The Science of the World's Spiciest Chip

We filmed ourselves eating the world's spiciest chip, cried for 45 minutes, and then made this video for you. With every bite into a Paqui's "Carolina Reaper Madness" chip, more and more capsaicin interacts with the pain sensors on your tongue. In fact, it's so hot that it's exclusively sold in packages that contain only one chip. So what makes it so spicy?

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Producer/Video by:
Jason Lederman

Director/Cinematographer/Producer:
Tom McNamara

Research/Narrator/Taste Tester:
Kendra Pierre-Louis

Taste Tester:
Billy Cadden

Media Used (CC by 2.0)

Media Used (cc by 3.0)

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FOLLOW POPULAR SCIENCE

[yomaze]

If you want views you have to show the whole experience of eating the chip. Plenty of science you could add in while we watch them suffer.

[solatro]

Ate the latest one and had intense chili cramps for about 20min but at the end you do feel good that you didn't die lol.

[memehee]

I can't believe they actually showed the assmese name of ghost pepper. ( Proud Assamese)

[rheamaecanoy]

2019?
And now they eat that as a challenge

[kyrasnell]

Did anyone elses but hole start to burn when they said caralina reiaper and ghost pepper

[childrey]

I've actually ate lots of these and they're not bad.

[Hana-ozno]

Probably whoever invented spice it was hell

[adamantium_]

That's good research you done for the video. Lesson learned now I understand the ways of human behavior. I would never do that challenge that's a waste of money. $29 for one chip

[mothereric]

I want a chip with Resiniferatoxin next...

[scottmantooth]

*um....no...a big fat and most sincerely emphatic no...a no that by all other standards might be considered or construed as being overly cautious, but in this regard quite justified...i do like food with a bit of heat, but if i can no longer feel my own face then any endorphin rush i might otherwise experience is not worth it*

[arelym]

As mexicans have it in their blood since they’re born but i shall not face the spiciest 🌶🤣😖

[dmhq-administration]

I don't know, he has a beautiful green shade of eye colour. SUPER DUPER gorgeous! Just saying. 🤔🥰🤗💖🇨🇦

[Alex-xcki]

Meanwhile in 2019...

Popular Science - "EATS WORLD'S HOTTEST CHIP".

Indian Aunties - "Hold my beer" 🍺