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[The Science of Sound: Can Music Make Cheese Taste Better?]-[WeWow Music Week – Day 4: Crank It Up! (10/26/23)]

Wow in the World · B1 · 2023-10-26

Preschool Enlightenment
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📋 Summary

The Sonic Ripening of Cheese

In this episode of Wow in the World, hosts Mindy and Guy Raz explore the fascinating and somewhat "bonker balls" intersection of music and food science. The central premise revolves around the concept of sonochemistry, a field of study examining how sound waves can influence chemical reactions. Mindy, in her characteristic eccentric fashion, sets up an elaborate laboratory in Guy Raz’s bathroom to test whether playing different genres of music to wheels of Emmental cheese can actually alter their flavor profiles during the ripening process.

The Science Behind the Sound

Drawing inspiration from real research conducted by the Bern University of the Arts in Switzerland, Mindy explains that cheese ripening (or maturing) is a delicate chemical process sensitive to environmental factors like temperature and humidity. The hypothesis being tested is whether acoustic sound waves can similarly affect these chemical reactions. To investigate this, Mindy subjects several 22-pound wheels of Emmental cheese to a continuous 24-hour loop of various musical genres, including classical, techno, rock, rap, and even specific high, medium, and low frequencies, while keeping one wheel in total silence as a "control cheese."

Sensory Consensus Analysis

After nearly six months of musical marination, the hosts conduct a "sensory consensus analysis"—a scientific taste test used to measure the aroma and flavor of the cheese. The results, mirroring the Swiss study, suggested that music does indeed have an impact. Specifically, the cheese exposed to hip-hop music was identified by experts as being the "fruitiest" and having the "strongest smell and taste" compared to the control group.

Looking Toward the Future

While the anecdotal evidence from Mindy’s bathroom laboratory is entertaining, the episode highlights that researchers are planning to conduct a biomedical survey to examine the microscopic structure of the cheese. This will determine if the music caused physical changes at a molecular level, providing a more rigorous scientific foundation for the observed flavor differences.

Ultimately, while the idea of a "Grateful Ched" band serenading dairy products may sound whimsical, the episode serves as a playful gateway into the serious scientific study of how external stimuli, including sound, can impact the chemical and sensory properties of our food. Whether or not music truly makes a wheel of Emmental taste better remains an ongoing, albeit delicious, subject of scientific inquiry.

🎯Key Sentences

1
I think what we've come up with has been pretty good so far.
2
I feel like the sound needs, I don't know, more sound.
3
How are we going to be the voice of a generation if no one can hear us?
4
I was just getting to the best part.
5
I'm ready to go when you are.
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📝Key Phrases

1
music to your ears
2
get on with the show
3
take it from the top
4
never mind
5
you can say that again
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📖 Transcript

Grownups, Wondery Plus subscribers can listen to Wow in the World early and ad-free right now.
Join Wondery Plus in the Wondery app or Wondery Kids Plus on Apple Podcasts.
Hey, Wowzer fans, Mindy here.
And before we start the show, I got to let you know that this November, with a special new episode featuring our friends at Circle Round and Terrestrials on Radiolab for Kids,
And don't miss when Elmo from Sesame Street stops by Wow in the World to make us all belly laugh on November 24th.
Oh, but that's not all, Reg.

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