Astronauts often find that food tastes bland in space, leading to difficulties in eating enough to meet their energy needs. Research by RMIT University using virtual reality (VR) and a simulated spacecraft environment aims to uncover why this happens.
The study found that some smells are more intense in a space-like environment, challenging earlier theories that attributed the problem solely to zero gravity affecting bodily fluids. The findings, published in the International Journal of Food Science and Technology, could help improve space menus.
Eating involves multiple senses, and the lack of gravity in space is thought to cause fluids to shift toward the head, leading to a blocked-nose sensation that dulls the sense of smell. However, the confined and monotonous environment of a spacecraft might also change food perception.
Researchers simulated the International Space Station using VR, allowing participants to smell different scents. They discovered that certain sweet-smelling molecules, like those in vanilla and almond, were perceived more strongly in the space-like environment.
This insight could help design better-tasting space food by using specific aroma compounds as flavor enhancers. The study’s approach may also benefit people in isolated environments on Earth, such as nursing homes or submarines.
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