Scientists Solve Unpopped Popcorn!

MegaRock · 21st April 2005, 18:22

Nice to know those boys at Purdue are busy on the important stuff!

Eat your way to the bottom of almost any bag of popcorn and there they are: the rock-hard, jaw-rattling unpopped kernels known as old maids.

The nuisance kernels have kept many a dentist busy, but their days could be numbered: Scientists say they now know why some popcorn kernels resist popping into puffy white globes.

It's long been known that popcorn kernels must have a precise moisture level in their starchy center -- about 15 percent -- to explode. But Purdue University researchers found the key to a kernel's explosive success lies in the composition of its hull.

Unpopped kernels, it turns out, have leaky hulls that prevent the moisture pressure buildup needed for them to pop and lack the optimal hull structure that allows most kernels to explode.

"They're sort of like little pressure vessels that explode when the pressure reaches a certain point," said Bruce Hamaker, a Purdue professor of food chemistry. "But if too much moisture escapes, it loses its ability to pop and just sits there."

The findings may help popcorn breeders select the best varieties -- or create new ones -- with superior hulls that yield few, if any, unpopped kernels. But for now, there's no way to screen out potential old maids before they end up in bags of popcorn.

http://www.cnn.com/2005/TECH/science....ap/index.html

bgesley · 21st April 2005, 18:37

Thats almost as sad as when I found out that scientists had been working for 10 years on how to make seedless watermelons.

And now they're square!

Print · 21st April 2005, 19:34

LMAO.

And we still have aids and cancer

But then again.. we can't all dedicate ourselves to the same causes.

Think of the guys who life work was toilets. We all need toilets right?

Maybe we all need popping corn

Schmeet · 21st April 2005, 21:53

What a great day for history

The toilet was actually designed by like one man. I've watched the whole process of how it was done several times. :P

zootm · 22nd April 2005, 02:32

Quote:

Originally posted by blueprint_n9ne
And we still have aids and cancer

I know you probably realise this, but our best minds in the field are working on it. For the meantime, our economy is kept afloat by corporatism and its consequences -- our society must flourish in order to allow the development of cures to the most important of problems.

DJ ROACH · 22nd April 2005, 02:53

Quote:

Originally posted by blueprint_n9ne
LMAO.

And we still have aids and cancer

But then again.. we can't all dedicate ourselves to the same causes.

Think of the guys who life work was toilets. We all need toilets right?

Maybe we all need popping corn

Know the diffrence between popcorn and toliets?

I dont have to pick the toliet seat out of my ass when iam done.

damn kernls

I guess aids and cancer patients need popcorn too.

bgesley · 22nd April 2005, 03:08

you pick popcorn out of your ass then? Remind me not to go to anymore of your Chronicles of Narnia movie marathons.

MegaRock · 22nd April 2005, 06:05

Quote:

Originally posted by DJ ROACH
I dont have to pick the toliet seat out of my ass when iam done. damn kernls

That's why you get lots of butter. A cup and a half of it on your corn and nothing sticks to it!

squakMix · 22nd April 2005, 13:50

This kind of research is total bullshit.

Why would anyone ever Spend money on research for this crap???!

bgesley · 22nd April 2005, 20:29

Because millions of people die from choking on little kernals in movie theatres all over the world. Hots spots would be Hollywood and Bollywood.

squakMix · 22nd April 2005, 21:56

wtf, are you serious?? I've never EVER heard on anyone choking of little popcorn kernals smaller than your throat/larynx.

DJ ROACH · 22nd April 2005, 23:01

Quote:

Originally posted by MegaRock
That's why you get lots of butter. A cup and a half of it on your corn and nothing sticks to it!

Havent you ever gotten the skin from the kern stuck in your teeth, then you spend the better half of the movie trying to get it un-stuck with your tounge.
no matter how much butter i put on it always happens.

wait, i just re-read your post, a cup and 1/2. holly crap dude. i though i read half a cup, yeah nothing would stick, including your poo. youd be peing out your butt for the next day if you greased your tracks up like that.

21st April 2005, 18:22	#1
MegaRock Forum King Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Inside my water bong Posts: 6,775	Scientists Solve Unpopped Popcorn! Nice to know those boys at Purdue are busy on the important stuff! Eat your way to the bottom of almost any bag of popcorn and there they are: the rock-hard, jaw-rattling unpopped kernels known as old maids. The nuisance kernels have kept many a dentist busy, but their days could be numbered: Scientists say they now know why some popcorn kernels resist popping into puffy white globes. It's long been known that popcorn kernels must have a precise moisture level in their starchy center -- about 15 percent -- to explode. But Purdue University researchers found the key to a kernel's explosive success lies in the composition of its hull. Unpopped kernels, it turns out, have leaky hulls that prevent the moisture pressure buildup needed for them to pop and lack the optimal hull structure that allows most kernels to explode. "They're sort of like little pressure vessels that explode when the pressure reaches a certain point," said Bruce Hamaker, a Purdue professor of food chemistry. "But if too much moisture escapes, it loses its ability to pop and just sits there." The findings may help popcorn breeders select the best varieties -- or create new ones -- with superior hulls that yield few, if any, unpopped kernels. But for now, there's no way to screen out potential old maids before they end up in bags of popcorn. http://www.cnn.com/2005/TECH/science....ap/index.html 1001. FM - Megarock Radio - St. Louis Since 1998! Tune In Now! Corporate Radio Sucks! No suits, all rock!

22nd April 2005, 13:50	#9
squakMix wwwyzzerdd (Forum King) Join Date: May 2003 Posts: 3,458	This kind of research is total bullshit. Why would anyone ever Spend money on research for this crap???! "Oh BTW. How do you say 'stop throwing shit at the side of my house' in spanish?" Check out my music

22nd April 2005, 21:56	#11
squakMix wwwyzzerdd (Forum King) Join Date: May 2003 Posts: 3,458	wtf, are you serious?? I've never EVER heard on anyone choking of little popcorn kernals smaller than your throat/larynx. "Oh BTW. How do you say 'stop throwing shit at the side of my house' in spanish?" Check out my music

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21st April 2005, 18:37	#2
bgesley Major Dude Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: without wax Posts: 948	Thats almost as sad as when I found out that scientists had been working for 10 years on how to make seedless watermelons. And now they're square!

21st April 2005, 19:34	#3
Print Forum King Join Date: May 2002 Location: Canada Posts: 3,206	LMAO. And we still have aids and cancer But then again.. we can't all dedicate ourselves to the same causes. Think of the guys who life work was toilets. We all need toilets right? Maybe we all need popping corn

21st April 2005, 21:53	#4
Schmeet Major Dude Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: The timid west Posts: 1,453	What a great day for history The toilet was actually designed by like one man. I've watched the whole process of how it was done several times. :P

22nd April 2005, 03:08	#7
bgesley Major Dude Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: without wax Posts: 948	you pick popcorn out of your ass then? Remind me not to go to anymore of your Chronicles of Narnia movie marathons.

22nd April 2005, 20:29	#10
bgesley Major Dude Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: without wax Posts: 948	Because millions of people die from choking on little kernals in movie theatres all over the world. Hots spots would be Hollywood and Bollywood.