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A close view of freshly air-popped white popcorn showing the folded shapes of the expanded starch — CC BY 2.0: Tony Webster

World Explained · Food and chemistry

A popcorn kernel builds a steam engine and launches itself

A hard popcorn shell traps steam until hot starch breaks through, forms a temporary leg and flips the kernel. The pop is released vapour, not the shell cracking.

10 August 2026 · 4 min readRead story →

Original editorial illustration of a cut onion releasing volatile molecules toward an eye beginning to tear — Original editorial illustration: Curiosity Desk original editorial illustration

World Explained · Food science

An onion builds its tear gas only after the knife arrives

The tear-inducing molecule is assembled when cutting ruptures separate compartments inside onion cells. Your eyes are reacting to newly made chemical defence.

2 August 2026 · 4 min readRead story →

Overhead arrangement of oatmeal with berries, lentils, chickpeas, pear, avocado, broccoli, almonds, chia seeds and whole grain toast — Editorial illustration: Curiosity Desk original editorial illustration, created with image-generation tools

World Explained · Food and nutrition

What is fibermaxxing? Why the 2026 food trend needs a speed limit

Fibermaxxing searches climbed 115 percent. Here is what the trend means, how to read the 28 gram Daily Value and why more is not always better.

24 July 2026 · 10 min readRead story →

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