Jam Jar Mystery - Neatorama

Boing Boing reader Tyler Bartlett has been trying to understand the odd air pocket in this jar of raspberry jam:

I know this looks like we turned this jam jar upside-down and popped in in the fridge. But we didn't. My roommate brought this to my attention yesterday, and we have no idea how or why the jam is doing this. It did the floating thing yesterday, and when we had it at room temperature for a minute or so, the jam started to fall to the bottom again. We took it out of the fridge today, and again it floats.

How would you explain this event?

Link

I would guess that it had previously been opened, some jam removed, and it was recapped while warm air was on top of the jam. When it chilled in the refrigerator, the jam contracted, and the trapped air cooled and contracted, pulling up the jam.

But I can't see any air at the top.

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Clearly the jam wants out. I wouldn't trust to open that jar.

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Eat it. Maybe you'll fly.

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I'm not buying it...why is there no liquid/juice in the bottom of the jar? I say HOAX

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Gas laws! Who remembers high school chemistry?

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Not another Flubber contamination! JAM RECALL!

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Demonic jelly I rebuke thee!

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The jam which was at the bottom actually went into another dimension through a portal, because the jar is a door.

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I think everyone is missing the obvious reality here-the jam is not changing states inside the jar, everything outside the jar is what is actually changing states and it only appears that it is happening inside the jar. (occams-razor, the simplist explanation tends to be true)

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It's magnets.

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Do not open that jar! It's the Blob.

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Botulism

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Given that the jam appears to go right to the top (there's usually a gap between the jam and the lid, right?) and in the absence of any evidence to the contrary (other than the word of the photo's submitter), I'd say they emptied some out, turned the jam jar upside down and put it in the fridge.

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Photoshop is so much fun. Pretty good job but not great. I can clearly see the patching. Back to school for you.

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Let's just call it a miracle. Clearly proof of The Devine.

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Uh, "Divine".

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The simplest explanation is that his roommate's playing a joke on him, turning the jar upside-down overnight and then right-side-up in the morning when the jam has cooled and set.

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Well, it is pretty obvious that the jam is with it so it is hip. It is moving inside the jar in sort of a hop up and down.

That would lead me to conclude that we have here can only be a Def Jam.

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grin

Loved the comments. Sorry, nothing new to add but knew there'd be some giggles here. ;)

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