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The science of milk - Jonathan J. O'Sullivan

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TEDEd Animation

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The milk industry produces in excess of 840 million tons of products each year. Why do humans drink so much milk? And given that all mammals lactate, why do we favor certain types of milk over others? Jonathan J. O’Sullivan describes how milk is made.

Milk is best produced in regions with good grassland, whereas more arid regions struggle to produce milk at an appreciable level. What is one key innovation which allowed for the distribution of milk to these regions?

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TED-Ed Animations feature the words and ideas of educators brought to life by professional animators. Are you an educator or animator interested in creating a TED-Ed Animation? Nominate yourself here »

Meet The Creators

  • Educator Jonathan J. O'Sullivan
  • Director Biljana Labović
  • Script Editor Mia Nacamulli
  • Animator Josephine Mark
  • Associate Producer Jessica Ruby
  • Content Producer Gerta Xhelo
  • Editorial Producer Alex Rosenthal
  • Narrator Addison Anderson

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