Food & Diet, features and articles | Educational Science

Jun 22, 2023

1st 'lab-grown' meat approved for sale in the US

Lab-grown meat, made from chicken cells cultured in steel tanks, can now be produced and sold in the U.S. for the first time. On Wednesday (June 21), two California-based companies — Upside Foods and Good Meat, a subsidiary of Eat Just — became the first in the nation to get...

Jun 29, 2023

Aspartame to be declared 'possible carcinogen' by WHO. Don't panic.

An agency within the World Health Organization (WHO) will soon name the widely used artificial sweetener aspartame a possible carcinogen, based on a review of 1,300 studies, Reuters reported, citing information from two sources who are knowledgeable about the process. But don't panic: The arm of the WHO that did...

Jul 3, 2023

Why do our stomachs growl?

When you haven't eaten in a while, your body has ways of reminding you that it needs fuel. Often, the stomach nudges you toward your next meal by making loud gurgling noises. But why, exactly, do our stomachs growl? Stomach growling is due to peristalsis, Tiffany Weir, professor of food...

Jul 14, 2023

No, aspartame is not a 'possible carcinogen,' FDA says in response to WHO ruling

No, the artificial sweetener aspartame is not a possible carcinogen to humans, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) said Friday (July 14). The regulator's statement came on the heels of a ruling issued by an arm of the World Health Organization (WHO), which classified the ubiquitous sweetener as possibly...

Aug 7, 2023

Why do we always have room for dessert?

You're at a restaurant and just devoured a hearty meal. With an uncomfortably full stomach and seemingly tighter pants, you can't fathom eating another bite — that is, until the dessert tray passes by and your hunger returns. But why does the sight of sweet treats open up a mysterious...

Aug 7, 2023

Does caffeine help or cause headaches?

If you miss your morning cup of joe, your temples may start throbbing. If you drink more than normal, that could cause a headache, too. And somehow, a strong cup of coffee can also stop some migraines in their tracks. So is caffeine the culprit or the cure for headaches?...

Aug 18, 2023

Can sugar cause acne?

If you deal with constant breakouts of pimples, you might be tempted to eliminate sugar from your diet. After all, that's the advice offered by various online sources, and numerous studies seem to back it up. But the bittersweet truth is that cutting out sugar likely won't be enough to...

Aug 18, 2023

Scientists identify the microbes that make buffalo mozzarella so yummy

Bubbling blobs of buffalo mozzarella seen steaming atop a pizza as it comes out of the oven — it's a scene tantalizing enough to make almost anyone's mouth water. But what makes this creamy white cheese so delicious? A new study offers a clue: microbes. After studying samples of buffalo...

Sep 16, 2023

Why do some people think cilantro tastes like soap?

Cilantro is one divisive herb: People either love it or hate it. Julia Child disavowed the stuff, claiming it had a soapy taste in 1955 — and the comparison stuck. Between 3% and 21% of people, depending on their location in the world, dislike cilantro for its soapiness. But how...

Oct 2, 2023

Which foods make the smelliest farts?

Nothing clears a room like a smelly fart. Even though this gas, known scientifically as flatus, is a part of our daily lives, we still know surprisingly little about what goes into it. So which foods make us the gassiest, and which ones make for the stinkiest farts? A smelly...

Oct 16, 2023

How long does it take to digest food?

When you're tucking into one of your favorite foods — perhaps a steaming bowl of ramen or spectacularly cheesy slice of pizza — you're probably not thinking about the journey each morsel is about to take through your digestive system. Of course, what started out as a delectable meal will...

Nov 8, 2023

Eating meat may not have 'made us human,' contrary to popular theory

Humans have been around for about 2.5 million years. For at least 2.4 million years, people have been eating animals. This fact is evidenced by cut traces on fossil animal bones, surviving stone tools and analyses of our ancestors' teeth. While Homo habilisand Homo rudolfensis probably only ate a lizard...

Nov 23, 2023

Does it really take 20 minutes to realize you're full?

You sit down to dinner with a rumbling stomach and finish the meal in record time — but then, half an hour after clearing your plate, you suddenly feel uncomfortably full, as if your tummy could pop. People say there's a lag between taking your first bite and satisfying your...

Dec 23, 2023

Why is it safe to eat moldy cheese?

You're at a dinner party and have just locked eyes with the cheese board. As the first tantalizing bite of Gorgonzola passes your lips, a question might cross your mind: Why is it okay to eat this moldy food, when a lot of mold makes us sick? Molds are thread-like...

Jan 10, 2024

Scientists tested 10 meals to find the perfect food for space travel

Maintaining a balanced diet can be hard enough on Earth, but it's even more difficult in space — especially when you're talking about long-haul missions. Although space-based agriculture has made strides in recent years, growing fresh crops in space is no easy feat, and each bit of food or water...