According to a September 28 announcement from the University of Southern California (USC), carbonated drinks are similar to horseradish and mustard to your nose and set off pain sensors.

Emily Liman, PhD, an associate professor of biological sciences in USC's neurobiology department who led the study published online in the September edition of the Journal of Neuroscience, said, "Carbonation evokes two distinct sensations. It makes things sour and it also makes them burn.