Science Common Sense

181 - What is fermentation, and how does it work?

Fermentation is a process where tiny living things called microorganisms (like yeast or bacteria) break down food. They turn the food into new substances, like a gas, acid, or alcohol.

Imagine you left your fruit juice outside on a warm day. It starts to bubble and get fuzzy. That's because tiny yeast particles in the air landed on the juice and started eating the sugars in it. They poop out a gas called carbon dioxide, which makes the bubbles.

Here's how fermentation works:

1. Microorganisms find food (like sugar) and eat it.
2. They break down the food and release special helpers called enzymes.
3. The enzymes turn the food into a new substance (like gas, acid, or alcohol).
4. We use this new substance to make yummy foods like bread, cheese, or yogurt.

Fermentation is like a magic trick where tiny helpers turn one food into another. It's used to make lots of delicious foods and drinks we enjoy.