h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

If you put a bit of marmite on a plate and then tap it with a spoon many many times it will turn white.

Just thought you would like to know.

Cyclops

I wonder why? Maybe it's because you're trapping air bubbles in the substance? Does the marmite gain in volume as it gets lighter? If so, that would support my thesis, if not, it wouldn't.

I don't know I just know that it gets lighter. I am no scientist.

I read an article somewhere many years ago about this - apparently it also improves the flavour!

I didn't know that but I mite try it when I can find my Marmite

Hummm

I tried this and didn't notice any change.

But then maybe that's because I was already using a white plate. Presumably I’d need to use a plate which was glazed a different colour, to start with. Say maybe blue, or yellow. Unfortunately I see little point, or use, as invariably white plates are cheaper than coloured ones. If repeated tapping turned a white plate into rich red, or lush green, you may be onto something.

Unless of course I’ve got the wrong end of the stick, and you mean the spoon. Now that would be a party trick!

Surely this is a fact of national importance ?
Scientific studies should be undertaken to investigate this phenomenon !
If someone would be prepared to fund it I am happy to undertake doctoral research in this area ! (of course, should the Nobel prize be awarded to this research I would gladly share it with the funder).

Of course you could just paint the plate. Or may be use marmite itself and then let it dry (Too speed this process up use a blow torch). Then try it again but then again you could just borrow some one else plate, tell them you want to turn it white if they don't like the idea take it anyway they won't know the diffence.

Yeah good idea

I'll fund you I have 1.2.3.4.5.6.7.8.9.10
10p will that do if not I will try again to raid the sofer.

10 pence ???
I can't undertake doctoral research for any less than 26p
That's telling you !!

Raided the sofer.
Found 16p
plus the 10p from before
equals 26p, yeah I can how fund the research.
Where do I send the cash

Look - 26p would not even buy a single jar of marmite - much less fun me for 3 years lying in bed till 3 and watching daytime TV. Come back when you've got more than £3.21

Apparently, you can also add it to mead as a yeast nutrient. This strikes me as a very British thing to do, but (in a Pythonesque moment of idle thought) if it were Marmite-hating yeast, you could find yourself colonised by angry little fungus cells.
Uuuuurgh.