What makes corn pop

A neat video from Popcorn. What better way to celebrate learning about popcorn than eating popcorn! Take a field trip to a local grocery store with an adult friend or family member. Find the popcorn section and check out all the varieties of popcorn available. Pick a couple to try at home, then head home to get popping! Which type of popcorn is your favorite? What toppings, if any, do you like? Though there may not have been a kernel of truth to the tale of the popcorn demon, inventing stories about food can be a fun way to stimulate imagination and conversation around the dinner table with your family.

Challenge yourself to get creative with your favorite and least favorite foods and watch as broccoli turns into a miniature forest, blueberries become tiny bowling balls, and flying saucer pancakes make their way past a pad of butter moon right before your eyes. Did you get it? Test your knowledge. What are you wondering? Wonder Words hull pop sofa decade tasty salty legend demon pressure droplet beloved sidekick consumption kernel savory phenomenon garland popularity Take the Wonder Word Challenge.

Join the Discussion. Tom Mar 19, Char Jan 27, Hiiii, I'm doing a science project of popcorn and this is the best website ever. Thx a lot Wonderopolis.

Jan 27, Hi I'm haze and I'm doing a class project of popcorn this helped a lot. We're glad this Wonder helped, haze! Barry E. Feb 11, I really enjoyed this!

It was really interesting! Lindsey Feb 8, I'm doing a science project and this helps a lot. Thank you Wonderopolis for helping. Makenzie Feb 8, Feb 8, We're glad, Lindsey! Mia Mar 1, I'm really loving this website. It gives me so much information. Thank you guys so much!

Mar 5, Megan Jan 8, Jan 9, Jan 4, John doe Nov 20, Nov 26, We're happy to help, John! This website is pretty dank. You guys even respond to everyone's comments. I agree this website is better than most i just wish gaben could add cases.

Nov 16, Jake Paul Sep 22, May 22, Is that you? Greg Dahlen Mar 18, Poor popcorn, maybe it doesn't like all that heat that makes it pop. Mar 20, Feb 1, Brandon Jan 24, Miyah Henderson Mar 16, Jan 25, Ava Dec 12, Who is the author and publisher of this article?

Dec 12, PRM Nov 1, How was popcorn discovered over four thousand years ago? Nov 2, Carina Nov 1, Awesome, Carina! Sep 8, Emma May 24, Hook Jan 24, This was such a great story.

I'm going to tell my students to go on to www. Jan 26, That's great! Thanks for sharing the love! May 24, Cerys Gibby May 22, Apr 28, We hope this Wonder was helpful and informational, maggie! Hey, I i am doing a project and i need to know when this was last updated and who the publisher is. If you could let me know, that would be great. Elinor Jan 21, Jan 22, Oct 29, Feb 17, Administrator of Research Aug 28, There is some factual errors here, just so you know.

However, very good overall. Aug 31, Yazminah Jul 15, I always sit and watch my parents make popcorn. I see how it starts out as a kernel then pops into a big fluffy I love the taste of popcorn so much i wish i could eat some right now Jul 16, Desiree Mar 15, Hi, victoria!

It is a yummy snack! Wonderopolis Feb 10, Cheri Dec 11, Who wrote this article about popcorn? Wonderopolis Dec 12, Jordan b. Nov 12, I think autocorrect got ya. Skip to Main Content. Federal government websites always use a. The folklore of some Native American tribes told of spirits who lived inside each kernel of popcorn.

The spirits were quiet and content to live on their own, but grew angry if their houses were heated. The hotter their homes became, the angrier they would become, shaking the kernels until the heat was too much. Finally, they would burst out of their homes and into the air as a disgruntled puff of steam. A popcorn kernel has three key components: The tough outer shell known as the pericarp, a middle layer known as the endosperm, and the innermost portion known as the germ or seed embryo.

Packed inside each popcorn hull is water and starch. When popcorn kernels heat, the water turns into steam. This vapor creates pressure inside the seed. As the pressure builds, the starch starts to soften. When the seed reaches about degrees, the hull, or pericarp, explodes under the pressure, and the starch breaks the confines of its shell. So if each kernel is destined to pop under heat and pressure, then why are we always left with unpopped kernels at the bottom of the bag? Each seed needs a moisture level of about 14 percent.