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cover of episode Why does corn have hairs on it?

Why does corn have hairs on it?

2025/4/9
logo of podcast Moment of Um

Moment of Um
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Anton
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Kenji Lopez-Alt
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Anton: 我是一个发型师，我最新的发型灵感就来自于玉米上的白色物质，我称之为“玉米蓬”。 Kenji Lopez-Alt: 那些白色的物质叫做玉米须，它们是玉米授粉的关键。每一个玉米须都连接着一个玉米粒，它们从玉米顶部伸出，像海葵的触手一样捕捉空气中的花粉。花粉通过玉米须进入玉米内部，使玉米粒受精，最终长成我们吃的玉米粒。玉米须的形状像网一样，非常适合捕捉空气中的花粉。一个玉米穗实际上是一朵花，当花粉落在玉米须上时，它会向下移动到玉米穗中，使玉米授粉，然后长成玉米粒。我们吃的玉米粒是玉米的种子，为了让玉米生长，它需要来自其他玉米植株的花粉。玉米须的粘性有助于捕捉空气中微小的玉米花粉。一旦玉米须捕捉到花粉，它就会帮助单个玉米粒生长。

Deep Dive

Shownotes Transcript

Have you ever peeled the leaves off of an ear of corn and noticed the white hairy-looking stuff tucked inside? What *is *that, anyway? We asked chef and cookbook author Kenji Lopez-Alt to help us find the answer.

Got an *a-MAIZE-ing *question? Send it to us at BrainsOn.org/contact), and we’ll help find an answer that’s a cut above the rest!