Totopoca

The way I look at it is that something natural from nature isn't 'invented' by humans (unless it's genetically modified--and then it's not natural). Plants in nature aren't invented by humans but rather by The Creator. It is humans that discover the uses of those plants. The original popcorn came from a wild corn plant known as teosinte that grew in the area that is now Mexico. This wild corn was not fit to make into cornmeal as other corn species were but the Aztec discovered that when teosinte kernels fell on the hot rocks of Aztec fireplaces that they popped open. When they tried the popped kernels they really liked it so they began cultivating the teosinte corn and then popcorn became a staple snack for them. They didn't invent or create popcorn. They discovered it by accident.

@MKAlubs I didn't mean that they invented the plant. That would be nonsense of course. But they invented the popping so-to-speak.

@MALUSE - My dictionary defines, invent thusly: 1. to think up, 2. to think out or produce, 3. to originate. I suppose that you are correct in that the Aztec invented, or originated, the cultivation of teosinte for the purposes of producing a delicious snack. I stand corrected. What I don't know is who 'invented' the notion of pouring hot melted butter over popcorn. Does anyone know this?

It does, doesn't it. I like words that sound like what they mean.