Each popcorn kernel is a seed, ready to burst when heated. (Image credit: Rick Madonik via Getty Images) You can imagine that popping maize kernels was first discovered by accident.

Popcorn is the only grain in the corn family that pops in response to the application of heat—specifically, temperatures above 180° C. It has a lot to do with the structure of the kernels.

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Popcorn science Zea mays everta is the only kind of corn that consistently pops and, as such, is used as popcorn. Each kernel contains a tiny bit of water surrounded by starch.

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Popcorn has been around at least 4,000 years. The Aztecs even had a word for the sound of kernels popping — totopoca. On National Popcorn Day, ponder the story of this beloved snack.

Long before it fueled moviegoers, popcorn helped lay the foundation for the Aztec empire. In our video, we look at popcorn under a microscope, where the rock-hard kernel's fluffy secret is revealed.