Difficulty: Summiteer (level 3)
Beer tastes better when cold, oranges are always sold in red mesh bags, and human fetuses feel disgusted by the flavor of kale but smile for carrots. The scientific explanations for these strange findings can be found in 10 studies awarded the Pineapple Science Award in Hangzhou.
The winners also included research into why “baby smell” is so appealing and what type of paper cuts skin most easily. Other studies have examined how spiders guide fireflies to emit mating signals to attract prey and how humans’ unique scent helps mosquitoes choose their next meal.
Scientists believe these results provide valuable information about the development of taste and smell receptors. The data also tells us something about memory formation in humans.
The awards are guided by the Zhejiang Association for Science and Technology and organized by the Zhejiang Science and Technology Museum. The annual event was launched in 2012 and celebrates imaginative scientific research and discoveries.