When It Comes to Wine Glasses, Size and Shape Matter

A spiffy new camera set-up devised by scientists in Japan indicates that glass shape–just like the wine snobs have been telling us all along–affects the flavor of wine.

In a recent study, Kohji Mitsubayashi and colleagues at the Tokyo Medical and Dental University topped wine-filled glasses with a mesh impregnated with alcohol oxidase, an enzyme that converts alcohols and oxygen into aldehydes and hydrogen peroxide. Also added to the mesh were horseradish peroxide and luminol – the kicky chemical that makes bloodstains glow blue at crime scenes. Together, these produce a color change in response to hydrogen peroxide.

All this chemical interplay enables a camera, peering down at the mesh-covered glass, to map the concentration distribution of ethanol vapor rising

DON'T MISS THE REST OF THIS STORY!
Create a free account to continue and get unlimited access to hundreds of Nat Geo articles, plus newsletters.

Create your free account to continue reading

No credit card required. Unlimited access to free content.
Or get a Premium Subscription to access the best of Nat Geo - just $19
SUBSCRIBE

Read This Next

Is banning fishing bad for fishermen? Not in this marine reserve
SeaWorld allegedly violated the Animal Welfare Act. Why is it still open?
'World’s worst shipwreck' was bloodier than we thought

Go Further

Subscriber Exclusive Content

Why are people so dang obsessed with Mars?

How viruses shape our world

The era of greyhound racing in the U.S. is coming to an end

See how people have imagined life on Mars through history

See how NASA’s new Mars rover will explore the red planet

Why are people so dang obsessed with Mars?

How viruses shape our world

The era of greyhound racing in the U.S. is coming to an end

See how people have imagined life on Mars through history

See how NASA’s new Mars rover will explore the red planet

Why are people so dang obsessed with Mars?

How viruses shape our world

The era of greyhound racing in the U.S. is coming to an end

See how people have imagined life on Mars through history

See how NASA’s new Mars rover will explore the red planet