University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign

The Hidden Universe in Glucose

Reitz, Nicholas

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Reitz_Nicholas.pdf

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https://hdl.handle.net/2142/75867

Description

Title
The Hidden Universe in Glucose
Author(s)
Reitz, Nicholas
Issue Date
2015-04
Keyword(s)
Food Science and Human Nutrition
Date of Ingest
2015-04-27T19:34:20Z
Abstract
If a picture is worth a thousand words, what is the value of a taste? Such are the thoughts of researchers in the wild world of food science. This image, while seemingly exotic and in spots downright celestial, depicts everyday sugar crystals-glucose-suspended in yet more melted sugar. Though this combination may seem redundant to the casual observer, the purpose is to study the melting of sugars for a better understanding into how they lose their crystallinity. More specifically, this image was taken while shearing a glucose sample to test for birefringence and the presence of liquid crystal phases. With the knowledge gained from this and similar research, scientists can produce higher quality, better tasting treats. On top of this, the amount of sugar needed to take this cross polarized microscopic photo is not enough to break even the strictest of diets. So let go and indulge in a divine dessert knowing that beauty abounds in the simple substance that satisfies your sweet tooth. And while this image's description may have only intensify your craving, by any other name, the research it accompanies would taste just as sweet.
Type of Resource
  • text
  • image
Permalink
http://hdl.handle.net/2142/75867
Copyright and License Information
Copyright 2015 Nicholas Reitz

Owning Collections

Image of Research - Graduate Students PRIMARY