Would you lick it?

From the Wikipedia page about Sugar Substitutes:

Aspartame was discovered in 1965 by James M. Schlatter at the G.D. Searle company (later purchased by Monsanto). He was working on an anti-ulcer drug and spilled some aspartame on his hand by accident. When he licked his finger, he noticed that it had a sweet taste.

So, put yourself in that position.

You’re working on a new anti-ulcer drug and you accidentally spill some chemicals on your hand.

There are a couple of possible responses:

1. “Bugger… I should wash my hands quickly!”
2. “Hmmm… I wonder what it tastes like?”

To be an inventor you have to be the sort of person who is tempted to lick!