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So, fellow geeks - do you think that a hardboiled vs. raw egg would differ in transparency to ionizing radiation? (The kind of science that comes out of quarantine is not necessarily high science . . . )

I imagine this has happened to everyone. I was just peacefully making breakfast and listening to the radio while a Geiger counter happily clicked away. The counter is on because there is supposed to be a decent solar flare happening at the moment. Then the question hits: "I wonder how transparent an egg is to Beta and Gamma radiation"? And is there a different between a raw vs. a hard-boiled egg? For the sake of science and humanity, clearly we have to find out! With a calculator and Google I could probably figure it out. But its much more fun to design an experiment for it.

WARNING - Stream of consciousness rambling follows as I think about this πŸ™‚

I would think that eggs have a high hydrogen count and may moderate stuff fairly well. And I would think that as long as the shape of the yolk and white within the egg remains the same when boiled or not it might be the same. That is if the particles are passing through the egg at exactly the same angle and distance then that variable doesn't matter a lot. But then, thinking as I type, the structure/alignment of the eggs atoms relative to each other must change between between being cooked or not. Also the stink from boiling eggs (which I find gross) is Hydrogen Sulfide (which incidentally is also a poison), getting created and exiting the eggs. So it means the eggs are losing hydrogen and therefore some neutron interactions will be lost. And does boiling an egg make it lose some other mass as well?

I'll follow up here when I've figured it out, unless I don't.

Observer-Effect 7 Apr 30
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Do you salt the water to make it boil more quickly? Isn't part of that absorbed by the egg (and doesn't that change the composition)?

I don't bother salting water anymore for anything but taste, it ends up that the difference in heating time and boiling point is so negligible as to not be worth the time. But as far as it getting absorbed by the egg, that is a good question!

[livescience.com]

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The bonding energy between atoms and molecules in the two egg specimens may differ significantly. Liquid may have a binding energy less strong than the solid version. I would need to check that (extrapolating here). Welcome clarification, challenge., or any input.

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I poach mine.

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Look at how the planet is dealing with the Covid Crisis and then imagine how they would deal with the energy grid getting wiped out by a massive solar flare, which we are well overdue for btw, then just enjoy your breakfast.

Oh yeah, its something I've long thought about. There was that big one that happened back when we were still using telegraph machines - and the system kept working when turned off, operators got shocked, electric lamps lit up on their own. That was all with old heavy duty tube based electronics. These days? Our microchips would instantly fry. And can you imagine?

Cars failing, networks down, airplanes falling from the sky, folks with pacemakers dropping to the ground, banking systems gone, all heat and cooling gone -- absolute fucking anarchy! Its kind of fun to think about, but I don't think it would be fun to experience!

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On my front porch … while reading that.. Again - wondering what the neighbors think as I burst out laughing.. Really, what I likely laughed hardest over was thinking … there’s likely several good reasons most of us around here are alone πŸ˜‰ ...a Geiger counter running in the kitchen πŸ˜€

Varn Level 8 Apr 30, 2020

It makes me happy to know it has brought fun to somebody else too! πŸ™‚ I'll toss you one more potential chuckle then - testing to see if Baklava works as a neutron moderator!

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