An Egg Survives Better When Dropped on Its Side

An Egg Survives Better When Dropped on Its SideEgg-drop challenges are popular science-engagement activities, but they often foster a misconception about the most impact-resistant part of an egg. By Michael Schirber Can you drop an egg on your kitchen counter without breaking it?If you accept the challenge, you might be tempted to orient the egg with its sharp-end down, as that dome-shaped top may seem to be the most structurally resilient part of the egg.Alas, dropping the egg in this vertical orientation would be a mistake.In a series of messy experiments, researchers have shown that releasing an egg sideways gives it the best chance of surviving a great fall [1].