Do you ever wonder why pineapple makes your mouth tingle when you eat it? Me too, and I decided to investigate this phenomenon with my Foldscope 2.0. Read on to find out what I saw!
Acids and Enzymes
When you bite into a piece of pineapple, there is an irritating sensation that you feel in your mouth. This is caused by an enzyme called bromelain, which breaks down the protective mucous layer lining your mouth. Without this protective layer, the acidic pineapple juices can aggravate the skin. But the acidity isn’t the only thing causing that stinging feeling.
Pineapple Needles??
The secondary cause for the irritation comes from a chemical compound called calcium oxalate. Calcium oxalate crystals are needle shaped. Combined with the reduction in the protective mucous layer, you can see why the more pineapple you eat, the more irritated your mouth becomes!
Microscopy Fun!
As I studied the calcium oxalate crystals, I decided to play with some different levels of magnification and lighting techniques. It is interesting how the crystals seem to get more and more sharp and dangerous as you increase the level of magnification from 50X to 340X!
When I saw the way the light hit the crystals in brightfield lighting conditions, I knew I wanted to also look at them in darkfield. By shifting the LED light to the side, the background gets darker and the crystals begin to glow showing hints of rainbow colors.
It is interesting to think about how something so tiny can have such a large impact on the macroscopic world that we experience every day.
Have you looked at pineapple under a Foldscope 2.0? Use your Foldscope to dive into the microscopic world and find the beauty that is there waiting for you. Share your microscopic images and thoughts on the Microcosmos. Be sure to tag us on social media when you post the results of your explorations, creations, and discoveries! We love to see how Foldscopers around the world are using their Foldscopes in new and innovative ways!
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Sources:
https://www.livescience.com/why-pineapple-makes-mouth-tingle
