Edible Innovations

You probably know about Fanta, the brand of orange soda that's almost guaranteed to be on shelves somewhere in a 10-mile (16-km) radius of where you live. But you might not know that the question of who made Fanta has a shockingly shady answer.

By Zach Taras

There's a peculiar type of honey, called mad honey, that contains a neurotoxin. In small doses, it can cause hallucinations, but in large amounts, the substance can be highly poisonous. Over the centuries, people have used it as a medicinal drug, a recreational drug and even a bioweapon.

By Marie Look

We're talking the science of aging beer with the brewmasters of Sweetwater Brewery.

"Candy Queen" Jackie Sorkin took her love of sugary sweet candy and turned it into a crazy, colorful world of art and illusions.

Food spoilage is an urgent issue for the millions of people with unreliable electricity - or no electricity at all. A supercool $35 fridge could change that common scenario.

By Tracy Staedter

It's been part of people's diets around the world for centuries, but has recently become a health-food staple. Are you one of the people who seek a little culture every day?

By Laura Castellano

Even in its simplest form, chocolate is a pleasure to eat. But these days, there are some truly quirky chocolate products out there that'll blow your mind - and your taste buds. Click your way through this chocolaty gallery (and try not to drool too much).

By Rachel Frank

Remember "astronaut ice cream"? That was freeze-dried. You can find freeze-dried spaghetti and meatballs and even omelets. Find out what "freeze-dried" means and how such a state is achieved.

By Tom Harris

If you've ever tasted a Krispy Kreme original glazed doughnut, you know there's something special to these melt-in-your-mouth treats. How do they make a doughnut that's crispy outside yet soft inside? Find out.

By Tom Harris

Sourdough bread tastes great, but have you ever thought about it as a technology??? Learn how this technology works!

By Pamela Nelson

It's Thanksgiving Day and your waistband is groaning after dinner. Some say that tryptophan, an amino acid found in turkey, is the reason you want a nap, but is that really true?

By HowStuffWorks.com Contributors

Have concerns about the effects of aspartame? Wonder if it can really make you go blind? Find out the answer to your questions in this article.

Stout, lager, pale ale, pilsner and porter ... it takes a lot to produce a great beer. Take a tour through the brewing process from start to finish, barley to bottle, mash to keg and learn to brew at home!

By Karim Nice

This stimulant drink comes from beans that are roasted and ground and, for many of us, it's a staple of life. But do you know where coffee grows and how it gets to America? How a French roast differs from an Italian roast? What a coffee cherry is? Or how decaffeinated coffee is made?

By Debra Beller

From Beaujolais to Bordeaux, Madeira to Merlot and Sancerre to Shiraz, wine can complement almost any food. And, one glass of red wine daily may be a heart-healthy habit. Learn how wine is made, from grapes to glass!

By Craig Freudenrich, Ph.D.

As you surf the Web, your mind is distracted by the thought of warm cookies floating in cold milk. Will this craving ever subside, or do you need chocolaty satisfaction ASAP?

By Cristen Conger

As you sink your teeth into a juicy hamburger, could you be consuming meat that came from cloned livestock? Will those condiments taste just as good on your genetically duplicated dinner?

By Julia Layton & Cristen Conger

When absinthe was banned in many countries in the early 1900s, it had really fallen out of favor. How does absinthe affect those who drink it?

By Julia Layton

Unless you're in a particularly remote area, you can't go far in most developed countries without finding a fast-food restaurant. Learn how fast-food restaurants came to be and why they're so popular.

By Tracy V. Wilson

What if we could enjoy all of the pleasurable effects of alcohol, without having to worry about the harmful side effects? Learn about synthehol and other alternatives to alcohol.

By Stephanie Watson

Whether it's providing us with a quick dose of energy or satisfying a sweet tooth, we love sugar. But is sugar a good fuel for us and our cars?

By Jacob Silverman

For the backyard chef and the experienced foodie alike, nothing means luxury like a fine steak, with melt-in-your-mouth tenderness and rich flavor.

By Eleanor Duse

Will slipping some java into a child's sippy cup result in an undersized tyke? An old wives' tale would have you believe so. Does coffee affect your measurements -- or does it just help you stay awake?

By Michael Franco

If you had the perfect cure for world hunger, wouldn't you want to share it? A group called the Breatharians claims to have the answer: Stop eating.

By Katie Lambert

Are you hungry for some nitro-scrambled egg-and-bacon ice cream? Did you want a little fried mayo on that sandwich? Molecular gastronomy has cast cooking in a new light and created some seemingly bizarre, but shockingly delicious dishes.

By William Harris