What scientific concept did Nicolas Appert not grasp while perfecting his canning process?

Answer

The role of microorganisms

A defining characteristic of Nicolas Appert’s genius was his reliance on purely empirical observation rather than theoretical scientific knowledge. Appert correctly observed that spoilage was associated with the presence of air, and his heating process effectively neutralized this issue. However, he operated without any understanding of microbiology. He could not articulate or conceptualize the actual mechanism causing decay, which involved microscopic life forms such as bacteria or enzymes. It took several decades, until the work of Louis Pasteur in the 1860s regarding germ theory, for the scientific community to explain precisely why Appert’s heating and sealing technique successfully killed the microscopic life causing putrefaction.

What scientific concept did Nicolas Appert not grasp while perfecting his canning process?

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