sur la santé d’un régime végétarien. L’agence pointe quelques risques de carence mais reconnait la meilleure santé des végétariens.

The reality is that chewing gum is just another form of plastic pollution, but it is not treated as such.

Language is one of the biggest force multipliers in our species. It appeared earlier than expected.

Fungi are essential to our ecosystems, our societies and economies.

“Channeling” during brewing process can lead to non-uniform filtration and lower extraction yield.

Whiskey has been distilled in Ireland for centuries, but the industry nearly collapsed. Find out about the complicated history and resurgence of Irish whiskey.

New research sheds light on the history of avocado domestication, highlighting a prominent tree crop of major economic importance.

A new approach to Alzheimer's disease treatment could be on the horizon, inspired by a compound found in common herbs.

Fruit scent of lemur-dispersed species changes when fruits become ripe, a study of two years suggests.

Our Future Chronicles column explores an imagined history of inventions yet to come – this time how, by the mid-21st century, many people were opting for a "nose job" that would supercharge their sense of smell. Rowan Hooper is our guide.

In an attempt to create a more immersive exhibition experience, art institutions in France have been employing some unusual scents

Comment notre langue et notre cerveau perçoivent les saveurs ? Découvre le rôle des papilles gustatives, de la salive et de l’odorat dans le goût.

Fruits and vegetables contain highly volatile hydrophobic small molecules responsible for their aroma, taste, and pungency. Empirically, we understand that these compounds can evoke a sweet taste; however, their specific interactions with sweet taste receptors are unclear. To address this issue, HEK293 cells expressing human and mouse sweet taste receptors TAS1R2/TAS1R3 were used to identify trans-2-hexenal (a novel sweetener) in human and cinnamyl alcohol (a sweetness inhibitor) in mice. The effects of these compounds on TAS1R2/TAS1R3 in humans and mice were evaluated alongside known hydrophobic sweet compounds, and the results showed that they elicited responses in human TAS1R2/TAS1R3 but not in mice. Conversely, some compounds inhibited the sweetness of sucralose both in vitro and in vivo. Response analysis using human and mouse chimeric TAS1R2 and point mutants of TAS1R2 using docking simulations indicated that these compounds bind to the transmembrane domain of TAS1R2 and that multiple amino acid residues are essential to generate a sweet taste. These results indicate that highly volatile hydrophobic compounds generate aroma and sweetness through a different mechanism than hydrophilic sweeteners, such as sucrose.