random question for squig or other clever peeps

[trixipaws]

i was just eating butterkist microwave popcorn (mmmm yummy!) and i wondered why the little balls turn into the funny foamy shapes? oh and also is each shape unique (like snowflakes i believe!)?
sorry i kno thats 2 questions technically lol

hehe told u it was random

 

[Kimbo]

omg



come on squig!!

 

[Urchin]

i wondered why the little balls turn into the funny foamy shapes?

Balls??? Foam???



Incidently, its to do with the high temp making the inside get steamy.. it builds up and up inside the "ball" (or kernel for normal people ) till it goes pop and makes a "funny foamy shape"

 

[leckershell]

Read this to your popcorn loving hearts content

http://www.popcorn.org/teachers/snack.cfm

 

[trixipaws]

lol thanku my curiosity is satisfied now!

 

[Tegala-7thMarch08]

oo i love popcorn SALTY YUM

 

[mrs_tommo22]

oo i love popcorn SALTY YUM

Salty and sweet mixed together

 

[Squiglet]

OMG breeding popcorn... makes it sound like some genetic experiment.. Sorry was watching I am Legend last night ... but it appears all your popcorn related queries have been answered.... but it wasn't very graphically appealing... so heres a little diagram for you..

Each popcorn kernal is individual like a snow flake... studies were carried out in the US (where else ) where the conditions of the kernal were kept the same, they were from the same plant, and the density of the shell, % of the endosperm were all within set parameters... and they still popped and produced different shapes and sizes...

Its the endosperm bit that has me giggling like Bevis and Butthead... heating, endosperm, explosion.. he he he.. Sorry I've not had much sleep...