The Hidden Universe in Glucose

Reitz, Nicholas

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https://hdl.handle.net/2142/75867 Copy

Description

Title

The Hidden Universe in Glucose

Author(s)

Reitz, Nicholas

Issue Date

2015-04

Keyword(s)

Food Science and Human Nutrition

Abstract

If a picture is worth a thousand words, what is the value of a taste? Such are the thoughts of researchers in the wild world of food science. This image, while seemingly exotic and in spots downright celestial, depicts everyday sugar crystals-glucose-suspended in yet more melted sugar. Though this combination may seem redundant to the casual observer, the purpose is to study the melting of sugars for a better understanding into how they lose their crystallinity. More specifically, this image was taken while shearing a glucose sample to test for birefringence and the presence of liquid crystal phases. With the knowledge gained from this and similar research, scientists can produce higher quality, better tasting treats. On top of this, the amount of sugar needed to take this cross polarized microscopic photo is not enough to break even the strictest of diets. So let go and indulge in a divine dessert knowing that beauty abounds in the simple substance that satisfies your sweet tooth. And while this image's description may have only intensify your craving, by any other name, the research it accompanies would taste just as sweet.

Type of Resource

• text
• image

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http://hdl.handle.net/2142/75867

Copyright and License Information

Copyright 2015 Nicholas Reitz

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