5 Sod's Law Annoyances That Have Scientific Explanations

5. The Toast Does Always Land Butter Side Down

According to a troupe of scientists who presumably had nothing better to do, toast dropped from the height of the average table or person's hand is 81% more likely to land butter side down.

The height from which toast is usually dropped, and the angle at which toast is usually held, allows enough time for it to make half a rotation as it falls, resulting in it landing on the buttered face more often than not. The idea that the buttered side of the toast would be heavier appears to be false as most of it soaks straight through the bread anyway, but buttering one side does alter the surface texture, therefore causing an imbalance on the amount of drag it creates.

So how to prevent it? Well, scientists have calculated that toast dropped from a height of around three metres would have enough time to complete one full rotation and land butter side up. Alternatively, you could hold the toast in your hand with the buttered side facing downwards so that, should tragedy strike and you drop it, the toast will make half a rotation and land butter side up. Finally, if you butter your toast too vigorously the edges will curve upwards. The curved shape will change how the toast rotates in the air and it will be more likely to land butter side up.

So, eat at a table suspended from the ceiling, hold your toast like a heathen, or completely destroy it.

Or you could just keep a better grip on your breakfast.