Why Are Potatoes Called Spuds?

Calling potatoes spuds seems to be quite a random way to name them. According to some stories, however, the origin of the name spuds for potatoes is quite interesting. One explanation is that the potato was once a much-maligned root in Britain and Europe, leading to the less admiring name. Another is that it comes … Read more

Apples and Potatoes Taste the Same with Your Nose Plugged?

apples and potatoes in box

It’s common knowledge that apples and potatoes taste the same with your nose plugged. Or is it just hokum? The importance of the sense of smell in informing our taste is a subject that fascinates biologists. Most high school biology texts include an experiment designed to test just how important our sense of smell is in … Read more