Mon May 12 10:44:51 UTC 2025: ## Study Reveals: Eggs Crack Less When Dropped on Their Sides
**May 12, 2025** – Contrary to popular belief, eggs are less likely to break when dropped on their sides, according to new research published in Communications Physics. Scientists at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) conducted experiments involving over 200 eggs, using both compression tests and drop tests from varying heights.
The study challenges the long-held assumption that eggs are strongest at their ends. While the common understanding suggests the egg’s curved bottom dissipates impact force more effectively, the MIT team found that eggs cracked under similar force regardless of orientation during compression. However, when dropped, eggs positioned horizontally showed a significantly lower cracking rate.
Researchers attribute this to the greater flexibility of the egg’s equator, which absorbs more impact energy before fracture. This finding could have implications for hard-boiling eggs, suggesting that horizontal placement in boiling water may reduce cracking. While the impact on school science fair egg-drop projects remains unclear, the study highlights the surprising resilience of eggs dropped sideways and encourages a reevaluation of common assumptions about egg fragility. The unexpected results, according to the researchers, demonstrate the importance of challenging conventional wisdom through scientific investigation.
First Piper 