Back to topics

Why can a new apple take years to reach your fruit bowl?

Developing an apple variety involves more than waiting for one tree to bear fruit. Washington State University’s WA 38, sold as Cosmic Crisp, began with a 1997 cross and required evaluation of the resulting tree, its fruit and the conditions in which it would be grown.

5–7 min

Questions you could explore

  • Why is choosing one promising seedling different from producing many trees of the same variety?

Start reading

Ready to try your ideas aloud?

Your topic carries over. Record up to 2½ minutes, depending on your plan.

Food

Why bread dough rises

The holes in a slice of bread are a record of what happened inside the dough. In ordinary yeast-raised wheat bread, making gas is only part of the story: the dough also has to hold it.

3–5 min
Food

How does milk become yogurt?

Yogurt begins with milk, but its tang and texture develop as starter bacteria change the mixture. Their use of milk sugar and the resulting acidity connect the microbial activity with what ends up on the spoon.

3–5 min
Food

How does mayonnaise keep oil and water together?

Oil and water separate readily, yet mayonnaise can hold them in a thick mixture. The oil remains in tiny droplets rather than dissolving, and emulsifying components help those droplets stay dispersed.

3–5 min
Why can a new apple take years to reach your fruit bowl? | Speech Topic | speaking.app