logo
episode-header-image
Aug 2024
5m 22s

Where does blue raspberry flavor come fr...

American Public Media
About this episode

There are lots of foods that are blue-raspberry flavored, like candy, popsicles, or fizzy drinks. But there’s no such thing as a blue raspberry…so where does that flavor come from? We asked food scientist Adam Johnson to help us find the answer.


Got a TASTEful question? Send it to us at BrainsOn.org/contact, and we’ll do you a flavor and find the answer.

Up next
Jun 11
A big update about Moment of Um and the Brains On Universe
We're moving the Brains On Universe Headquarters, and that means we have to stop putting out new episodes until we get settled. We know: not cool. But, our new home is going to be bigger and better and the absolute BEST. We can't wait until it's ready for you to visit.In the mean ... Show More
2m 56s
Jun 6
How do braces work?
They come in cool colors, catch popcorn kernels and sometimes even have spacers - it’s braces! Ever wondered how braces magically straighten teeth? We asked Dr. ArNelle Wright - a real life dentist! - to help us break down the science of these tiny metal wonders.Bracing for a tou ... Show More
6m 19s
Jun 4
How do stoplights know when to change?
Waiting for a stoplight to turn green can be really annoying, especially when you’re running late. It would be awesome if you had a magic wand you could wave to get the light to change. But alas, such things don’t exist. But how do stoplights know when to switch colors? We asked ... Show More
5m 24s
Recommended Episodes
May 2024
How You Can Taste Food Like A Flavor Chemist
"Natural flavors” show up on ingredient lists for all kinds of foods. But what does that mean exactly? We get a peek into the secretive science of flavoring when we talk with Marie Wright of ADM, who’s created more than 1,000 flavors in her 30+ years as a flavor chemist. She expl ... Show More
32m 9s
Oct 2024
Les souvenirs de marché de Michel Jonasz
Cette semaine, c’est le chanteur et acteur Michel Jonasz, qui est autour de la table. Quel est le goût de votre enfance ? Quels sont les ingrédients que vous avez toujours dans votre frigo ? Ce sont quelques-unes des questions qui sont posées. Aujourd'hui, il nous raconte qu’il a ... Show More
10m 8s
Oct 2024
Can you taste a place?
Is it possible to taste a place? A listener wonders whether the French concept of ‘terroir’ can apply to food and, if so, what the science behind it is. Ruth Alexander goes in search of the answer, exploring how growing conditions and practices can develop flavours unique to a lo ... Show More
28m 55s
Jul 2024
The Preposterous History of Artificial Flavors, Part Two: Ain't Nothing Like The Real Thing
What makes a flavor "artificial," exactly? Why doesn't banana candy taste like bananas in the grocery store? What on Earth is the flavor behind "Juicy Fruit" -- spoiler, the answer will surprise you. In the second part of this week's special two-part episode, Ben, Noel and Max ex ... Show More
51 m
Jul 2024
The Science of Flavor with Arielle Johnson
What is flavor? Neil deGrasse Tyson and co-hosts Chuck Nice and Gary O’Reilly explore the science of what makes some foods tastier than others, what is “umami,” and how flavor changed in the 20th century with food scientist Arielle Johnson.NOTE: StarTalk+ Patrons can listen to th ... Show More
54m 22s
Jul 2023
What is YOUR FAVORITE Ice Cream, Where and Why?
TODAY AFTER THE SHOW we all realized we indulged on vacation last week. But out of curiousity, Ice Cream is a wide spectrum of flavors, places, combos, shapes, and sizes. So if you have any shocking Ice Cream content.... share it with us! DM us @johnjayandrich and ask to tell you ... Show More
11m 21s
Feb 2025
How Flavor Has Guided Human History & The Threat of Pseudoscience - SYSK Choice
Modern kitchen freezers are actually cruel to ice cream and other frozen foods. This episode begins by explaining why this is and why there is often ice crystals on top of your ice cream and how to prevent them. Source: Professor Richard Hartel author of the book Ice Cream (https ... Show More
52m 12s
Jan 2025
Ep89 "Why do you love some flavors and not others?"
Why do you like the taste of things that your friend doesn't? Why do kids not like coffee but adults do? What does any of this have to do with smelling people’s armpits, whether women really synchronize their menstruation, whether your culture eats a lot of spicy foods, and how a ... Show More
35m 42s