The Science of Food

June 30, 2025

Trophic shadows and the tyranny of the energy pyramid

Ernest Rutherford, the famous physicist, supposedly claimed that “Science is either physics or stamp collecting”. At the cost of no longer being welcome in the biology department Rutherford was making the point that everything is subject to the laws of physics and ultimately these laws can describe any natural phenomenon. In real life we usually Continue reading

chemistry, ecology, Food, food systems

agricultural, ecology, energy pyramid, environment, food science, food systems, hunter/gatherer, malthus, nature, photosynthesis, physics, plants, sustainability, trophic levels
January 16, 2025

Understanding Emulsions I: The science behind your favourite sauces

Emulsions where would be without them? No mayonnaise, no custard, no hollandaise and no milk, butter or sausages. Not having thought too much about it before, I was surprised to find out just how many of my favourite foods are emulsions or how many are covered with emulsions when I eat them. It’s pretty clear Continue reading

emulsions, enthalpy, entropy, Food, Gibbs free energy, hollandaise, mayonnaise, oil, thermodynamics, Uncategorized, vinaigrette

biology, chemistry, cooking, emulsions, enthalpy, entropy, free energy, hollandaise, mayonnaise, oil, physics, Science, vinaigrette, water