When Violet Beauregarde put a piece of Wonka’s everlasting chewing gum in her mouth in Charlie and the Chocolate Factory and enjoyed a 3-course meal in a few minutes of chewing, we watched in awe. When she swelled into a giant purple blueberry, we also watched in awe.
Sure, such things look good on silver screens, but one doesn’t really expect such marvels to come to life. Hold your horses people! The idea of an infinitely lasting gum flavor is finally close to becoming a reality. Japanese scientists at Meiji University have developed a type of chewing gum that shocks your tongue when you chew it. Don’t worry, this isn’t a Ben Franklin-getting-struck-by-lightning kind of shock! This occurs due to the “piezoelectric effect”, a phenomenon that produces charge in some materials when they are pressed or squeezed. This current stimulates the tongue and produces a sensation of taste. You’re getting a flavor hit without any actual chemical flavoring! The thought is mind-boggling.
The gum consists of a piezoelectric element and small electrodes enclosed in a saliva-proof covering. Currently, the chewing gum is in the development phase, and it only produces a bitter and salty taste. However, soon we may have access to countless flavors that last as long as you’re chewing. The unlimited electric gum may have numerous applications in the field of virtual reality (VR). Until now, VR mostly involved manipulating sight and hearing, but now, developers may even be able to manipulate taste.
SUMANT S. DANGI
Correspondent, Renesa
This article was originally written for and published on Renesa – The Official Media and Publication House of NIT Surat. It was featured in the April 2019 Edition of Renesa’s official magazine.
