Why does something taste sweet, bitter, salty, sour or umami? It feels automatic. You take a bite, and your brain seems to know instantly. But behind that split-second sensation is a remarkably precise biological system and 2026 Wolf Prize in Medicine Laureate Charles S. Zuker helped reveal how it works. His research identified the specialized cells and receptors responsible for the basic tastes, and showed how signals from the tongue are carried into distinct pathways in the brain. In other words, taste isn’t simply about what touches your tongue. It’s about how the nervous system receives that signal, routes it, and ultimately gives it meaning. Watch the video to see how Zuker’s discoveries helped turn one of our most familiar senses into one of neuroscience’s best-understood systems. @hhmi_science @Columbia