article_snippet.sent: 250 million-year-old rocks were found to contain vanillin (shown) which is usually broken down by bacteria.
article_snippet.sent: This proved acid in 250 million-year-old rocks protected vanillin (shown) which is usually broken down by bacteria, as vanillin (shown) which is usually broken down by bacteria low
article_snippet.sent: The Vigo Meano rocks contained vanillin - the substance that gives vanilla
article_snippet.sent: The Vigo Meano rocks distinct taste and flavour - and this was a surprise because vanillin is typically broken down by bacteria.
article_snippet.sent: In an attempt to explain how vanillin could exist in The Vigo Meano rocks for so long, geologists from Imperial College London (ICL) turned to the dairy industry, which sometimes uses vanilla in milk.
article_snippet.sent: Acidifying the milk protects vanillin as the low pH deactivates the enzymes that would break it down.
article_snippet.sent: The same can be said for vanillin in ancient rock. '