Is a Grape Magnetic? Ask a Year 10 From Bristol

In the morning they talked to Years 7 to 11, in the afternoon to Years 3 to 6, and every explanation changed with the age of the audience. I have one explanation for everything, and it is “because I said so”, adjusted for volume.

In July 2021, under their teacher’s supervision, the team cooled a banana in liquid nitrogen, tapped it on a bell, and it rang. Then they hit it with a hammer and it shattered, and the Junior School children watching were delighted. Members usually train for a year; because of Covid, this group had two months. I have had two months’ notice of every nativity since 2017 and never once been ready.

In 2024–25 the team gave 28 shows in 22 primary schools. One teacher reported back: “It was 10 out of 10 from Tarragon class!” I have never been rated by a class named after a herb. I would take a seven.

Tilly took all this as a challenge. The show was on Sunday, in the kitchen. We have no liquid nitrogen, so the banana spent the night in the freezer. Tapped on the bicycle bell, it went thunk. Hit with the rolling pin, it did not shatter. It spread, in a radius, onto my husband.

Then the youngest put up his hand and asked whether a grape is magnetic. Three people looked at me.

I said it was because I said so.