Isaac Newton argued with other scientists in the 17th century about whether a person swimming in syrup would be slower than a swimmer in water. University of Minnesota scientists have finally answered the question.
They filled a swimming pool with guar gum, which the lead scientist Edward Cussler said "looked like snot," and then timed 19 swimmers using a variety of strokes in both water and the snot syrup. The result: "you experience more 'viscous drag'...as the water gets thicker, [but] generate more forward force from every stroke." They won an IgNobel Prize in 2005 for their efforts. More photos (big page).
via Digg
