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Why The World’s Longest Running Science Experiment Is Still Going Strong 96 Years Later
The University of Queensland in Australia has had their record-setting experiment running without interruption since 1927
Science experiments have played a impactfulrole in helping humans understand and adapt to the world around them. Although they are often rather quick exercises designed at getting answers to questions, some are much more involved and time consuming. However, the world’s longest science experiment is a different kettle of fish altogether, as it has been ongoing for nearly 100 years, with no end in sight.
The University of Queensland in Australia is the home of an unassuming experiment that has captured the fascination of scientists and curious onlookers alike for decades. Dubbed the Pitch Drop experiment, it was started by Professor Thomas Parnell in 1927 in order to explore the peculiar properties of pitch (derived from tar), the world’s thickest known fluid. The objective of Parnell’s study was to document the remarkable qualities of pitch, which are quite unlike anything else in the world.
Pitch, which is often associated with its use in waterproofing boats, possesses a deceptive solidity at room temperature. To the naked eye, it appears solid…
