NATIONAL CANCER INSTITUTE, RENEE COMET
When popcorn pops, it displays similarities both to explosively flowering plants and to animal muscles, according to a study published this week (February 11) in the Journal of the Royal Society Interface. High-speed video stills captured by a pair of researchers in France revealed that popping begins with the sprouting of a starchy “leg” that causes the kernel to jump when it comes in contact with a hot pan. The popping noise, the researchers explained, is likely caused by the release of water vapor.
Capturing images of popping kernels at 2,900 frames per second enabled the team to observe the ...
