Egging On the Autumnal Equinox

Explanation: Today is the autumnal equinox -- should eggs be able to stand on end? This long-standing myth loses much of its mystique after a demonstration that eggs can be made to stand on end during any day of the year. Pictured above , Dr. Phil Plait ( Sonoma St. U. ) acting as the Bad Astronomer balanced three raw eggs on end in late October 1998. Later, more modestly, his wife balanced five more. The little-appreciated fact that most eggshells have small bumps on them makes this seemingly impossible task achievable. Although, during an equinox , every place on Earth experiences an equal length day and night (12 hours each), this fact has no practical effect on egg stability .