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. Learn about the fundamental mechanisms of flavor and how molecules help make our favorite foods taste so good. We break down orthonasal and retronasal olfaction and why our sense of smell is so important for taste. Is it true that there are different areas of the tongue that taste different flavors? We talk about the different flavors and the most recently confirmed one: umami. What is umami and how do you find a “new” flavor? We discuss the interaction of environment and genes on taste as well as how cooking changes flavor. Learn about the flavor of a Maillard reaction. How much of cuisine was a happy accident? Why do foods that are bad for us taste better? We explore artificial flavorings, the decline in flavor of produce, and Arielle’s new book Flavorama: A Guide to Unlocking the Art and Science of Flavor. Plus, we answer fan questions like: How do flavors change as you age? Can we engineer vegetables to taste better? Can you make soda out of helium? And, what does chicken actually taste like? Timestamps: 00:00 - Introduction: Arielle Johnson, Flavor Scientist 06:13 - The Fundamentals of Flavor 8:06 - Smelling vs. Tasting 11:15 - Is The Tongue Map Real? 13:56 - What is Umami? 19:10 - What Impacts Flavor? 30:12 - Artifical Flavors & Junk Food 33:35 - Flavorama 35:03 - How Does You Taste Changes Overtime? 39:30 - Can We Make Vegetables Taste Better? 44:06 - Eating in the Future & Cooking on the Moon 47:47 - Food in The Matrix 50:00 - Can You Make Soda with Helium? Check out our second channel, @StarTalkPlus Get the NEW StarTalk book, 'To Infinity and Beyond: A Journey of Cosmic Discovery' on Amazon: https://amzn.to/3PL0NFn Support us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/startalkradio FOLLOW or SUBSCRIBE to StarTalk: Twitter: http://twitter.com/startalkradio Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/StarTalk Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/startalk About StarTalk: Science meets pop culture on StarTalk! Astrophysicist & Hayden Planetarium director Neil deGrasse Tyson, his comic co-hosts, guest celebrities & scientists discuss astronomy, physics, and everything else about life in the universe. Keep Looking Up! #StarTalk #NeildeGrasseTyson