SMRTR Science & EngineeringJun 9, 2026Interesting Engineering

World’s slowest experiment in Australia has been running for nearly 100 years

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Australia's Pitch Drop Experiment, running since 1927 at the University of Queensland, proves pitch — a tar-like substance — is actually an extremely slow-moving liquid, not a solid. Only nine drops have fallen in nearly 100 years, with pitch being 100 billion times more viscous than water. The tenth drop is still forming.

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