35,000 people are live-streaming world's longest-running lab experiment. It started 100 yrs ago in 1927
Started by physicist Thomas Parnell, the experiment has been running for nearly a century and still has a long way to go.
One of the crucial elements of experiments is patience. It is by waiting that we find some of the most extensive results. According to Science Alert, many scientists, researchers, and others have been waiting for nearly 100 years for one such experiment. The Guinness World Records calls it the world’s longest-running experiment. Started in 1927 by physicist Thomas Parnell at the University of Queensland in Australia, it aimed to test the viscosity of pitch, a derivative of tar. Parnell filled a funnel with what is reportedly the world’s thickest fluid and cut the stem to check the flow, initiating the record-making Pitch Drop Experiment. Over the past century, only 9 drops made their way out.
This right here is the world’s slowest experiment, called the pitch drop experiment, which has been going on for about 98 years.
— .stuff (@vintagestuff4) January 13, 2026
It was started by Thomas Parnell, who wanted to prove that pitch is a liquid and not a solid.
Every six to ten years, the pitch forms a drop and falls,… pic.twitter.com/EfUGYfjlwA
According to the University of Queensland, the material was put into the closed funnel and kept to cool and settle for three years. In 1930, Parnell finally cut the stem of the funnel and waited to see how it dripped. The interesting part is that, at room temperature, pitch feels solid and can be easily shattered with a hammer. Surprisingly, even at this stage, it is still fluid. It took eight years for the first drop to fall out of the funnel. It is 100 billion times more viscous than water, and it clearly shows. 40 years later, a total of five drops had fallen, and still, nearly 90 years later, eight drops make their way.
The ninth drop, the last as of present, fell in April 2014. Around 483 people saw this ninth drop descend in 2014 via live webcam, reported WION news. Scientists expect the 10th drop to make its way during this decade. After Parnell, physicist John Mainstone took over the watch. Though the project is live-streamed, some distractions cause many to miss the sight. Both Parnell and Mainstone were unable to witness the fruit of their work before they passed away. However, as the longest-running experiment, many enthusiasts are eager for its progress and are keeping watch.
Physics professor Andrew White has since taken over and is anticipating the 10th drop anytime soon. A clip shared by UQ Science revealed a glimpse from April 2012 to 2015, even showing the fall of the ninth drop. So why are so many esteemed scientists and laymen anticipating the fall of a drop? Over 35,000 people from 160 countries are tapping into the livestream to witness the moment the tenth drop makes its way, and there’s a reason. According to National Museums Scotland, a lot of people have been interested in understanding more about pitch.
Experiments were conducted as early as 1902 in Edinburgh at the Royal Scottish Museum workshop and in 1914 by Aberystwyth University, Wales. It started with physicist Lord Kelvin trying to understand the state of pitch around 1880. It was he who claimed that it is not solid but rather liquid. According to a study published by Frontiers in Psychology, a survey on 386 live-streaming viewers revealed how livestreaming gives a sense of “social presence.” The audience, though scattered across the globe, can coexist and find “psychological connection, and behavioral involvement” while collectively viewing experiments. Data shared by YouTuber Adam Connell revealed that there are around 12.3 million live streamers across various platforms.
Last year, around 28.5% users watched a live stream, and the numbers have since grown. According to data from Stream Hatchet, there has been a 12% year-over-year increase. Staying updated on the progress of something with a world record and having the opportunity to witness the moment live greatly brings motivation on a mental, cognitive, and emotional level. The social presence brings a sort of engagement that makes viewers feel like they’re a part of something grand. The study also found that satisfaction and curiosity levels remain piqued when there is social presence and interaction, which is made possible via livestreaming. So keep up to watch that tenth drop.
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