© 2025 Ideastream Public Media

1375 Euclid Avenue, Cleveland, Ohio 44115
(216) 916-6100 | (877) 399-3307

WKSU is a public media service licensed to Kent State University and operated by Ideastream Public Media.
Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations

What Happens to Your Body During a Speed Eating Competition?

Season 51 | 5m 16s

Competitive eaters train to stretch their stomachs far beyond normal limits, allowing them to consume massive amounts of food in minutes. But this extreme practice takes a toll on the body. Here’s how they do it - and what happens inside their bodies.

National Corporate funding for NOVA is provided by Carlisle Companies. Major funding for NOVA is provided by the NOVA Science Trust, the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, and PBS viewers.
Extras
Fossils reveal how birds survived the killer asteroid and became today’s only living dinosaurs.
Can science reveal the secrets of mysterious objects seen in our skies?
Mysterious bodies are found under one of the world’s most famous cathedrals.
It’s not all in your head - flights really are bumpier these days.
Follow the quest to recover DNA millions of years old for the very first time.
From electric flight to artificial noses, engineers are finding new ways to preserve our planet.
From electric flight to artificial noses, engineers are finding new ways to preserve our planet.
Follow the race to build a world-class airport on the site of one of America’s busiest flying hubs.
Humans are born to roam. See how engineers are inventing new ways to explore and extend our range.
Blending innovation and culture, engineers bring a robotic Double Dutch machine to life.
All
  • All
  • NOVA Season 52
  • NOVA Season 51
  • NOVA Season 50
  • NOVA Season 49
  • NOVA Season 48
  • NOVA Season 47
  • NOVA Season 46
  • NOVA Season 45
  • NOVA Season 44
  • NOVA Season 43
  • NOVA Season 42
  • NOVA Season 41
  • NOVA Season 40
  • NOVA Season 39
  • NOVA Season 38
  • NOVA Season 37
  • NOVA Season 36
  • NOVA Season 35
  • NOVA Season 34
  • NOVA Season 33
  • NOVA Season 32
  • NOVA Season 31
  • NOVA Season 30
  • NOVA Season 28
  • NOVA Season 27
  • NOVA Season 23
Fossils reveal how birds survived the killer asteroid and became today’s only living dinosaurs.
Can science reveal the secrets of mysterious objects seen in our skies?
Mysterious bodies are found under one of the world’s most famous cathedrals.
From electric flight to artificial noses, engineers are finding new ways to preserve our planet.
Follow the race to build a world-class airport on the site of one of America’s busiest flying hubs.
Humans are born to roam. See how engineers are inventing new ways to explore and extend our range.
Is engineering humanity’s superpower? See how we can amplify our natural abilities in amazing ways.
Dive into the universe at the tiniest – and weirdest – of scales.
Meet the surprising, oddball worlds moving around our solar system.
Visit strange, frozen worlds to discover the bizarre ice that forms beyond Earth.