Science Friday Attention, Trivia Nerds! It’s A Food Science Fact Feast
Nov 20, 2025
Mangesh Hattikudur, trivia expert and co-host of the Part-Time Genius podcast, joins medical student Emily for an exhilarating food science trivia showdown. They delve into fascinating topics like how pandas can't detect umami and why honey never spoils. The duo discusses the intriguing Maillard reaction behind flavorful browning and deciphers the Scoville scale's chili heat origin. And did you know carbon-rich peanut butter can turn into diamonds? Tune in for these quirky facts and more!
AI Snips
Chapters
Transcript
Episode notes
A Food Science Trivia Showdown
- Science Friday launched the Super Food Science Excellence Trivia Blowout (SFSETBO) to test listeners' retention of nerdy facts.
- Flora Lichtman teamed with trivia expert Mangesh Hattikudur to quiz a listener on food science.
Emily's Trivia Pedigree
- Emily, a medical student and former state trivia champion, played the contest and showcased long-term trivia skill.
- She and her twin dominated Indiana trivia from ages 10 to 18.
Pandas Lost Their Umami Sense
- Giant pandas have lost the ability to detect umami due to their evolutionary shift to bamboo diets.
- Their carnivorous ancestors left them with taste receptors that no longer recognize savory protein flavors.