admin Doritos might be known for spicing up snack time, but Stanford researchers have discovered that a dye in the chips can also turn mice translucent.
The study, published on September 6 in the journal *Science*, details how researchers at Stanford University in California applied a common food dye called Yellow No. 5 — present in various foods and beauty products — to the skin of live mice. This dye created a temporary “window” that made their organs, muscles, and blood vessels visible.
The technique, known as “optical tissue clearing,” has not yet been tested on humans but could potentially enable non-invasive observation and monitoring of injuries or diseases. According to co-author Guosong Hong, a Stanford University assistant professor of materials science and engineering, this technology might improve visibility for procedures like blood drawing, laser-based tattoo removal, or the early detection and treatment of cancers.
“For instance, certain therapies use lasers to target cancerous and precancerous cells but are limited to areas near the skin’s surface. This technique could enhance light penetration,” Hong noted in a September 6 press release.
The artificial food dye used, tartrazine or Yellow No. 5, is approved for use in the U.S. and Canada. It is commonly used to colour a range of products including Doritos, Mountain Dew, M&Ms, cereals like Cap’n Crunch, and various beauty products such as shampoo and eyeliner, as well as some vitamins and medicines.
Researchers investigated whether tartrazine could render mice’s skin translucent. The effect is due to differences in refractive indices — how materials bend light. By making the tissues’ light-bending properties uniform, scientists were able to achieve the transparency.
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