• SuperIce@lemmy.world
      link
      fedilink
      English
      arrow-up
      20
      ·
      11 months ago

      Next time you’re stuffing fistfuls of delicious bacon into your mouth, you might want to consider sticking a piece or two of crispy goodness into your crotch, then up your butt for good measure.

      That’s a hell of a way to start an article.

    • Zacryon@feddit.de
      link
      fedilink
      arrow-up
      17
      arrow-down
      1
      ·
      edit-2
      11 months ago

      Disclaimer: I’m not an expert. I invite you to correct me if you know better. Sources are at the end.

      If you see taste receptors as chemosensors, then yes. We have those all over the place. In the lungs, brain, kidneys, the gastrointestinal system etc… Even in sperm. Although a lot of those are not well studied yet, it has been found that - depending on the cells and region - they can serve specific purposes, like metabolic regulation, or airway relaxation. Basically a way for you body to react to chemical signals. However, afaik they do not contribute to the taste sensation when you’re eating. (Except of those in your mouth, tongue and nose of course.) So you don’t need to go all Cartman style.

      But(t), a lot of those findings have limited validity, e.g., because of investigations using cell cultures instead of in vivo studies, or because several animals have a different (or even completely lacking) set of those receptors than humans.

      Sources, which I skimmed for this:

    • runeko@programming.dev
      link
      fedilink
      arrow-up
      9
      ·
      11 months ago

      McDonald’s purple rotund mascot Grimace was originally conceived as an engorged taste bud. I give you cursed taste bud knowledge in return.