Hooked on science: Creating phlegm in the kitchen

Here's an experiment that will teach a lesson on why people shouldn't smoke.

Ingredients

• 2 cups of water
• 1 envelope of plain gelatin
• 2 cups of sugar
• 4 Rennet tablets

Instructions

STEP 1: Boil water and then mix in the gelatin, sugar and Rennet tablets.

STEP 2: Let cool.

Explanation

You created 'phlegm' by mixing all the ingredients together. The slimy science represents the amount of phlegm a person with emphysema usually coughs up in one day.

Jason Lindsey is a Science Outreach Educator for the Bootheel Youth Museum. Check out his science blog Hooked On Science at jasonthescienceguysblog.blogspot.com for webcasts and experiments that might get you hooked on science. Send him your science questions at jlindsey@bootheelyouthmuseum.org. More science experiments can be found at www.semissourian.com.