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Electronic tongue tastes, identifies sweeteners so you don't have to
The tongue, besides being creepy, offers plenty in the way of research opportunities, as you know if you're a regular visitor to this space. In the past we've seen a tongue-based computer interface or two, the BrainPort sight-via-papillae solution, and this week, at the American Chemical Society's annual meeting, researchers from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign introduced a sensor about the size of a business card that detects and identifies fourteen common sweeteners -- including Splenda, Sugar in the Raw, and Sweet'n'Low. The product of a decade of research in colorimetric sensor arrays, it works when dipped into the substance, and takes about two minutes to get results. The team, led by a Professor Suslick (really!), hopes that this leads to a low-cost solution for anyone who needs to monitor their blood glucose levels, and eventually a way to monitor contaminants in food or in the environment at large. We recommend using with D+caf caffeine testing strips to ensure that you get nothing out of your morning coffee whatsoever. [Via CNET]
Second Life: sweeter than ever
Do you want to help make Second Life a sweeter place? Well now you can.Once you've logged on to your avatar, simply go to Splenda Island. Once there, click on the caramel apple, and you'll be provided with the information you need to submit your suggestions to the Millions of us team on how to make life sweeter. And yes, you can submit a picture, as well: just make sure that you've attached your name to it, so that it can be associated with your entry.So get your entries in as quickly as possible. The deadline is 30 November, and Second Life residents will have the opportunity to vote on the five finalists' entries once they've been chosen. The best part? Not only will the winner see their idea built out in Second Life, they'll also win a trip for two to Canyon Ranch in Arizona.[Via Millions of us]
