Tag: Science history

In the early 19th century, chemists discovered that many naturally occurring substances like starch and wood were composed of carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen, with the latter two elements present in the same ratio as water. This discovery led to the coining of a now-common term that reflects this unique chemical composition.

The calorie, a unit we associate with diet and exercise, was originally a measurement of heat for steam engines. Before it landed on our food labels, the concept of quantifying the energy in food underwent a fascinating and complex transformation, with scientists figuring out the calorie through burning food and measuring human heat output.