Fact or Fiction: Uncooked Rice is Bad for Birds

Reactions Science Videos | November 05, 2018

You may have heard that throwing rice at weddings will hurt wild birds. But we’re here to say that myth isn’t backed up by the science -- and we can prove it with chemistry.

Sources:

Is Throwing Rice at Weddings Bad for Birds?

Does Wedding Rice Really Make Birds Explode?

Bird seed mixtures

The Truth About Birds and Wedding Rice

A CLASSROOM EXERCISE FOR TESTING URBAN MYTH: Does Wedding Rice Cause Birds To Explode or Were Ann Landers, Martha Stewart & Bart Simpson Wrong?

Histological Structures of Cooked Rice Grain

Rice Science 101- An Introduction to Making Great Rice at Home

Ever wonder why dogs sniff each others' butts? Or how Adderall works? Or whether it's OK to pee in the pool? We've got you covered: Reactions a web series about the chemistry that surrounds you every day.

Produced by the American Chemical Society.