Boiling water does make it safer to drink—for biological threats. It’s a time-tested, simple tool that humans have used for thousands of years. But it’s not a cure-all for chemicals, and it won’t turn muddy swamp water into Evian. So next time you’re boiling pasta or making coffee, remember: you’re also accidentally sterilizing the water. Multitasking at its finest.
And isn’t it wild that a process so ordinary—just heating water—has saved more lives than just about any modern invention? So go ahead, boil a pot, and feel like a tiny scientist. Your stomach will thank you.
