Peepocalypse Now: Destroying Marshmallows for Science

by Jordan Yerman | March 23, 2008 at 09:44 am
1811 views | 2 Recommendations | 19 comments

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Skipper and peeps

Skipper and peeps

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uploaded by Qtrnca

If you want to get kids into a museum, destroying squidgy marshmallow candy seems to be the way to go. At the Rochester Museum asn Science Center, staff have taken that very approach. Leveraging kids' love of sweets and their curiosity towards blowing stuff up, Tim Cawley and company have devised a novel antidote for science apathy.

The Peeps became huge. Then Cawley let air back into the jar. The Peeps shrunk instantaneously, to the crowd's delight.

"They really taste nasty without the air in them. I don't know what it is," Cawley said, holding up a shriveled Peep. "But should you eat your science experiments?"

"No!" the children replied.

Jesse King, 11, of Lyons, Wayne County, watched the presentation with his parents and sister.

"It was good, but there were no explosions," he said. "Me and my dad were hoping."

When researching the Wikipedia article, I had come across the fascinating entry on Peeps, which in turn prompted me to hunt for Peeps in the news.

recommend This comment thread is now closed
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Art By Monica

Who can resist biting off a peep's head? Not me, and not other peep's...

Art By Monica has contributed a photo to this story.

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Jordan Yerman

It's as if they're manufactured to be destroyed. Eating them seems somehow secondary.

Art By Monica
Art By Monica
flagged this story as Good Stuff

at 12:52 on March 23rd, 2008

This is really TASTY good stuff! Great story!

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spellcheck

It's true, they are more fun to destroy than to eat. I actually hate the taste of Peeps alone, but when sizzling in between chocolate and graham cracker.. mmm.

spellcheck has contributed a photo to this story.

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ohhh_yeah808

5th annual Bunny on a Bike Ride in Portland, Oregon. Bunnies on Bikes from North, Northeast, Southeast, Southwest, and Northwest, gathered in 5 different parks for a Play-date in the Park on Easter Sunday.

ohhh_yeah808 has contributed a photo to this story.

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ohhh_yeah808

 


 


i added my photo but for anybody who wants to see the best peeps photo click on the link...


 http://dlisted.com/files/peepshotslutsoftheday1.jpg

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CZzyzx41

This was a crafts project built by my wife as a mock Easter centerpiece at our dinner table. It was inspired by a now popular picture from the 'net and I think it might just be it's equal if not even surpassing the original.

CZzyzx41 has contributed a photo to this story.

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maidenvt

I must confess. I did buy some but purely for their artistic value.

maidenvt has contributed a photo to this story.

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Feline Slade

This is an avatar spotted in Second Life, during a live music performance by Maximillion Kleene. No doubt the avatar was inspired by everyone's favorite Easter candy: Peeps!

Feline Slade has contributed a photo to this story.

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neilltyler

Can you hear me know?

neilltyler has contributed a photo to this story.

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ashlyebaker

Peep Cake made by my Granny for Easter.

ashlye nicole has contributed a photo to this story.

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spcheah

Sunflower Chocolate Ganache cake made by my aunt, Julie Legan for Easter.

spcheah has contributed a photo to this story.

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cupcakequeen

Take a "peep" at the Peep Family breakfast...they are seemingly unconcerned that their house has been over run with Rum Cupcakes...as they all...mom, dad, brother,baby dog and cat...enjoy reading their Washington Post!

Cupcakes based on "Hugh Pearson's Rum Cake"...much rum!

cupcakequeen has contributed a photo to this story.

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bigjonevans

We invented a little game called Peepgolf. Its rather funny. Check out peepgolf.com

bigjonevans has contributed a photo to this story.

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Kristianna

Cocoa with Peeps 'Topper'

Kristianna has contributed a photo to this story.

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Marcy Mendelson

Battle of the bunnies in preparation for Bring Your Own Big Wheel in San Francisco.
Photog: Marcy Mendelson
flickr.com/mmendelson

M.Mendelson has contributed a photo to this story.

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Alejandra Darling

My Treeson Blue saw a Peep army marching across the lawn and decided to join up. "I'm not a Peep" he said "But I wanna march too!"

Alejandra Darling has contributed a photo to this story.

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fromages_noirs

The Peep Messiah sacrificed himself for our unpeeply ways.

fromages_noirs has contributed a photo to this story.

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dawneubanks2005

The offical website for peeps is http://www.marshmallowpeeps.com/. You can purchase plush peeps at Target, Walmart, Bed Bath and Beyond, Linens-n-Things, Giant, Safeway , CVS Ebay, and Amazon. There is also a cool link that tells how to take peeps and intergrate them into science (http://www.peepresearch.org/). Or take into joining the flickr peeps club @ http://www.flickr.com/groups/peeps-tastic/discuss/19871/. Whatever you do just remember it just isnt Easter without peeps, even if your like me and dont eat them :)

dawneubanks2005 has contributed a photo to this story.

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Art By Monica
First Flagged at 12:52 PM, Mar 23, 2008 by Art By Monica
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