From the Cinnamon Challenge to the Tide Pod Challenge, some pretty strange trends have circulated on social media in recent years.
But the latest trend , which is currently circulating on TikTok, could possibly be the weirdest one yet.
The trend sees men dipping their testicles in soy sauce to see if they can taste it. No, we’re not kidding.
It comes after a 2013 study resurfaced, which revealed that testicles have taste receptors.
The study, by researchers from the Monell Chemical Senses Centre, found that mice have taste receptors on their testicles, which play a key role in their fertility.
TikTok user Regan appears to have rediscovered the study, and posted a video urging men to see if they could taste with their testicles.
She said: “If you have testicles, please dip your balls in something. It’s for science and I must know. Thank you.”
Many TikTok users responded to the video by testing the theory themselves, including AlxJames, who posted a video of his reaction while dipping his testicles in soy sauce.
He said: “Hold up now. Oh my god, I can taste the salt! That’s ridiculous!”
Meanwhile, YouTuber GayGod also tested the theory on camera, and claimed he could ‘totally taste’ the soy sauce.
He said: “I can taste like I had soy sauce, like when you burp up soy sauce. It does kind of sting afterwards, I'm not going to lie.”
But before you go trying it out for yourself, scientists say there’s no evidence that testicles can taste.
Speaking to Men’s Health , Dr Kieran Kennedy said: “I definitely hate to be another doctor out there ruining everyone’s fun, but no - the facts here don’t support any truth in our testicles being able to taste flavours in the traditional sense.
"A number of studies have shown that various tissues have taste receptors - including various parts of the gut, the liver and (yes) the testicles.
“These have largely been conducted, however, in animals, and the study that seems to have sparked this TikTok ‘taste’ trend was performed on mice."
