Discovery: Taste receptors found in lungs

This doesn't surprise me. I'm pretty sure I have taste receptors on the outside of my throat (ie, the front of my neck).

I first noticed it when I tasted blood after cutting myself shaving. I've done a few experiments on myself with sugar vs salt solutions, and I could identify the sugar solution pretty well.

Apparently this is uncommon, because when I tell people they look at me weirdly (although I guess that could be because they think I'm some kind of odd mutant and might sprout metal talons or something).

I have asthma. When I was a kid, and if I had an attack, my mom would have me hold my head over the sink running hot water and then put a towel over my head to keep the steam in.

Anyone have an ideas for some liquids or foods which are bitter and could be easily made into an aerosol? I'd be halfway interested in seeing if the theory works. Asthma sucks.

I wonder what could have caused these to evolve.

After all, our ancestors spent the vast majority of their time outside in the open air. Air quality really shouldn't have been an issue almost all the time, and on the odd occasions when it was (eg you somehow get into a cave where the air is bad) this wouldn't help much.

Makes a lot of sense. People talk about tasting the air.

I've always kind of felt like fully inhaling stuff through the mouth gives you more than just the smell. This was always just a very subjective experience though.