Pop, pop, POP! January 19th is National Popcorn Day. And what better way to celebrate (besides eating a bowlful!) than to learn some fun facts about this POPular snack. Dig in and have a look!

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Flying popcorn

Popcorn kernels can fly up to one metre in the air when they pop. That's about the same height as a three-year-old child.

Steamy popcorn

Each kernel of popcorn has a bit of water in it. When it's heated, this water turns to steam and builds up pressure inside the kernel. When the pressure reaches a certain point, the kernel pops.

Ancient popped corn

Popcorn has been a popular snack for a long time. Based on corn remains found at archaeological sites in Peru, scientists believe that popped corn was eaten by the coastal people on the northern coast up to 6,700 years ago. 

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Noisy popcorn

In the 1920s, popcorn was banned at many movie theatres because it was considered too noisy when eaten. Can you imagine not having your popcorn with extra butter?

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Ancient popcorn kernels

Popcorn kernels over 3,000 years old have been discovered in ancient graves. They still popped when they were tested with heat.

Sandy popcorn

In ancient times, people made popcorn by stirring popcorn kernels into sand heated in a fire.

First popcorn machine

The first automatic popcorn machine was introduced at the 1893 World's Fair in Chicago. Today, you find the modern version in movie theatres all over the world.