There’s a simple scientific explanation for the plate-to-poop journey of that corn kernel you gnawed off the cob or scooped off your plate. To understand it, though, you need to grow your corn knowledge.⁠ Corn kernels are actually seeds. The interior of the kernel holds the germ or corn embryo. The germ is surrounded by a starchy food supply (endosperm) that feeds the seed after it germinates.⁠ This is tasty and nutritious stuff, both for humans and billions of insects looking for a field snack.⁠ ⁠ That brings us to the kernel’s protective hull or shell. The highlight of this outer layer is a waxy coating of cellulose. The bonds connecting cellulose molecules are very strong, creating a survival-defense shield.⁠ ⁠ _____⁠ ⁠ How tough is that fibrous shell of cellulose? Well, it’s tough enough to withstand the rigors of the human digestive system. That’s why the casing of the corn kernel passes through your system looking fully intact. The inside of the kernel, however, does break down i...