Yummy Science – Self Slicing Banana. Experiments you can try in the kitchen – Custard Bouncing Balls, Magical Water, Growing Crystals, Spud Guns, Designer Onions, Honeycomb Toffee, Sticky Milk, Toast Busters, Toasty Science, Secret Messages

Science Links

More fun nutrition activities at
the Rowett Research Institute, eduweb
Check out National Science & Engineering Week at:
The BA (British Association for the Advancement of Science)

Further food science ideas for the primary aged audience are presented in the ‘Food for Thought resource, downloadable at The BA

For secondary pupils, there are lots of great kitchen chemistry ideas available in the Salters Chemistry Club handbooks or in various publications produced by the Royal Society of Chemistry

Exploring the science:

The study of the properties of solid materials is known as ‘materials science’. The solid banana flesh has different properties to the outer skin - it takes a skilful materials scientist to work this trick!

Taking it further:

As you eat your pre-sliced banana you can comfort yourself with the knowledge that you are helping to ward off heart attacks because bananas are a rich source of potassium and low blood potassium levels have been linked to increased risk of stroke.
And as you munch, have a good look at the banana - it has no seeds, it is effectively ‘sterile’ - we can only grow new banana plants from cuttings. There has actually been a bit of a scare in the media about these seedless banana plants becoming extinct due to problems with banana diseases. It may well be that in the next decade, the banana you currently find in the shops will have to be replaced with other varieties of banana.
If you’re not very fond of eating bananas, then you can always make yourself a face mask. Mash a banana together with one egg yolk and 10ml of almond (or rose) oil and apply to face. Leave for 10 minutes, remove with clean water and gently dry skin. The fat molecules in the banana and oil form a temporary waterproof layer over the face giving your skin cells a chance to rebuild their moisture levels - leaving your complexion radiant!

Peel a banana and it’s ready-sliced for eating sounds impossible doesn’t it? But follow the instructions below and you can amaze your friends with the ‘new improved’ banana!

You’ll need:

Banana (or two!)
Large needle threaded with length of cotton (about 20cm)

What to do:

Select three ‘seams’ on your banana. Push the needle into seam number one and bring it out at seam number two. Go into the banana again very close to the hole the needle just came out of and bring the needle out at seam number three.
Repeat the operation i.e. entering the banana again at seam number three, and this time re-appearing at seam number one.
Take hold of the needle and the end of the cotton and pull together (this slices the banana inside the peel) and then pull the needle and thread free of the banana.
Repeat this process at intervals all the way down the banana - depending on how many slices you wish to divide the banana into. At this stage the holes made by the needle are so small that you won’t be able to see anything unusual on the outside of the banana (but leave the banana too long and the pierced skin will start going brown).

What happens:

Offer your banana to a friend, tell them it’s pre-sliced and watch their amazement as they open it up and the slices fall out!