Trending with the hashtag—#broomchallenge, people around the world have posted their experiment featuring their independently upright brooms.
According to many internet users, National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) allegedly declared that brooms can stand on their own for one day only because the earth was "in perfect balance."
The mythic post is difficult to find—if it even exists—but millions of social media users ran with it anyway, eager to try the experiment at home.
And lo and behold...
@mikaiylaaaaa AYE I DIDNT BELIEVE IT AT FIRST EITHER 😂😂 https://t.co/zHTopEtKah— lito 👩🏾🚀 (@lito 👩🏾🚀) 1581378071.0
@mikaiylaaaaa @HighOffMemories Cap cap cap cap!!! https://t.co/lsfN7BOmLQ— 🏀⚾️🏈UNDRFTD🎾🏑🥊 (@🏀⚾️🏈UNDRFTD🎾🏑🥊) 1581368946.0
@mikaiylaaaaa i’m too entertained https://t.co/0ZmjyZWbx4— rie osei (@rie osei) 1581372961.0
@mikaiylaaaaa She just made me mad😂😂😂😂 Twitter this better not work tomorrow 🤣 https://t.co/5tfo91BwSE— THRILLA🅿️ (@THRILLA🅿️) 1581375020.0
Skeptics inquired about NASA's theory of the temporary trickery.
Live look at me trying to figure out if this NASA Broom-Standup thing is real or the internet has made me dumb https://t.co/1htwPF745N— Tangawizi (@Tangawizi) 1581376845.0
It turns out, the NASA rumor is a hoax.
CNN snuffed our childlike sense of wonder with a logical explanation.
"It has nothing to do with the earth's gravitational pull on a certain day. It also has nothing to do with the vernal equinox (another day of the year when this 'magic' supposedly happens)."
"Instead, it has everything to do with balance. The center of gravity is low on a broom, and rests directly over the bristles. Which means, if you can get the bristles positioned like a tripod, your broom will stand upright any day of the year."
You can try the broom trick any day of the year.
@NolfWigger it’s just basic physics it works on any day of the year— Xena Alexandra Gray (@Xena Alexandra Gray) 1581432593.0
@NolfWigger It is not a real thing. It has been a myth for almost 10 years . Brooms can stand up because of it cent… https://t.co/IP0wrFUY1t— A.L (@A.L) 1581384741.0
@NolfWigger It's just not something people ever try. balancing something depends on the center and direction of gr… https://t.co/QNf8gTXaGL— Bryan (@Bryan) 1581384904.0
WKYC Chief Meteorologist Betsy Kling commented on the global hoodwink.
"It's just balance. People think it's special because at what other point in your life would you stop and try to balance a broom."
MY VACUUM STOOD UP! It's amazing. Behold the power of 23.5° and the solar system and aliens and everything!… https://t.co/0xOoDS8RI8— Betsy Kling 🌤️ (@Betsy Kling 🌤️) 1581392060.0
@BetsyKling @wkyc https://t.co/rvrY2ASblt— D Mic (@D Mic) 1581392217.0
Despite getting bamboozled, people remained fascinated by the domestic wizardry and continued posting their broomstick "challenge."
@NolfWigger Super real😮 https://t.co/VBGJmHPb7y— EverythingOShauN 🌊 (@EverythingOShauN 🌊) 1581382752.0
@NolfWigger We'll find out tomorrow Cuz I'm shocked https://t.co/UnaxhHnpl8— I am the question AND the answer🧘🏽♀️💫 (@I am the question AND the answer🧘🏽♀️💫) 1581395037.0
However, not all brooms are created equal.
@NolfWigger I can’t even get my broom to lean against a corner without falling over.— Nicole David (@Nicole David) 1581385671.0
@NolfWigger i would if my broom wasn't this https://t.co/X4BbyMHUVf— grimes' garageband file⁷ (@grimes' garageband file⁷) 1581414835.0
@NolfWigger my broom is tilted af and stood up https://t.co/imos8H90dS— noodle headass (@noodle headass) 1581388976.0
And maybe, just maybe, autonomous brooms are a thing and we don't know it yet.
@NolfWigger I’m bout to leave my broom overnight maybe it’ll sweep the floor by itself😂 https://t.co/9EkkvqhXhY— Sandi💁🏾♀️ (@Sandi💁🏾♀️) 1581390965.0
@NolfWigger Is there a day of the year when you can get it to sweep the floor by itself?— BlueneckfromPH (@BlueneckfromPH) 1581388209.0
So you were duped. Brush away that frown!
Tomorrow is another day, and your brooms WILL continue to stand.
