Add BrightSurf on Google Email

Researchers map the physics of Tibetan singing bowls

Researchers captured high-speed images of fluid-filled Tibetan bowls to quantify how droplets are propelled from the water's surface as the bowls are excited. The unique singing properties of Tibetan bowls were used to investigate a liquid's interaction with solid materials, a situation that arises in many engineering applications.

SourceIOP Publishing·JournalNonlinearity·DateJun 30, 2011

Early French had a taste for beer

A new study reveals archaeobotanical evidence of beer brewing in Mediterranean France, dating back to the 5th century BC. The findings suggest that the French had an early passion for beer brewing, alongside regular wine making.

SourceSpringer·JournalHuman Ecology·DateJun 14, 2011

Wine yeasts reveal prehistoric microbial world

Two wine yeasts, S. cerevisiae and Dekkera bruxellensis, have been studied to reconstruct the evolutionary history of ethanol production. They developed similar abilities around 100-150 million years ago, likely driven by environmental pressures such as competition from other microbes.

SourceLund University·JournalNature Communications·DateMay 11, 2011

Learning from experience? Multisensory tools create discerning wine lovers

A new study found that providing wine aficionados with accurate sensory descriptors improves their ability to resist misleading advertising and form accurate memories. This research has implications for other products like music, gourmet food, or movies, where multisensory advertising can engage and direct the learning process.

SourceUniversity of Chicago Press Journals·JournalJournal of Consumer Research·DateMay 18, 2010

How strong is your booze?

A new portable device can determine the strength of alcoholic drinks rapidly and easily, using a simple infrared sensor. The technique has been shown to be just as accurate as traditional lab-based methods and can be used in developing countries.

SourceBMC (BioMed Central)·JournalChemistry Central Journal·DateMar 22, 2010

Genetic discovery could break wine industry bottleneck, accelerate grapevine breeding

German researchers have uncovered new details about the heredity of Vitis varieties in cultivation today, potentially breaking a bottleneck in the progress of the wine industry. They discovered a double mutation that could lead to more accurate classification tools and effective marker-assisted breeding methods.

SourceTechnical University of Munich (TUM)·JournalJournal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry·DateSep 24, 2009

Taking the stress off yeast produces better wine

Researchers have identified genes in yeast that enable it to respond to stress and are investigating ways to improve its performance by modifying its stress response mechanism. By manipulating these genes, they found a family of enzymes called sirtuins plays an important role in controlling wine yeast lifespan.

Half a glass of wine a day may boost life expectancy by 5 years

A study of 1,373 men found that light long-term alcohol consumption, especially wine, was associated with a lower risk of dying from cardiovascular disease and death from all causes. Moderate wine consumption was linked to an extended life expectancy of around five years in men.

SourceBMJ Group·JournalJournal of Epidemiology and Community Health·DateApr 29, 2009

Alcohol types and socioeconomic status are associated with Barrett's esophagus risk

A new study suggests that drinking alcohol in early adulthood may increase the risk of reflux esophagitis (RE) and Barrett's esophagus (BE), while wine consumption may reduce this risk. Higher education levels are also inversely associated with BE risk, suggesting socioeconomic status plays a role in the development of these conditions.

SourceAmerican Gastroenterological Association·JournalGASTROENTEROLOGY·DateMar 1, 2009

A little wine boosts omega-3 in the body: Researchers find a novel mechanism for a healthier heart

Researchers found that moderate wine consumption is associated with increased levels of omega-3 fatty acids in the body, considered protective against coronary heart disease. The study suggests that compounds other than alcohol may be responsible for this effect, and polyphenols in wine are a potential key player.

SourceCatholic University - Campobasso·JournalAmerican Journal of Clinical Nutrition·DateDec 4, 2008

US Hispanics prefer beer

A new study has found that US Hispanics, belonging to four national groups, prefer beer as their beverage of choice. The study, published in Alcoholism: Clinical & Experimental Research, revealed that beer was the preferred beverage among all Hispanic respondents, with variations in preference across ethnic subgroups.

Attitudes toward consumption and conservation of tigers in China

A recent study published in PLOS ONE found that a significant proportion of Chinese consumers admit to purchasing tiger products, despite widespread support for the country's ban on selling these products. The researchers also discovered that 71% of respondents preferred products made from wild tigers over those from farmed tigers.

SourcePLOS·JournalPLOS ONE·DateJul 1, 2008

Wine may protect against dementia

A Swedish study found that women who consumed wine regularly had a lower risk of developing dementia compared to those who drank beer or liquor. The study, which followed 1,458 women over 34 years, suggests that moderate wine consumption may have protective effects against dementia.

SourceSwedish Research Council·JournalAmerican Journal of Epidemiology·DateApr 10, 2008

Fine as North Dakota wine

A Cornell University study found that changing the label on a wine can significantly impact diners' perceptions of the wine and their overall meal experience. Diners who were given wine from California rated it higher in quality, enjoyed more of their meal, and were more likely to return to the restaurant.

SourceCornell Food & Brand Lab·JournalPhysiology & Behavior·DateAug 6, 2007

Selling customers the short end of the stick

Excluding consumers from promotions can actually increase their interest in a product, as they perceive others as more savvy buyers. In experiments conducted by Duke University's Fuqua School of Business, researchers found that naive consumers are attracted to products with freebies not available to them, leading them to believe that e...

SourceDuke University·JournalJournal of Marketing Research·DateMar 29, 2007

How your brain helps you become a wine expert

A new study by Northwestern University researchers shows that the brain learns to differentiate between similar smells simply through passive experience. Prolonged sensory exposure induces 'expertise' in specific smell categories, leading to improved odor discrimination and retention of this expertise for at least 24 hours.

SourceNorthwestern University·JournalNeuron·DateDec 21, 2006