> Thomas Parnell, UQ's first Professor of Physics, created the experiment in 1927 to illustrate that everyday materials can exhibit quite surprising properties.

> Thomas Parnell, UQ's first Professor of Physics, created the experiment in 1927 to illustrate that everyday materials can exhibit quite surprising properties...The experiment was set up as a demonstration and is not kept under special environmental conditions so in other words, it's not really an experiment. Still a nice demonstration, but I guess they're not measuring anything. And to all the people saying "set up a camera", sure, but that's not the same as seeing a drop fall. Be a nice demonstration to set up at home next to your bonsai tree (much earlier in life than I am able to currently) > In 1927 Professor Parnell heated a sample of pitch and poured it into a glass funnel with a sealed stem. He allowed the pitch to cool and settle for three years, and then in 1930 he cut the funnel's stem. 3 years to cool? is there any reason to think it didn't reach room temp much more quickly, like in a day? I know for telescope lenses they cool the glass very slowly, but that's externally imposed to avoid warping.