Wednesday, January 14, 2009

Paging Mr. Redenbacher, Mr. Orville Redenbacher...

Some scientists were asked by the magazine Popular Science if a kernel of corn would pop if it were dropped to the earth from space.

The answer: Probably not, but it might. The real problem is that the crew of the space tug Nostromo established that in space, no one can hear you scream. Therefore, it is unlikely that anyone could hear the kernel actually pop.

Which leads us to the question of what actually constitutes the popping of the kernel of corn. Is it the explosion of the kernel into white, starchy, ready-to-be-buttered goodness? Is it the noise said kernel makes during that particular act? Or are the two inextricably linked in some metaphysical sense that cannot be explained solely by science?

Alas, I must now turn my mind to other things (sermon prep), so I leave you, Perplexed Reader, to ponder these matters.

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