Do you score better on a test if you chew gum as you take it? What angle and length are most efficient for a wheelchair ramp? Which is more effective - dry or liquid detergent? Music gets you “pumped up” but does it actually improve athletic performance? And what insulation will keep your home the warmest this winter?

Those questions and many more were on the minds of middle school students as they designed the science projects featured at this year’s Science Fair. Students stood by their projects, explained their findings, defended their methods and answered questions.

By the way, you could score marginally higher if you chew gum while taking a test. For a 140 lb. person in a wheelchair, a 60” ramp with an incline of 13.5º is most efficient. Powder detergent works better than liquid, rap music makes you run faster, and foam insulation will keep your home the warmest.