Skip to main content

TED-Ed

The science of spiciness - Rose Eveleth

4,907,789 Views

22,752 Questions Answered

TEDEd Animation

Let’s Begin…

When you take a bite of a hot pepper, your body reacts as if your mouth is on fire -- because that's essentially what you've told your brain! Rose Eveleth details the science and history behind spicy foods, giving insights into why some people continue to pay the painful price for a little spice.

Additional Resources for you to Explore

How spicy food might be part of your personality.
The evolution of human olfaction.
More about the Scoville Scale.
The race to create the hottest pepper.
How hot sauces perk up your food and your mood.

About TED-Ed Animations

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
Rose Eveleth
Director
Tom Beuerlein
Producer
Darcy Vorhees
Narrator
Rose Eveleth

More from You Are What You Eat