Why Popcorn Pops: The Physics Inside Every Kernel & the History of Popcorn, in 3D | tnt3D

Every popcorn kernel is a tiny pressure cooker: at about 180 °C, steam trapped inside reaches around nine atmospheres, and the kernel explodes into foam in a fraction of a second. In this episode of This and That 3D, In the Kitchen, we go from 6,700-year-old popcorn in Peru to Charles Cretors' steam machine, movie theaters that once banned popcorn and the Depression that made it famous, then slice open a kernel in 3D to watch the pressure build, the hull burst and the starch explode into foam. 🍿 In this video: • Ancient popcorn from Peru, and why only popcorn pops • The first Thanksgiving myth • 1885: Charles Cretors' steam-powered popcorn machine • How cinemas went from banning popcorn to depending on it • Inside a kernel: hull, starch and trapped water, in 3D • The pressure build-up and the pop, in 3D • Why kernels jump, and butterfly vs mushroom shapes • Old maids, 40× expansion and Percy Spencer's microwave test • How a microwave popcorn bag works, in 3D ⏱️ Chapters 0:00 Intro: the explosion 0:21 Title 0:26 6,700-year-old popcorn 0:48 Why only popcorn pops 1:08 The Thanksgiving myth 1:31 An 1800s American treat 1:49 1885: Cretors' steam machine 2:11 Banned from early cinemas 2:35 The Depression saves popcorn 2:55 WWII sugar rationing & TV 3:14 3D: Inside a kernel 3:36 3D: The pressure builds 3:52 3D: The pop 4:13 3D: Why kernels jump 4:35 3D: Butterfly vs mushroom 4:55 Old maids 5:14 40× expansion 5:32 Percy Spencer's popcorn test 5:56 3D: The microwave bag 6:16 Orville Redenbacher 6:38 A whole grain snack 6:55 Popcorn today 7:16 By the numbers 7:35 A tiny pressure cooker 7:54 Thanks for watching 💬 What everyday thing should we slice open in 3D next? Tell us in the comments! 👍 If you enjoyed this, please like and subscribe. It really helps the channel grow. Narration: Kokoro TTS · 3D animation: Blender · Subtitles: English (CC) #TNT3D #Popcorn #FoodScience #Physics #KitchenScience