Gummy Bears, Jell-O, and King Kong’s Poop

Connecting our world by dissecting the science of our everyday lives

You might think that gummy bears, Jell-O, and King Kong’s poop do not have any connection! But you would be wrong: They are linked by collagen, a fascinating chemical. Just one example of the amazing links that can be revealed by dissecting the science in our daily lives. And in this book, there is plenty of such dissecting. If you are interested in the link between deer antlers and leavening agents, how charcoal saves lives, what Turkey red oil is all about, who invented soda water, or why pigs are used to find truffles, you are at the right place. You will even discover why saffron is so prized, the benefits of sourdough bread, the dangers of ultraprocessed foods, the issues with food dyes, the advantages of extra virgin olive oil, and the unscientific crusade against seed oils. Also featured are essays on the smelly truth about fragrances, how to make slime, why ambergris is more valuable than gold, why “chemtrails” are nonsense, whether pickleball leads to longevity, and why President Trump hates windmills. Interested in the truth about truth serum, Ford’s soybean car, the history of Tupperware, the legend of the unicorn, or the issues with microplastics? It’s all here. Be informed, and be entertained.