5 Sod's Law Annoyances That Have Scientific Explanations

Sod's Law: The universal principle of "If it can go wrong, it will go wrong". The law is a true tribute to the infinite depth and complexity of the inherent negativity of the human race, and the truly held belief that anything, at any point in time, is mere seconds from being ballsed up.

Who hasn't ever hit every red light when in a rush, headed to the beach on the one rainy day in July, or thrown wine down a new shirt on a first date? Of course, life is full of ups and downs, but why does it always seem to go totally wrong that the absolutely most inconvenient moment?

Whilst most examples of Sod's Law are a simple demonstration of "life's a bitch, and then you die", there are a few examples that have legitimate, scientific explanations and therefore (hopefully) legitimate, scientific solutions. Knowledge is power and, once you know the cause of your seemingly terrible luck, you can use it to your advantage and once more become the master of your fate and the captain of your soul.

Or just be satisfied in the knowledge that you're not being punished for a past life by the universe, it's just science.

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.