Ask A Science Journalist #1 - Chili Willie

All you need to know about capsaicin, chili burns, and what to do if your junk gets spicy.

I have the tendency to be a dumbass. This is known, this is accepted, this is widely understood. One of my biggest dumbass tendencies is my unsettlingly common and deeply concerning tendency to forget that chili peppers are like, hot, and that I shouldn’t handle large amounts of jalapeños barehanded or my hands will get like, hot. I have been cooking wi…