- Bite Science
- Posts
- Computational Gastronomy, Why Some Clothes Get Smellier, Effects of Ultraprocessed Food
Computational Gastronomy, Why Some Clothes Get Smellier, Effects of Ultraprocessed Food
Rob
July 09, 2024
🤖 Computer Science
EvolutionaryScale's AI model, ESM3, creates new fluorescent molecules and aims to impact drug development and sustainability. Announced with $142 million in funding, this protein language model, trained on 2.7 billion sequences, was developed by ex-Meta scientists. Chief scientist Alex Rives emphasizes making biology programmable, with ESM3 gaining significant attention in the biological AI field.
Cooking is a deeply creative and significant activity for individuals and societies, influencing nutrition, health, and sustainability. Computational Gastronomy uses data to analyze recipes for taste, nutrition, health, and environmental impact, offering a systematic understanding of culinary arts. This approach could revolutionize culinary creativity by using AI to generate novel recipes with optimal flavor, nutrition, and sustainability profiles, raising the question: "Can a machine think like a chef?"
⚛️ Physics and Chemistry
New research from the University of Alberta reveals why polyester T-shirts smell more than cotton after workouts. The study, published in the Textile Research Journal, found that cotton and viscose fibers, being plant-derived, absorb and release fewer odor-causing compounds compared to polyester, nylon, and wool. This explains why some fabrics are smellier than others when exposed to sweat, according to textile scientist Rachel McQueen.
Conventional medication often has low effectiveness and intolerable side effects due to non-targeted distribution. Targeted drug delivery, particularly using low-intensity ultrasound to trigger drug release from nanocarriers, shows promise. Researchers from the University of Utah demonstrated that perfluorocarbon (PFC) nanodroplets can be effectively and safely activated by low-frequency ultrasound. Their study, published in Frontiers in Molecular Biosciences, also outlines an optimized method for manufacturing these nanocarriers for clinical use.
🧬 Biology & Medicine
In 2010, Brazilian epidemiologist Dr. Carlos Monteiro gained recognition for developing the NOVA classification, which introduced the concept of ultraprocessed foods. Despite initial criticism, NOVA significantly impacted nutrition and public health. At the International Congress on Obesity in São Paulo, Monteiro presented evidence supporting NOVA, alongside Canadian researcher Dr. Kevin Hall, who was initially skeptical. NOVA categorizes foods based on processing: unprocessed or minimally processed foods, processed culinary ingredients, processed foods, and ultraprocessed foods like sodas and cookies.
New research suggests combining SGLT2 inhibitors and GLP1 receptor agonists may enhance heart and kidney disease protection in diabetic patients, according to a meta-analysis of 12 trials involving 73,238 patients, published in The Lancet Diabetes & Endocrinology.
🔭 Space & Astronomy
Quasars, the brightest objects in the cosmos, may guide astronomers to elusive pairs of supermassive black holes. These binary systems, formed during galactic mergers, have been challenging to detect despite their likely abundance. New research proposes that quasars, powered by feeding supermassive black holes in active galaxies, could increase the likelihood of finding these binary systems by sevenfold.
The European Space Agency (ESA) is preparing to launch its Ariane 6 rocket from French Guiana, aiming to restore Europe's access to Earth orbit after delays and technical challenges. The inaugural launch is scheduled for Tuesday at 2 p.m. ET, with a four-hour window, and will be broadcast live on ESA’s online channel.
Thanks For Reading!
Please move this email to your Primary Inbox (if it is not already there) to make sure you don’t miss any of the exciting news and updates!
Reply directly to this email with any questions, comments or suggestions. 🚀