A new molecular sensor has been designed to release a thyme flavor when it encounters the influenza virus. Staying home is critical to preventing the spread of infectious diseases like influenza; however, people with the flu are contagious before they develop symptoms. Current flu diagnostics like nasal swab-based PCR tests are accurate, but they are slow and expensive. The team developed a molecular sensor that releases a flavor that human tongues can detect -- thymol, found in the spice thyme. In vials with human saliva from people diagnosed with the flu, the sensor released free thymol within 30 minutes.