The main reason for sealing wine bottles with a cork is to protect the liquid from oxygen. However, it is not an impermeable barrier, and a small amount of air leaks in, which is not always entirely bad news. The gas helps the wine mature and develop a more complex flavor.

In a paper published in the journal Science Advances, researchers highlight several mechanisms that control how oxygen enters and behaves inside the bottle.

Oxygen is, in fact, a crucial consideration. Too much, and the wine can oxidize and spoil, while too little can stunt its development and lead to unpleasant aromas. So winemakers have a delicate balancing act to get it right.