Cheetos Food Dye Turns Mice Transparent (nypost.com) 44
Researchers have discovered that a popular food dye used in Cheetos "alters the optical qualities of skin, allowing light to pass through (Source paywalled; alternative source)," according to the Wall Street Journal. Larger doses of the dye used on humans could make searching veins for blood draw easier. From a report: Tartrazine, the yellowing agent for the "dangerously cheesy" snack, was tested on the stomachs and heads of mice -- with surprising results. Researchers were even able to see muscle pulsations and blood vessels in their brains, the Wall Street Journal reported.
How does this ultimate magic trick work? It has to do with how cells are comprised of membranes that hold fats in a watery style, the outlet stated. The fats and water manage light differently. In this case, when the dye is applied, it causes light to pass through when it hits their cells. Thus, ta-da! the transparent opacity of invisible mice skin. The findings have been published in the journal Science.
How does this ultimate magic trick work? It has to do with how cells are comprised of membranes that hold fats in a watery style, the outlet stated. The fats and water manage light differently. In this case, when the dye is applied, it causes light to pass through when it hits their cells. Thus, ta-da! the transparent opacity of invisible mice skin. The findings have been published in the journal Science.
Inquiring minds want to know (Score:4, Funny)
How many Cheetos are safe to eat before you need to wear a hat to avoid sunburn on your brain?
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All I know is that you should avoid hats made from mouse leather.
Pinky & the Brain (Score:2, Funny)
Pinky: "Gee Brain, what do you want to do tonight?"
Brain: "The same thing we do every night, Pinky - try to take over the world!"
Pinky: "Narf! But how, Brain?"
Brain: "Simple. We'll infiltrate the Doritos Nacho Cheese factory, dye ourselves yellow, and convince the scientists we're super-intelligent, glowing mice!"
Pinky: "Brilliant, Brain! But, um, won't that just make us look cheesy?"
Brain: "Exactly, Pinky. They'll be so distracted by our pulsating brain vessels, they'll never see our takeover coming! "
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If that's on your mind - fewer.
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I saw something the other day, saying that tartrazine was originally derived from turning coal into coke....and now comes from petroleum.
Doesn't Europe ban this yellow dye now?
Why the hell is this in our foods in the US, as that I understand it can cause a plethora of problems in humans...the least of which is turning invisible...
Re: Inquiring minds want to know (Score:2)
Doesn't Europe ban this yellow dye now?
No but products containing it have to have a warning on them. Something about it making children hyperactive I think.
So.. (Score:2)
It's not the basement dwelling but the Cheetos diet which causes pale nerds and geeks?
They should create a Cheetos version which brings the appearance of a tan.
Maybe make it bacon flavoured as well. Or change the peanut butter flavoured version for this. Peanut butter has a tan colour.
Re: So.. (Score:1)
They should create a Cheetos version which brings the appearance of a tan.
Sounds like a certain former president has been assisting the scientists in research on this application already. Too bad the product is still not perfected yet.
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They should create a Cheetos version which brings the appearance of a tan.
Sounds like a certain former president has been assisting the scientists in research on this application already. Too bad the product is still not perfected yet.
Yes, he's apparently still not transparent enough for his followers to see through him.
Effects (Score:2)
I'm sure this will be thoroughly studied for adverse affects on the human body before being approved for use by the medical industry, and won't be fast-tracked by lobbyists and corrupt regulators.
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It's been used since 1884.
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And...it's been bad for us since 1884.....didn't this stuff originally come from processing coal into coke? I believe it comes from petroleum now.....?
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> didn't this stuff originally come from processing coal into coke?
I'm not sure why that would make it automatically bad. Common table salt can be made from sodium hydroxide (so corrosive it's widely used as a drain cleaner) and hydrochloric acid.
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Tartrazine is in a class of its own on bad food dyes. Its the most likely to cause an allergic reaction, has its own food label in ingredients (CONTAINS TARTRAZINE) Its linked to depression and damages the immune system.
If you are like me and love some lemonade, definitely don't over do it and drink way to much everyday and end up with a severe brain infection and hearing damage because your immune system is suppressed.....
The effect was missed up to now (Score:4, Funny)
because while eating Cheetos makes your skin more transparent, it also makes the lard underneath considerably thicker.
Linked article is disappointing. (Score:1)
I already know what cheetos look like. I wanted to see some pics of transparent mice.
Re: Linked article is disappointing. (Score:2)
*cough* last month *cough*
The weird thing is that SF writer Crichton knew (Score:2)
In his novel Next he even had corporations put their advertising even under the sea, on dolphins, and on a bad a$$ POTUS.
So Chris isn't dead (Score:1)
He's just invisible.
SOOO if you have too much Cheetos dust..... (Score:2)
Re: (Score:2)
Well, it doesn't work on bones or hemoglobin, so disappear might not be the correct descriptive.
Worst nightmare (Score:2)
Not asked/answered: why was the dye being studied? (Score:3)
The result was a surprise and therefore NOT why they were studying tartrazine. So what were they actually looking for? Does it make the skin transparent because of say, the cancer causing agents in the dye that they were actually studying?
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Probably food safety. That's the usual reason for stuffing mice full of excessive amounts of food additives - if the mice survive large amounts without ill effects, much smaller amounts are probably safe for humans.
I'm surprised that tartrazine is still used in the US though. It's all but disappeared in Europe.
From Wikipedia: "Tartrazine is one of various food colors said to cause food intolerance and ADHD-like behavior in children. It is possible that certain food colorings may act as a trigger in those wh
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It's okay though, they want to depopulate us and replace us with immigrants anyway so they can usher in communism.
Just an observation, not a suggestion. :-) (Score:2)
You can buy this stuff on Amazon (and no doubt many other places).
It ain't easy, being cheezy (Score:2)
bad dum dum tish
Oblig. Trump Joke (Score:3)
Re: (Score:2)
Clearly, it's not working for half the population.
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Clearly, it's not working for half the population.
Bad math. 100% of the U.S. population does not vote.
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I don't get it. Huh?
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OK, still don't get it.
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Not only Cheetos. (Score:2)
I don't know why the author felt compelled to single out Cheetos. Tartrazine is widely used in thousands of products in the food and cosmetic industry.
Tartrazine is a drug (Score:2)
From the NIH:
"There has been conflicting evidence as to whether tartrazine causes exacerbations of asthma with some studies finding a positive association especially in individuals with crosssensitivity to aspirin."
I was warned against Tartrazine in 1989 by my allergist/immunologist/pulmonologist, just as a precaution.
If you're thinking the FDA, among other three-letter agencies of our federal government, just ain't serving us, well, I think you're right.
Wells lives (Score:2)
It's been a long time since I read The Invisible Man, but I seen to recall that his mechanism was chemical as well; something he ate or drank that turned his cells transparent.
Meat of the matter (Score:3)
How will this affect Vitamin D genesis? (Score:3)
Wasn't this a story last week? (Score:2)
happy birthday (Score:2)
Mickey: I have a surprise for you, babe.
Minnie smiles.
Mickey whips out a giant transparent mouse cock.
Walt: holy sh*t. whoa whoa whoa.
Mickey laughs evilly.