7 Scientific Discoveries Made by... Licking Stuff?

The video explores how licking has surprisingly contributed to scientific discoveries. It covers the accidental discovery of artificial sweeteners, the taste of Spinifex grass, the toxins in New Guinea birds, and historical chemists who tasted dangerous substances. It also highlights the lick test used by geologists to identify fossils and minerals.

Which artificial sweetener was discovered by a grad student who noticed a sweet taste on his fingers after handling coal tar?

• Sucralose

• Sodium cyclamate

• Saccharin

• Aspartame

What was the reason for the ban of sodium cyclamate in the US?

• It was found to be addictive

• It was too expensive to produce

• It caused liver damage in humans

• It caused bladder cancer in rats

What unexpected taste did researchers find on the sap of wild grasses in Australia?

• Spicy and hot

• Salt and vinegar

• Bitter and sour

• Sweet and fruity

What toxin is found in the hooded pitahooie bird that is also present in poison dart frogs?

• Ricin

• Botulinum toxin

• Homotracatoxin

• Tetrodotoxin

How did researchers determine that the hooded pitahooie bird was poisonous?

• By studying its habitat

• By observing its effects on predators

• By analyzing its diet

• By tasting its feathers

Which chemist is known for tasting chemicals and is credited with discovering several elements?

• Antoine Lavoisier

• Dmitri Mendeleev

• Carl Wilhelm Scheele

• Marie Curie

What dangerous substance did Carl Wilhelm Scheele taste, which is known for its sweet taste?

• Hydrogen cyanide

• Mercury

• Lead

• Arsenic

What is the purpose of the lick test used by geologists?

• To test the acidity of soil

• To identify fossils and minerals

• To measure the hardness of minerals

• To determine the age of rocks

What did geologists discover using the lick test in Canadian mines?

• Fossilized plants

• Rare gemstones

• Ancient water pockets

• New mineral deposits

What characteristic of ancient water makes it easy to identify using the lick test?

• Its viscosity

• Its color

• Its temperature

• Its saltiness