The Mystery Of Asparagus Pee

Get a 2-meal discount from Blue Apron here:
Take the survey!
If you liked this week’s video, we think you might also like this:
FYI: We try to leave jargon out of our videos, but if you want to learn more about this topic, here are some handy keywords to get your googling started:
Asparagus: a delicious, edible plant
Odor: a smell, aroma
Gas chromatography: a scientific technique used to separate and analyze compounds
Sulfur: a yellow chemical element with the symbol S
Asparagusic Acid: a sulfur containing compound present in asparagus
People featured in this video:
- Marcel Proust
- Benjamin Franklin
- John Arbuthnot
___________________________________________
Thanks to our supporters on :
- Today I Found Out
- Maarten Bremer
- Jeff Straathof
- Mark Roth
- Tony Fadell
- Muhammad Shifaz
- 靛蓝字幕组
- Jagdtiger
- Alberto Bortoni
- Valentin
- Nicholas Buckendorf
- Antoine Coeur
___________________________________________
Credits (and Twitter handles):
Script Writer: Rachel Becker (@RA_Becks)
Script Editor: Kate Yoshida (@KateYoshida)
Video Illustrator: Ever Salazar (@eversalazar)
Video Director: Emily Elert (@eelert)
Video Narrator: Kate Yoshida (@KateYoshida)
With Contributions From: Henry Reich, Alex Reich, Omkar Bhagat, Peter Reich, David Goldenberg
Music by: Nathaniel Schroeder:
Image Credits: Purple, white and green asparagus - iStock.com/PicturePartners
Viceroy Butterfly - Wikimedia user PiccoloNamek
Eggs and Asparagus - Michelle Hooton (used with permission)
_________________________________________
Like our videos?
Subscribe to MinuteEarth on YouTube:
Get early, exclusive access to our videos on Vessel:
Support us on Patreon:
Also, say hello on:
Facebook:
Twitter:
And find us on itunes:
___________________________________________
References:
Eriksson, N., Macpherson, J. M., Tung, J. Y., Hon, L. S., Naughton, B., Saxonov, S., . . . Mountain, J. (2010). Web-Based, Participant-Driven Studies Yield Novel Genetic Associations for Common Traits. PLoS Genetics PLoS Genet, 6(6). Retrieved from
Mitchell, S. C. (2001). Food Idiosyncrasies: Beetroot and Asparagus. Drug Metabolism & Disposition, 29(4), 539-543. Retrieved from
Mitchell, S. C., & Waring, R. H. (2014). Asparagusic acid. Phytochemistry, 97, 5-10. Retrieved from acid.pdf
Pelchat, M. L., Bykowski, C., Duke, F. F., & Reed, D. R. (2010). Excretion and Perception of a Characteristic Odor in Urine after Asparagus Ingestion: A Psychophysical and Genetic Study. Chemical Senses, 36(1), 9-17. Retrieved from
Waring, R. H., Mitchell, S. C., & Fenwick, G. R. (1987). The chemical nature of the urinary odour produced by man after asparagus ingestion. Xenobiotica, 17(11), 1363-1371. Retrieved from