🔬 Science

The shine hunt: a conker on the windowsill

A fresh conker reflects light like a tiny mirror. Guess what happens to the shine, drag time from day 1 to day 6, and look under the magnifier to see where the light goes.

Day 6 Where did the shine go? Light scatters Day 6: the shell has tiny folds. The conker is dull.
Guess first: what happens to the shine after a few days?
day 1day 6

Day 6: the shell has tiny folds. The conker is dull.

Fresh conker: smooth and full of water
Dried conker: tiny folds
Light hitting and bouncing
Oil fills the folds
1Shine a torch and find the bright spot
2Two on the windowsill, one in damp paper
3Look and feel each morning for five days
4Rub on a drop of oil, then compare