Umami comes from the Japanese for "taste," applied to savory flavors. The four basic tastes are sweet, sour, bitter, and salty. Umami is...

Compost is the heart of sustainable gardening. Composting turns scraps into nutritious soil, with help from microbes and other organisms....

Hormones, a term derived from the Greek word hormao meaning to excite or arouse, are signaling molecules sent by cells to influence...

Pheromones are communication tools. Chemical substances released by an organism into the environment trigger responses to relay...

Cellular communication is a complex signaling system of living organisms from single-celled fungi to massive bodies. Cells use signals to...

Oxidation and fermentation both are used by organisms to extract energy from molecules. These operate in distinct ways and under...

Polyphenols in plants are protectors, beautifiers and communicators. With diverse structures and functions these phytochemical compounds...

Fructose is a simple sugar, a member of the carbohydrate family. It's found especially in fruits and honey. Fructose is known for...

Streptococcus is among the lactic acid bacteria (LAB), who include genera such as Lactobacillus . Besides LAB many species of...

Phytoplankton are microscopic plants of the waters. Phytoplankton support marine life, influence climate and health. A diverse group of...

Fatty acids are components of fats, with significant effects on environment and humans. Long-chain fatty acids (LCFAs) and short-chain...

Long-chain fatty acids (LCFAs) are nutritional components of human and environmental health. From supporting brain function to regulating...

Fatty acids are compounds with strong functions in biological processes of the human body. Found in plants, microbes to the largest...

Acidosis is a medical condition characterized by increased acidity in body fluids like mucus, sweat, tears and urine and sometimes blood....

Lactic acidosis is caused by the way bodies manage metabolism. A progressive medical condition, lactic acidosis is characterized by...

Methane is a colorless, odorless gas. The simplest hydrocarbon, it consists of one carbon atom bonded to four hydrogen atoms. It is the...

Methanogenesis or biomethanation, is biochemical process influencing the Earth's carbon cycle. Specialized microorganisms, methanogens...

Acetic acid is well known in cuisine for its pleasantly sour taste and sharp scent. From kitchen vinegar to major functions in...

Lactic acid affects human bodies and the physiology of organisms large and small. From climbing stairs to breaching athletic limits...

Mannose (D-mannose) is a monosaccharide or simple sugar with many functions in bodies and natural environment. It fortifies cell...