Pop-ability of movie puffs
Picture the crack of a chip, the pop of popcorn, the psssht of soda… sounds that make snacking irresistible. Do you ever wonder how science turns simple ingredients into sensory explosions? Ishita Chandra, AIS VKC Lko, VIII A, brings to you part III of GT’s Science Behind Snacks series, where every snack shall have its moment. Without further ado, let’s dig in!
Test it yourself
The amount of moisture inside the hull strictly dictates how well a kernel will pop. Try popping three different batches: one that was dried out in the sun, a regular one, and one soaked in water overnight. You will notice that the normal batch pops the best, due to perfect amount of moisture (around 14%), triggering a flawless explosion.
Snack: Popcorn
Science involved: Food biology
Threat level: Extremely explosive
Power type
The theatre experience is incomplete if you do not have popcorn to munch on along with the action, romance, and drama of a movie. The pop of the popcorn has become a part of the background music of a movie theatre along with hushed murmurs and sharp ringtones of unmuted phones. And behind every loud crunch is a kernel that has swelled up to 40-50 times its original size. This jumbo power is bestowed only upon the specific variety of Zea mays everta, unlike its sibling, aka the sweet corn.
Snack-ology
An uninvited guest, but thanks to physics, we aren’t munching on small, unexciting kernels. This delicious explosion begins around 212℉ when internal water evaporates, transforming the starch inside into a superheated, gelatinous substance. As the kernel continues heating to about 347℉, internal pressure skyrockets to 135 pounds per square inch before finally bursting the hull open and free. A fine way to get the party popping, right?
Lab behind the bite
Each kernel is a drama queen. The silver lining, though, is that it turns a breakdown into a glow-up. Each contains three components: the germ, endosperm, and hull (pericarp). The secret lies in the hull, the outermost layer with just the right thickness to hold in pressure. But this doesn’t guarantee the magic pop every time! With the correct amount of moisture and heat, the water inside turns to steam, expands, and builds pressure. The hull, unable to handle the strain, finally bursts. The starch inside rapidly expands and cools into a puffy foam (a process called starch gelatinisation). Et voilà! A white, crunchy popcorn greets you. Truly an identity crisis turned into a delicious treat.
Well, why can’t you stop munching?
Popcorn has a contrast of textures to offer. It’s crunchy, but still incredibly light and airy, making it irresistible to everyone. Furthermore, the Maillard reaction - a form of non-enzymatic browning where amino acids and reducing sugars interact under high heat - giving the kernel a magical toasted aroma as it cooks. The pop is practically designed to defeat your willpower with each kernel whispering, "Relax, I’m tiny and harmless". Eventually, you end up eating both the popcorn and your self-control.
Rating: �� �� �� ��
Ah-chooo!
The Unheralded Pre-‘Bless You’ Protocol
Raunak Gupta, AIS Vas 6, Alumnus
It was a fine day at the factory where organs were doing their job at maintaining the intricate machine, i.e. your body. Everything was going as usual when suddenly the alarms went off. And that is how the ultimate chaos began. The manager of the factory, Brain, jumped into action to find the cause. The systems showed a malfunction alert in the nose.
Brain: Attention everyone! There is a malfunction in the nose, we must make haste!
Nose: (panicking) It’s an irritant! Dust! Pollen! Who knows what it could be! We need to sneeze immediately! Hurry!
Inside the nose canal, the intruders echoed menacingly.
Pollen: (giggling) Deeper and deeper we go, dear Dusty!
Dust: (cackling) We will go everywhere! Let’s go ahead and tickle the walls with full force!
Their voices boomed and bounced, jolting the factory into hyperdrive.
Lungs: (gearing up) Deep breath coming right up! Filling up the air tank to maximum capacity. And Heart’s sweating buckets; need to blow cool air his way!
Diaphragm: (contracting) Tighten up, team! We are about to build some pressure now!
Throat: (closing epiglottis) Initiating airway lockdown! Brace for impact, everyone!
Heart: (stumbling, sweating profusely) Whoa, feeling a bit squeezed in here! I can feel a cardiac arrest incoming! I feel as though I’m melting!
Brain: Heart, stay calm. There might be a dip in the heart rate due to the vagal nerve, but it will be back to normal in no time.
Heart: (in extreme panic) Oh no. No, no, no! This is the last day of this factory! It’s all going to end!
Adrenal Glands: Everything is alright, Heart. You just need a bit of adrenaline.
Brain: Someone take care of Heart! He is a indispensible asset to our factory!
Adrenal Glands: On it, sir!
Eyes: (blinking rapidly) Eyes are at the ready! We have initiated the shutting procedures.
Abdominal Muscles: (contracting) We’re pushing! Keep at it, guys! All systems go!
Mouth: (opening wide) Stand by, opening air release hatch!
Ears: (popping) Equalising pressure! Watch out for the pop!
Nose: Reaching critical stage! Sneezing sequence initiated, those blighters are in too deep!
Brain: Alright team, dropping on my count! 3…
Throat: (opening epiglottis) Release now!
Brain: 2…
Lungs: (expelling air) Here we go, cooling Heart too!
Brain: 1…
Nose and Mouth: (forcefully expelling air) Ah-choooo!
Brain: Great job, everyone. Nose, what is the status?
Nose: (relieved) Phew, irritant expelled! Crisis averted, folks.
Heart: Hurray! We did survive after all! Long live the factory!
Brain: (chuckling) Alright, then. Let’s keep the factory running smoothly, as always.
(Raunak is currently pursuing Bachelor of Design (Interior) at Manipal School of Architecture and Planning.)
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