Pineapple Science Award Honors 10 Innovative Studies

Hangzhou, East China's Zhejiang Province - Nov 23, 2024 - The annual Pineapple Science Award has recognized ten innovative studies that have shed light on various quirky phenomena faced by humans every day.

The award ceremony held in Hangzhou honored research on unusual taste preferences, including why beer tastes better when chilled and oranges are sold in red mesh bags. Another study revealed how human fetuses can respond to different flavors with distinct facial expressions, such as smiling for carrots and grimacing at kale.

However, the most fascinating study this year was on a watermelon that got left behind in a freezer, which inspired a team of researchers from Westlake University to develop artificial membranes with unique properties. Their discovery has potential industrial applications.

These studies, among others, were honored by the Pineapple Science Award for their groundbreaking findings and valuable contributions to scientific research. The award, organized by the Zhejiang Association for Science and Technology and hosted in cooperation with the Zhejiang Science and Technology Museum, highlights imaginative and innovative scientific work from across disciplines including psychology, physics, and mathematics.

The winners of this year's Pineapple Science Award have been recognized for their curiosity-driven approach to science. Professor Fu Xinhua from Huazhong Agricultural University expressed the importance of combining interest with a spirit of truth-seeking in the pursuit of scientific discovery.

The award has become an annual celebration of scientific excellence and serves as a platform to foster public engagement with science and discovery.