Question: Why do socks enter the dryer in pairs but return as lonely individuals?

Our school science club tested three possible explanations. First, socks may stick to towels. Second, they may hide inside shirt sleeves. Third, and most exciting, the dryer may contain a tiny sock portal.

We placed ten pairs of socks in a clean dryer. Each pair had a small colored sticker. We also placed a notebook beside the machine and asked the dryer to report any suspicious activity.

After forty minutes, nineteen socks returned. One yellow sock was missing.

The towel theory failed. The sleeve theory also failed. Then we heard a soft bump from behind the machine. The missing sock was there, sitting next to two old coins and a candy wrapper.

Our conclusion is simple but disappointing: the dryer is probably not a portal. It is just very good at throwing socks behind itself.

However, one question remained. If the sock simply fell behind the dryer, why was it sitting neatly next to the coins and the candy wrapper?

Further research is planned next week. We will bring a flashlight, a ruler, and snacks for emotional support.