Exploring Mummification with Hot Dogs

Introduction

Have you ever seen or heard of the movies "The Mummy" or "The Mummy Returns"? Mummies have often played a part in nightmares for Western cultures, but in ancient Egypt, mummification was a serious religious ritual thought to be necessary for a person to enjoy the afterlife. In this activity, you will learn about the science behind the process of mummification by mummifying a hot dog.

Credits

Materials

• Ruler
• Scrap piece of paper and pen or pencil
• Piece of string or yarn
• Paper towels
• Airtight plastic storage box with lid. Box must be at least 3 inches deep and longer and wider than the hot dog.
• Meat hot dog
• Baking soda, approximately 3 pounds from unopened packages. You will need enough to thoroughly surround and cover the hot dog in the box. Baking soda is also known as sodium bicarbonate.
• Optional: Disposable gloves