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Food scientists unwittingly diagnose why sometimes we can’t stop playing
This past Sunday’s New York Times Magazine features a remarkable story on the junk food industry and its many secretive struggles for our mouths. Though the author, Michael Moss, kept his focus on obesity and nutrition, I couldn’t help but notice a few startling parallels with the many videogames I just can’t stop playing. Chief among them was food scientist Steven Witherly’s diagnosis of why Cheetos are so tasty and addictive, a trait endemic to a growing number of short, disposable games that sink their hooks in and won’t let go. – – – He calls the effect Vanishing Caloric…