
Bread Mold Growth at Three Temperatures
Medium
Does bread grow mold faster under a warm lamp or inside a cold fridge? Fungi need moisture and warmth to thrive. This project tests exactly how much temperature matters.
You cut three equal pieces of wheat bread and add a bit of brown sugar and water to each. One piece goes under a lamp at about 25 degrees Celsius. One stays at room temperature. One goes into the fridge at about 4 degrees Celsius. Each week you photograph and record the mold growth.
The warm sample grows fungi the fastest. The cold sample barely changes at all.
Hypothesis
The hypothesis is that warmer temperatures will cause the fungi to grow faster.
Method & Materials
You will prepare three pieces of non-preserved wheat bread, add 1 gram of brown sugar and 1 teaspoon of water to each piece, and place each sample in a separate plastic sandwich bag. One sample will be placed under a lamp at 25.5°C, one at 15.72°C in room temperature, and one in the refrigerator at 3.94°C. Every week, a picture will be taken and data will be recorded.
You will need non-preserved wheat bread, brown sugar, water, plastic sandwich bags, a lamp, and a refrigerator.
Results
The results of the experiment showed that the warmer temperature does cause the fungi to grow faster. A second experiment was taken with the same results, confirming the hypothesis.
Why do this project?
This science project is interesting because it explores how different temperatures can affect the growth of fungi, which can have implications for other organisms as well.
Also Consider
Experiment variations to consider include testing different types of fungi, different temperatures, and different types of food.
Full project details
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