How sugary molecules sweeten food and drink

+ lessons from Hollywood's primer on science denialism US Edition - Today's top story: What's the difference between sugar, other natural sweeteners and artificial sweeteners? A food chemist explains sweet science [View in browser]( US Edition | 5 January 2022 [The Conversation]( Doughnuts, candy canes, bananas, soda and even milk – in its own way – all taste sweet. But each is loaded with a different type of sweetener, from glucose, the simplest of sugars, to the industrially manufactured sucralose that goes into Splenda. But what are all these sweeteners? And how do they work? Kristine Nolin is a chemist at the Rochester Institute of Technology who loves the science of food. As a starting point for The Conversation U.S.’s new series on sugar, Nolin [describes the chemistry of various natural and artificial sweeteners]( and how the flavors we enjoy are the result of a dance between their molecules and our own taste buds. The team at The Conversation thought that now – with bellies stuffed with calories from sweet holiday treats and heads pondering New Year’s resolutions about burning them away – would be a great time for a series of stories on sugar. Other articles in the series will explore why evolution gave humans such a sweet tooth, the impact of overconsumption on health and the link between sugar production and race. Stay tuned over the coming weeks as we follow the not-always-sweet story of sugar. Also today: - [Scientists are using AI to ‘hallucinate’ new proteins]( - [US military faces growing pressure to cut overseas footprint]( - [Purloined paper checks are latest fad in online fraud]( Bryan Keogh Senior Editor, Economy + Business Sugar is just one of many flavor enhancers people and companies use to sweeten foods and beverages. Marie LaFauci/Moment via Getty Images [What’s the difference between sugar, other natural sweeteners and artificial sweeteners? A food chemist explains sweet science]( Kristine Nolin, University of Richmond Just because something is sweet doesn’t necessarily mean it is sugary. There are a number of molecules that taste sweet. To understand how and why takes a little bit of chemistry. Environment + Energy - [‘Don’t Look Up’: Hollywood’s primer on climate denial illustrates 5 myths that fuel rejection of science]( Gale Sinatra, University of Southern California; Barbara K. Hofer, Middlebury Just because something isn’t 100% certain doesn’t mean you ignore it, and other lessons from two researchers who study the problem of science denial. Economy + Business - [How cybercriminals turn paper checks stolen from mailboxes into bitcoin]( David Maimon, Georgia State University A cybersecurity research group has been tracking a significant rise in the number of stolen checks being sold on sites like WhatsApp and Telegram, which often results in stolen identities. - [World economy in 2022: the big factors to watch closely]( Muhammad Ali Nasir, University of Huddersfield Will we now see a proper pandemic recovery? Science + Technology - [When researchers don’t have the proteins they need, they can get AI to ‘hallucinate’ new structures]( Ivan Anishchenko, University of Washington Using a form of artificial intelligence called deep neural networks, researchers can generate new proteins from scratch without having to consult nature. - [Online tools put will-writing in reach for most people – but they’re not the end of the line for producing a legally binding document]( Allison Anna Tait, University of Richmond Online tools promise to democratize estate planning and will preparation, but users are responsible for complying with state laws. Politics + Society - [After Afghanistan, US military presence abroad faces domestic and foreign opposition in 2022]( Michael A. Allen, Boise State University; Carla Martinez Machain, Kansas State University; Michael E. Flynn, Kansas State University If the United States expects to sustain its global influence, it will have to navigate increasing international and domestic pressure against its foreign military presence. Trending on site - [What’s the difference between a PCR and antigen COVID-19 test? A molecular biologist explains]( - [Why can’t we throw all our trash into a volcano and burn it up?]( - [Ghislaine Maxwell guilty in Epstein sex trafficking trial: What the case revealed about female sex offenders]( Like this newsletter? You might be interested in our weekly emails: [Politics Weekly]( • [Science Editors' Picks]( • [This Week in Religion]( • [Weekly Highlights]( [The Conversation]( You’re receiving this newsletter from [The Conversation]( 303 Wyman Street, Suite 300 Waltham, MA 02451 [Forward to a friend]( • [Unsubscribe](