3 ms·

It seems really incredible to me that this is, and perhaps taste(closely related), we have been unable to tame. Sight, sound, psychology- no problem for the tec

by tjr225 8y ago

It seems really incredible to me that this is, and perhaps taste(closely related), we have been unable to tame. Sight, sound, psychology- no problem for the technologically literate to impose on another...but we can't recreate or manipulate smell? fascinating.

labster 8y ago
We've tamed smell just fine in food and toiletries. It's just that we haven't invented matter replicators yet, so you can't just push electrons into a box and get arbitrary chemicals out.
DTND 8y ago
> perhaps taste(closely related), we have been unable to tame Really? How do you think they make the most junk of food still palatable enough that people aren't literally barfing while eating, say, a pizza that doesn't even have real cheese but a mediocre imitation of it? Or things like this : https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ethyl_methylphenylglycidate https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ethyl_methylphenylglycidate used in various cheap industrial food products like ice creams and syrups. Entirely artificial and synthesized imitation of strawberry. We have deciphered taste down to infinite combinations of various synthetic compounds to replicate, although not to perfection, pretty much any sort of taste, which is why there is a junk food epidemic. People wouldn't be able to gorge themselves onto the road of becoming morbidly obese if artificial flavourings were not up to a decent, although not gourmet-level, standard.
- vincnetas 8y ago
  There is no such thing as strawberry taste. What you feel is actually strawberry smell. Also apple banana cola etc. These are smells that you feel by eating. Try eating something while holding your nose shut with your hand. According to Wikipedia we have only five tastes: The sensation of taste includes five established basic tastes: sweetness, sourness, saltiness, bitterness, and savoriness.
  - moehm 8y ago
    Related: https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Retronasale_Aromawahrnehmung https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Retronasale_Aromawahrnehmung It's in German, but Google Translator should do. https://translate.google.com/translate?sl=de&tl=en&js=y&ie=UTF-8&u=https%3A%2F%2Fde.wikipedia.org%2Fwiki%2FRetronasale_Aromawahrnehmung&edit-text=&act=url https://translate.google.com/translate?sl=de&tl=en&js=y&ie=U...
    - Semirhage 8y ago
      Here’s the English version: https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Retronasal_smell https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Retronasal_smell

by tjr225 8y ago

labster 8y ago

We've tamed smell just fine in food and toiletries. It's just that we haven't invented matter replicators yet, so you can't just push electrons into a box and get arbitrary chemicals out.

DTND 8y ago

> perhaps taste(closely related), we have been unable to tame Really? How do you think they make the most junk of food still palatable enough that people aren't literally barfing while eating, say, a pizza that doesn't even have real cheese but a mediocre imitation of it? Or things like this : https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ethyl_methylphenylglycidate https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ethyl_methylphenylglycidate used in various cheap industrial food products like ice creams and syrups. Entirely artificial and synthesized imitation of strawberry. We have deciphered taste down to infinite combinations of various synthetic compounds to replicate, although not to perfection, pretty much any sort of taste, which is why there is a junk food epidemic. People wouldn't be able to gorge themselves onto the road of becoming morbidly obese if artificial flavourings were not up to a decent, although not gourmet-level, standard.

vincnetas 8y ago
There is no such thing as strawberry taste. What you feel is actually strawberry smell. Also apple banana cola etc. These are smells that you feel by eating. Try eating something while holding your nose shut with your hand. According to Wikipedia we have only five tastes: The sensation of taste includes five established basic tastes: sweetness, sourness, saltiness, bitterness, and savoriness.
- moehm 8y ago
  Related: https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Retronasale_Aromawahrnehmung https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Retronasale_Aromawahrnehmung It's in German, but Google Translator should do. https://translate.google.com/translate?sl=de&tl=en&js=y&ie=UTF-8&u=https%3A%2F%2Fde.wikipedia.org%2Fwiki%2FRetronasale_Aromawahrnehmung&edit-text=&act=url https://translate.google.com/translate?sl=de&tl=en&js=y&ie=U...
  - Semirhage 8y ago
    Here’s the English version: https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Retronasal_smell https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Retronasal_smell