milk | Ask Dr. Universe | Washington State University

Why do dairy cows produce so much milk compared to beef cows? – Kristen, 6, New York

January 29, 2026 melissamayer

Dear Kristen,

This answer is fueled by coffee with a splash of milk from a dairy cow.

I asked my friend Kimberly Davenport why my morning milk doesn’t come from a beef cow. She’s an expert in cow genetics at Washington State University.

She told me that all cows are the same species: Bos taurus. But different kinds of cows have different traits—like making lots of milk or growing big muscles.

“Over time, we’ve selected these cows to either make more milk or more meat,” Davenport said.

Selecting means noticing the traits you like and keeping animals with those traits. When those animals reproduce, … » More …

Why does milk cure the spicy feeling in your mouth after you eat something spicy but water doesn't? – Eloise, 10, Minnesota

February 15, 2024 melissamayer

Dear Eloise,

My work as a science cat has introduced me to human foods—like chips and salsa. I love the spicy taste of salsa, but I always keep a saucer of milk handy.

I talked about why milk calms the spicy feeling with my friend Emily Cukier. She’s a chemistry librarian at Washington State University.

She told me that the spicy feeling comes from something called capsaicin. The amount of capsaicin in a pepper determines how hot it is.