Thread by @AchemsInfo

Time for the jellybean illusion! You don’t actually need a jellybean, just some type of chewable candy, preferably with different colors & flavors. M&M’s: NOT be a good choice, gold bears: fine.

#teaching #classroom #Scichat #STEMeducation #illusion #perception #scicomm

Get comfy, get your candy out, and choose two pieces of different colors/flavors. Pick up one of those two, it doesn’t matter which.

Now, STEP 1: PINCH YOUR NOSE so you can no longer breathe in or out through your nose. You can use a swimmers pincher or even a clothespin too, but using two fingers is probably more comfortable and pretty easy.

Then, STEP 2: POP THE CANDY INTO YOUR MOUTH. Take it easy, just put it on your tongue, don’t throw it right into the back of your throat and don’t immediately swallow. Btw, KEEP YOUR NOSE PINCHED

STEP 3: CHEW THAT CANDY and KEEP YOUR NOSE PINCHED

This is a good time to think: can you describe the sensations from the candy? Do you taste anything? If so, what? KEEP YOUR NOSE PINCHED. Feel free to reply w your experiences.

STEP 4: when you have chewed enough, SWALLOW the whole candy or just a piece and KEEP YOUR NOSE PINCHED and immediately after…

STEP 5: RELEASE YOUR NOSE and BREATHE OUT THROUGH YOUR NOSE

Reflect again: what could you taste now? How was this different from when you nose was still pinched? Please reply w your experiences.

BONUS: Repeat this whole process with the other color/flavor of candy. When does it become clear that the taste is different from the first piece of candy?

VARIATION: Close your eyes before you choose your candy and pop it into your mouth, so you don't know the color. When can you actually identify the flavor?

Tomorrow we will do a debriefing and answer questions. Please share your experiences and retweet to get others involved!