Popcorn, also known as
popping corn, is a type of corn that expands from the
kernel and puffs up when heated. Popcorn is able to pop because, like
amaranth grain,
sorghum,
quinoa, and
millet, its kernels have a hard moisture-sealed
hull and dense
starchy innards. When heated,
pressure builds within the kernel, and a small explosion (or "pop") is the end result. Some
strains of corn are now cultivated specifically as popping corns.