Naked Science Forum
General Science => General Science => Topic started by: Karsten on 13/05/2012 01:58:56
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I am not sure if this is the right place to post this. It might be scientific enough though to qualify for this section.
I need to create 12 buckets full of gross stuff and would like your input on how to make them.
It needs to be about 4 gallons/16 liters per bucket. It should be harmless for the hands, non-toxic, not stain clothes, and be relatively cheap to make from common items one may find in a grocery store. In the end it can be a mix of things and the more revolting it looks or smells the better. I envision the majority of the contents of the bucket to be really slimy and thick. It should ooze of the hands. There can be chunks in there too.
Thank you for you "input".
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What are your goals?
Just basic compost?
Talk to your local cafeteria or store to get donations towards your compost effort.
Do you have any local hog farms? You might ask them if they would have anything "revolting". [xx(]
Meat and vegetable wastes can generate different smells.
Also, keep in mind that while you are growing your composts, you may also be able to collect some nice crawly things like maggots [:o]
Once you're done with your experiment, be to recycle it in your garden [;D]
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Slimy is good. Some of the thickeners that go into jams and pie fillings might work well. If you include some edible chunks of marshmallow, or diced fruit, you can emphasize the grossness by sticking your hand into it and shoving some of it into your mouth.
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The gunge that is widely used on television is an industrial powder thickener called Natrosol.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gunge
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What are your goals?
The goal is to create buckets for of gross stuff for teenagers to reach in an retrieve certain items as fast as possible. I hope to compost the stuff afterwards. The mix can't be dangerous or so disgusting that someone might think it is dangerous. Maggots and discarded food are lovely but probably over the top for my purpose.
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Slimy is good. Some of the thickeners that go into jams and pie fillings might work well. If you include some edible chunks of marshmallow, or diced fruit, you can emphasize the grossness by sticking your hand into it and shoving some of it into your mouth.
What do you call the stuff that thickens jams and such? Pectin? Does one have to heat up the mix for it to work? I am talking about 240 liters of liquid and I would prefer to not have to have to boil all of it. I love the fruit idea. Even dried fruit is good. Left in the mix for a while it turns soft and squishy. Marshmallows are great too.
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The gunge that is widely used on television is an industrial powder thickener called Natrosol.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gunge
Interesting. Thanks. I assume local grocery stores don't have it readily in stock.
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No, but the DIY store might.
Some wallpaper pastes are based on the same stuff.
Add some food dye and you are well on the way.
The problem with stinky things is that they are often toxic. You can try onions.
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No, but the DIY store might.
Some wallpaper pastes are based on the same stuff.
Add some food dye and you are well on the way.
The problem with stinky things is that they are often toxic. You can try onions.
Wallpaper paste, that is it! Cheap and readily available. Is there anything I should not mix with it as it will prevent it from getting gooey? I mean if I mix sour cream and onion and vinegar with it, will that mess it up? I assume few people have tried this, but chemists may be able to tell by just reading the ingredients.
Thanks!
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I think that there's often fungicides in wallpaper paste, you'd have to be a bit careful.
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I think that there's often fungicides in wallpaper paste, you'd have to be a bit careful.
Quite right. Almost all wallpaper paste has fungicide.
Try cheap rice boiled to the point of no return in varying concentrations or pearl barley. You could ask your local grocer/supermarket for veg & fruit beyond its best to mix in for added yuk. Cucumber & courgette go nice and slimy, tomato, onion, leek & bruised apple, pear etc.
Alternatively, stand outside your local curry house about an hour after the pubs have closed with buckets at the ready. Most unpleasant.
Extra thought, try grass mowings once they have had a few days to rot.
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I think that there's often fungicides in wallpaper paste, you'd have to be a bit careful.
People are not fungi.
It's not a brilliant idea to get these materials on your skin, but they are not going to kill you.
And I think the hydroxyethylcellulose type gels used in wallpaper paste are fairly stable- they will cope with a bit of vinegar. Vinegar isn't good for your skin/ eyes either but, because it's "natural" nobody worries about it , unlike the fungicide. Similarly, though moulds and fungi produce some of the most toxic chemical known to man, people are happy to advocate " You could ask your local grocer/supermarket for veg & fruit beyond its best to mix in for added yuk "
Boiled flour and water paste will also work a bit, but I think wallpaper paste is more slimy.
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I still like the idea of the bucket of well-aged compost, hog manure (or hog slop), wiggling maggots, & etc. You could also get some earthworms from your local bait shop, or a bucket of bait fish.
Most stuff isn't too bad as long as you provide facilities to wash it off, although some things like manure may leave a lingering smell.
Keep in mind that many people compost. In a rural setting, people shovel manure. Fishermen bait with worms, or small fish. And, people eat sardines.
These might get the shock factor, but they really aren't that bad, at least if you aren't eating the live maggots.
As BC mentioned, there are some toxins in mold, but it is a minority of pathogens that infect humans, zoologic species, and are found in the environment. Did I say restaurant waste? Perhaps compost from new grocery store waste would be safer.
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How about rotten unboiled eggs! They're pretty gooey, non toxic and smell disgusting!
you could maybe even get them for free at some places?
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How about rotten unboiled eggs! They're pretty gooey, non toxic and smell disgusting!
you could maybe even get them for free at some places?
How about a rotten egg in the shell.
With a task that has a 90% chance of rupturing the egg and getting it on one's hands. I suppose it depends on how many people are doing it as the setup and cleanup might be a pain.
I'm thinking of a blind box with a bunch of eggs sitting on pedestals. One must blindly reach into the box and retrieve something from the back without knocking over the pedestals and breaking the eggs.