A method of culturing pluripotent stem cells is provided. The method includes culturing pluripotent stem cells in a pluripotent stem cell culture medium supplemented with an additive, where the additive includes a source of acetate ions, a carboxylic acid, or a physiologically acceptable salt of the carboxylic acid, or a combination of these substances, in an amount effective to maintain the pluripotent stem cells in culture in an undifferentiated pluripotent state. Also included are pluripotent stem cell culture media and methods of making such media.