I happen to really like popcorn. My dad loves the stuff. My grandpa makes great popcorn. I won't go into the really good high cholesterol version we used to eat–poped in nothing but bacon grease, lots of butter, and just the right amount of salt. You had to wash your hands when you got done eating that stuff. It was great! But, did you ever wonder why you end up with old maids? Well, some researchers have done a study and claim to have it figured out. You can read the article here. In short,
Unpopped kernels, it turns out, have leaky hulls that prevent the moisture pressure buildup needed for them to pop and lack the optimal hull structure that allows most kernels to explode.