Science Buddies: "Ask an Expert"

Hello, I recently made some nutrient agar with a Science Buddies recipe (https://www.sciencebuddies.org/science- ... emedia.pdf). Once I swabbed the surface and closed the top, the nutrient agar solution started the liquify. Will the experiment still work? Additionally, what can I do to make sure this doesn't happen again? Thanks so much!

Dear ScienceLoversUnite,

I think that you will get inaccurate results using a solution in a liquid state because the gelatin solution is not supposed to lose its solidness. There is another recipe that I found on the Internet that might help you. This is the link to it: https://www.stevespanglerscience.com/la ... -bacteria/. It includes step-by-step instruction and a video.

I hope this is helpful.

RicaC