Over a decade ago, researchers at UC Davis noticed something unusual while studying yeast: tiny oil droplets sinking to the bottom of a flask. The strain of yeast was producing a natural compound with soap-like properties, and now it’s being developed as an ingredient in cleaning products that are gentle on skin and environmentally friendly.

Liang Chen is an Assistant Professor and Wine Chemist in the Department of Viticulture and Enology, where his research program develops innovative analytical approaches to address fundamental scientific questions and practical challenges in wine chemistry.

Can you change "bad" carbs into "good" ones? In this very interesting story featuring FST's Maria Marco, "There's a secret superfood in white rice and pasta: Here's how to unlock it", from NPR's Morning Edition, May 12th, you'll learn about resistant starch, and how to convert "naughty" white rice and pasta into a slower-digesting form that is friendlier to our blood sugar because it contains more resistant starch (fiber).