I didn't know that either. But I'm not 21. Hmmm.

Trinitie

We used to have these crazy worms last summer that my mom used for fishing. We kept them in the fridge for months but they never died, so they became semi-permanent residents of the top shelf, just to the left of the cottage cheese (which, by the way, I dislike). We had them from july until december when, as I was looking for something to eat, I happened upon the fact that the worms in the containtainer were not only dead but had now grown more hair than most gorillas. We threw them out and resisted the urge to have a funeral.

I didn't know the thing about cheese either. I'm still not quite sure if I know it.

~Dan

Really... i thought everyone knew that... i was beginning to feel like an idiot.

NOT!!!!!!

Thanks a mint Trin

Well, I don't know if that is entirely true. I guess it would depend on the cheese, but, I have seen hard cheese that is in that wax coating have mold on it. Mold on hard cheese can just be cut off. If soft cheese starts molding, then you should throw it out. However, blue cheese is actually like that because it had a mold grow on it. Considering that cheese has an active enzyme in it (rennet) I think that it would eventually mold no matter what you did with it.

Of course, we will really need to have cheese in space to test thoroughly.....

Isn't cheese just gone off milk?! I'm afraid that even though I have the lofty advantage of being 23 (compared to 21, or even 8...), I, too, do not know the answer. Will this question ever be answered in our lifetime?! Help!

Cheeeeeeeeese iiiiiiiiinnnnnnn spaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaace!!

Muggaz, does others not knowing that mold doesn't appear spontaneously on cheese (as life does not come from nothing) make you less naive? If that's the case, think about all those that believe that Moses parted the Red Sea. If being in similar company makes you not naive, then the same holds true for those who believe that Moses parted the Red Sea.

I dont know how you can compare some one not KNOWING the cheese mould situation to someone BELEIVING the red sea situation.

BAM!!!

Muggaz - Don't feel too bad - to us ENORMOUS human beings - mold does "appear" spontaneously.

Actually I don't know how spontaneous the mold is, prolly it's more predictable.

I dont know how you can compare some one not KNOWING the cheese mould situation to someone BELEIVING the red sea situation.

Because, any person who paid attention in grade school knows that life does not magically come from nothing. It's taught in elementary school science. It's also testable, unlike the Red Sea situation, which means that there's less room to argue against it. Of course, I guess you aren't naive for not knowing that life does not come from nothing, since others believe the same thing, but surely those people who believe the Red Sea thing (which, unlike the life coming from nothing belief, is not testable) are naive, even though others believe the same thing.

I now beleive in witches... LOL

Everytime I buy cheese I have to end up tossing part of it out because it get moldy. Maybe I'll try sealing the bag a bit more carefully from now on and see if it keeps any longer. But I didn't know this either. Thanks for posting the info. GCJ

Behold the power of cheese.

I didn't know that and I'm 25. I think I'm slow. I blame my science teacher. I'll buy some cheese tomorrow and test out this theory.

ply #10 By: Muggaz - 2/21/2004 2:15:39 AM I now beleive in witches...

As you should!   I actually have ancestors that were witches.  Mary Este and Rebecca Nurse.  Both were originally "Towne" sisters which was also my maiden name.  Of course, they were pardoned after they were hanged, so I guess it was OK   It's pretty odd to see a family tree that has "hanged for witchcraft" by some of the names.

Anyway, back on topic- Mold doesn't appear spontaneously.  Cheese becomes cheeses during an aging process.  It also has living enzymes in it (think yogurt) so, even if it is in an airtight container, it still will eventually mold.  Cheeses mold at different rates (depending on the cheese) and some even mold on purpose and are edible that way.  I doubt that any cheese packaging is 100% sterile and airtight.  It also depends on the moisture content of the cheese.  Cheese is just so complex.....

Oh seriously... you guys have dispelled all my fears of being Naive!

BAM!!!

(and Karma, i really do believe in Paganism... i just dont make that fact to advertised, because i would be labelled as insane by all the freaken conservatives around here)