Great Books to read to learn about kitchen science:
BakeWise by Shirley O. Corriher
CookWise by Shirley O. Corriher

See a short and interesting clip by Shirley
http://www.asminternational.org/portal/site/www/NewsItemVideo/?vgnextoid=ae6c01d34b332410VgnVCM100000621e010aRCRD
Also: The New Kitchen Science by Howard Hillman