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The effects of microgravity on the fermentation of honey using yeast. Co-Principal Investigators: Jacob boeschel , Elizabeth Bates, Peyton adelmann Co-investigators : d eandre curry , Alex Martin , Anthony Watson , Lance winemiller , Jaycee vance collaborators :
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The effects of microgravity on the fermentation of honey using yeast Co-Principal Investigators: Jacob boeschel, Elizabeth Bates, Peyton adelmann Co-investigators: deandre curry, Alex Martin, Anthony Watson, Lance winemiller, Jaycee vance collaborators: Brittany Jarboe, mirandastrane-harris
Practical Uses of Alcohol • Antiseptics • Beverages • Fuel
Can alcohol be made in space? • Yes, previous successful experiments have used grape juice in microgravity fermentation. • However, no significant difference in alcohol production was observed between microgravity and Earth's gravity. • Our experiment uses honey in hopes of a greater difference between earth-bound and microgravity alcohol production.
Why Honey? • Grape juice has low viscosity, which may explain why there were inconclusive results. • Since honey is very viscous, it should show more of a significant difference in the production of alcohol in the two environments.
Experimental Design • Independent Variable: amount of gravity • Dependent Variable: percentage alcohol content by volumes (%ABV) • Constants: contents of tube
Basic Methodology • A 1:1 honey/deionized water solution was heated to ensure it was homogenized. • Clamp A was clamped to the FME tube. Yeast was placed in the FME tube's center section. Next, we clamped Clamp B to the tube, sealing off the center section. Then, we placed the honey/water solution in the tube on one side of the yeast. That side was then sealed off with a stopper. Lastly, formalin was placed in the other side, with a stopper placed on that side as well.
FME Tube • Volume 1: honey/water solution • Volume 2: yeast • Volume 3: formalin
Clamp A will be unlatched upon arrival. The FME tube will then be shaken vigorously, mixing the honey/water solution and yeast. • Two days before departure, Clamp B will be unlatched. The contents will then be shaken vigorously, mixing the formalin with the rest of the contents.
Data Collection and Analysis • The diluted product will be analyzed using a refractometer. • % of Alcohol by volume will be determined by using Brix scale.
Data Collection and Analysis • Previous trials produced %ABV that was immeasurable by refractometer. • 10-fold dilution will be used to create samples that are measurable by the refractometer.