Ground breaking science!

30- take part in a science experiment/survey- achieved?

I’ve been involved with practical conservation work, species surveys and basic level studies for quite a while on an ad hoc, voluntary basis. For this challenge I’m going to define science as ‘any type of study or experiment conducted with the aid of a clipboard, with the option of some special tools and text books, which takes place in the company of someone with a phd in being clever’.

   I wasn’t really sure what I envisaged when I added this to the list. Having studied the arts but with a father who was a science teacher, I’d like to think I have a broad range of interests. I love science. I like celebrity scientists like the wonderful Brian Cox and the equally splendid Chris Packham. I enjoy things that make my brain hurt a bit when I think about them. So it made sense, amongst the learning, writing, travelling and other challenges to include something a bit ‘sciency’. Perhaps I had in mind something more of a full-time project, or long-term commitment than I had been involved with before. Maybe something a bit more, significant? Ground-breaking even?

   I didn’t imagine that it would involve cheese puffs.

   Still, we did have a clipboard and there was an actual scientist present. Ok, she is a meteorologist and geologist, but I imagine all the world’s most eminent cheese puff scientists were otherwise engaged.

   The hypothesis, like most good hypotheses, was thought up down the pub. It goes something like this: ‘Waitrose branded cheese puffs are the best.’ There was some discussion. Some of the party thought that cheaper brands would have added salt and therefore be more tasty. The shape of the puff was also considered. Which is more satisfying, a wotsit shaped long puff, or cheese ball? What about texture?

   The date was set to coincide with a small house-warming party I’d planned (and the availability of our friendly scientist). Before you judge this as an odd party activity, bear in mind I’ve been to two dogs’ birthday parties this year, so the bar is set quite high. Five of us were involved in the experiment. One friend was handily allergic to yeast, so was able to record the results and ensure the tasting was indeed ‘blind’. We also did a yeast free corn chip experiment afterwards, just to be fair.

   The equipment: six identically sized, different coloured plastic cups. I knew they’d come in handy. (I actually thought, for a barbecue, but science experiment will do.) Also a pad and pen and a nice tray. Six bags of different brand puffs were emptied into the cups by our yeast free test scientist, who noted which was which.

   The methodology: each scientist would take a puff, examine it for texture and taste and give it a mark out of ten. We also guessed, after tasting, which brand it was. It was all terribly tense. Video and photo evidence supplemented the paper results. I’m pretty sure we could also rustle up a pie chart (puff chart?) or bar graph if you’re interested.

   The results? My hypothesis was proved! Waitrose do indeed produce the best puffs in terms of texture, flavour and generally puffiness. I’m hoping by recording these results they might send me a year’s supply in gratitude.

   I was left with the inevitable post experiment damage, namely seven bags of puffs to eat my way through, but we can all be proud of a job well done and there's always a price to pay for genuine scientific progress.

   I await my nobel prize and the inevitable congratulatory message from Professor Brian Cox.