/oss/taxonomy/term/593/all en /oss/article/health-and-nutrition-history/sweet-and-sticky-science-sugar <p>Sugar is sweet and sticky.  That’s a fact.  In fact, during the reign of Edward the Confessor in the early eleventh century, "ale tasters" were employed to check on the work of brewers.  They would test the ale by spilling some on a wooden seat and sitting on the spill in their leather breeches.  If they had difficulty getting up after a short time because their breeches stuck to the seat, they knew that the ale had been sugared.  Today we don't have to worry about such adulteration of our ale, and I think in any case we would have a hard time finding leather breeches.  But the stickiness o</p> Fri, 03 Dec 2021 23:31:20 +0000 Joe Schwarcz PhD 8944 at /oss /oss/article/health/when-it-comes-insomnia-theres-no-shortage-advice <p><span>O sleep! O gentle sleep! / </span><span>Nature’s soft nurse, how have I frightened thee, / </span><span>That thou no more wilt weigh my eyelids down / </span><span>And steep my senses in forgetfulness?</span></p> Sun, 13 Apr 2014 14:31:53 +0000 Joe Schwarcz PhD 2127 at /oss /oss/article/news/pucker <p>And just when I was getting used to being single in the summer. July 6th rolls around; International Kissing Day. It’s like a second Valentine’s Day but less sweet. I mean really, no chocolate? But then I think. Sure dedicating an entire day to acknowledge one single pucker of the lips may seem slightly over-the-top, yet there truly is no other display of emotion in which everyone can relate.</p> Fri, 06 Jul 2012 20:52:14 +0000 Emily Shore, B.A, Dipl. PR Management 1715 at /oss