Taste in Space
Your Mission: Explore taste sensations on the tongue and experiment to see which senses influence taste.
- conduct an experiment to see where on the tongue they can identify 4 of the 5 basic taste sensations
- conduct a series of taste experiments to appreciate the different senses which influence taste
- learn how an astronaut experienced the changes in taste intensity before and during a mission
- learn how reduced gravity affects the human body
Part 1:
- 4 clean containers, at least
- 1 L in size, labelled 1 to 4
- Salt
- Sugar
- Lemon Juice
- Grapefruit Juice
- Drinkable water
- Plastic Cups
- Per Group of 2:
- 4 small disposable cups + water to rinse mouth
- 4 droppers
- 1 marker
- Student worksheets
- Small hand mirror
- magnifying glass
Part 2:
- Per class:
- Computer with Internet access
- LCD projector
- Per Group of 2:
- 6 closed containers with
food items - 3 droppers or syringes plus
3 plastic spoons - Water
- Blindfold
- (Optional) Pair of disposable gloves
- Student sheet and data sheet for the activity
- 6 closed containers with
Explore more Mission X activities!
Your Mission: Explore the importance of hydration and identify the signs of dehydration. Since our bodies are made up of …
Your Mission: Identify which plants are suitable for growing in space as a good source of nutrition for astronauts. Food …
Your Mission: Perform a reaction time activity using a ruler to practice hand-eye coordination and concentration. In preparation for space …
Your Mission: Investigate which factors affect plant growth, and relate these factors to growing plants in space. All the things …
Your Mission: Design and build a robotic arm to perform some simple tasks. To help out in space, scientists have …
Your Mission: Discover the fat content of a meal and formulate a balanced meal using fat content information. As astronauts …
In microgravity, astronauts love to perform spectacular somersaults. Here on Earth it’s not so easy, but it certainly is fun! …
Your Mission: Perform a climb training activity on wall bars or a rock wall to improve balance and coordination, and …
Your Mission: Follow Samantha’s routine on the ISS for one week and compare her daily tasks to yours. Observe your …
Your Mission: Carry weighted objects from the Exploration Area back to your Base Station to improve aerobic and anaerobic fitness. …