The “Flower Memory” Hidden in an Apple’s Base. Are Strawberries and Apples Both “Imposters”? The Surprising Truth About What We Really Eat
I’m Ken Kuwako, your science trainer. Every day is an experiment!
If you dig a little deeper into the structure of a strawberry, you’ll find a fruit that shares a surprising connection. It’s a winter staple: the humble apple. You might think, “Wait, they look and taste nothing alike!” but from a botanical perspective, these two share an incredibly similar blueprint.
The Surprising Link Between Strawberries and Apples: Are We Eating Flowers?
As it turns out, the crunchy part of the apple we all love to eat is formed the same way as a strawberry. It’s actually the receptacle—the base of the flower—that has grown large and juicy.
So, where is the “true fruit” of the apple? It’s actually the core—the part we usually find difficult to eat and toss away.
This slightly tough center is the ovary, located at the base of the pistil, which has transformed into the authentic fruit.
In the world of botany, these are known as accessory fruits. While the name might make them sound like “fakes,” it’s actually a brilliant evolutionary strategy. By turning the floral base into something delicious, the plant encourages animals to eat it and carry the seeds far and wide, ensuring the next generation survives.
Evidence of History Left Behind
If you take a close look at an apple, you can find even more clues. Have you ever noticed that slightly messy-looking bit at the bottom? Those are actually the remnants of the sepals and stamens from when the apple was still a flower.
What you see here are the sepals, and if you peek inside, you can clearly see the traces of the stamens. It’s definitive proof that this apple was once a blossom.
Eating fruit is like decoding a biological blueprint designed by the plant to pass on the torch of life.
When you observe your food through the lens of science, your kitchen instantly transforms into a fascinating laboratory. The next time you slice into an apple, take a moment to inspect the core and the bottom—you’re looking at a masterpiece of evolution!
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Bringing the wonder and fun of science closer to you! I share easy-to-follow guides for fun science experiments you can do at home. Feel free to explore!
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４月のイチオシ実験！
- 光の魔法CMYウォーターキューブ：光の魔法を体験せよ！水を注ぐと新たな立方体が出現する魔法のような実験です。
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- 4月9日（木）「THE突破ファイル」（日本テレビ ）の科学監修を行いました。夜7時〜となります。
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- サクセス15 ４月号にて、野球の科学について記事を執筆しました（2026/3）
- 『大人のための高校物理復習帳』（講談社）…一般向けに日常の物理について公式を元に紐解きました。特設サイトでは実験を多数紹介しています。※増刷がかかり６刷となりました（2026/02/01）
- 『きめる!共通テスト 物理基礎 改訂版』（学研）… 高校物理の参考書です。イラストを多くしてイメージが持てるように描きました。授業についていけない、物理が苦手、そんな生徒におすすめです。特設サイトはこちら。
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- 3/20（金） 日本理科教育学会オンライン全国大会2026「慣性の法則の概念形成を目指した探究的な学びの実践」について発表しました。
- 6/14（日） 千葉大学インスタレーション「探究」にて講師を務めます
- 7/18（土） 教員向け実験講習会「ナリカカサイエンスアカデミー」の講師をします。お会いしましょう。
- 10/10（土） 秘密兵器「帯電ガン」が炸裂！ビリビリ！ドキドキ！静電気サイエンスショー＠千葉市科学フェスタ（午後予定）
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- 楽しい実験…お子さんと一緒に夢中になれるイチオシの科学実験を多数紹介しています。また、高校物理の理解を深めるための動画教材も用意しました。
- 理科の教材… 理科教師をバックアップ！授業の質を高め、準備を効率化するための選りすぐりの教材を紹介しています。
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- The “Flower Memory” Hidden in an Apple’s Base. Are Strawberries and Apples Both “Imposters”? The Surprising Truth About What We Really Eat
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- A Split-Second Miracle! Capture the “Law of Inertia” Hidden Inside a Water Balloon!
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