# Exploding Jawbreaker Cruely Burns Child? LIKE FUCK IT DOES! **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [September 19, 2003, 12:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/exploding-jawbreaker-cruely-burns-child-like-fuck-it-does/202580 "2003-09-19T12:13:02Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![capacitor](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e47774/32.png) [@capacitor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/capacitor)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2003, 12:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/exploding-jawbreaker-cruely-burns-child-like-fuck-it-does/202580/61 "2003-09-20T00:25:21Z")
I think it maybe was a soda-like explosion reaction. ---
**Author:** ![Bryan\_Ekers](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bryan_ekers/32/183_2.png) [@Bryan\_Ekers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bryan_Ekers)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2003, 12:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/exploding-jawbreaker-cruely-burns-child-like-fuck-it-does/202580/62 "2003-09-20T00:33:39Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by AuntiePam \* > Who knew tomatoes had such great insulating value. That’s why I sleep with as many tomatoes as possible. Cherry tomatoes are especialy interesting. ---
**Author:** ![Gadfly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/aeb1de/32.png) [@Gadfly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gadfly)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2003, 12:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/exploding-jawbreaker-cruely-burns-child-like-fuck-it-does/202580/63 "2003-09-20T00:34:03Z")
A soda-like reaction that burned flesh? Ehh. ---
**Author:** ![NotMrKnowItAll](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/6bbea6/32.png) [@NotMrKnowItAll](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NotMrKnowItAll)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2003, 12:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/exploding-jawbreaker-cruely-burns-child-like-fuck-it-does/202580/64 "2003-09-20T00:52:04Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Bryan Ekers \* > \*\*That’s why I sleep with as many tomatoes as possible. > \*\* Ah yes, there’s nothing better after a night in the bar than to be packed in bed with two or three hot tomatoes…of course in the morning you discover “Three Dog Night” is a more appropriate description. ---
**Author:** ![Daikona](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/8baadc/32.png) [@Daikona](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Daikona)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2003, 2:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/exploding-jawbreaker-cruely-burns-child-like-fuck-it-does/202580/65 "2003-09-20T02:48:34Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by World Eater \* > \*\*FWIW my girlfriend is in med school right now, and she is not taught that. \*\* You been to see a doctor at a college clinic, or anwhere right in a college town, any time recently? I slipped on wet stairs and sprained my ankle, went to get it checked to make sure it wasn’t a fracture, and spent a half hour getting basically told I was lying when I claimed I wasn’t drunk at the time. Fast forward to the school I transferred to. I get a dizzy spell, which I have a history of, they start screaming at me about doing stupid things and running $400 worth of drug tests. All of which turn up negative. Which doesn’t result in an apology, it results in them assuming it was just something they didn’t catch and sent for a psychiatric evaluation at 5 am. Whether it’s officially taught in med school or not, it’s there. And it pisses me off. ---
**Author:** ![Palo\_Verde](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/65b543/32.png) [@Palo\_Verde](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Palo_Verde)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2003, 6:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/exploding-jawbreaker-cruely-burns-child-like-fuck-it-does/202580/66 "2003-09-20T18:01:52Z")
I was a married grad student and my husband was a post doc. I went to the university clinic for a pregnancy test. We had been trying to get pregnant for a few months, so I was thrilled with a big fat positive. But the doctors were so used to pregnancy being a tragedy, they kept referring me to an abortion clinic! When I pointed out that I wanted the baby, they told me to be sure I wasn’t being pressured into a decision I would regret. Doctors can be idiots and hear what they are used to, insted of what the patient is saying. ---
**Author:** ![Zenster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/cdc98d/32.png) [@Zenster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zenster)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2003, 10:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/exploding-jawbreaker-cruely-burns-child-like-fuck-it-does/202580/67 "2003-09-20T22:35:34Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Phnord Prephect \* > … HOW in HELL does a JAWBREAKER EXPLODE!!! … Rather easily, just ask Mike Tyson. > [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by AuntiePam \* > … Who knew tomatoes had such great insulating value. Jumping Jupiter! Didn’t your mother teach you to check their R-Factor when selecting tomatoes? ---
**Author:** ![Waenara](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/50afbb/32.png) [@Waenara](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Waenara)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2003, 10:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/exploding-jawbreaker-cruely-burns-child-like-fuck-it-does/202580/68 "2003-09-20T22:36:04Z")
From **tomndebb** ’s link: > [@](#): > > \*The child had taken the candy from the refrigerator/freezer about 4 p.m. Sunday and went outside. She said she licked the jaw breaker two or three times when it exploded. \* Interesting… given that all of the ideas given in this thread for how to explode a jawbreaker include heat - and lots of it. And BTW - who stores a jawbreaker in a fridge? I ate approximately several thousand jawbreakers as a kid, and neither I nor any of my friends ever stored candy in a fridge. (Except maybe chocolate in the summer). ---
**Author:** ![Waenara](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/50afbb/32.png) [@Waenara](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Waenara)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2003, 10:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/exploding-jawbreaker-cruely-burns-child-like-fuck-it-does/202580/69 "2003-09-20T22:37:24Z")
_Just thinking out loud here…_ Maybe someone had been “experimenting” with said jawbreaker in a microwave, and then put it in the fridge to cool off. But then she took it out of the fridge before it cooled off. That’s one possibility that kind of makes sense. ---
**Author:** ![bizzwire](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/958977/32.png) [@bizzwire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bizzwire)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2003, 11:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/exploding-jawbreaker-cruely-burns-child-like-fuck-it-does/202580/70 "2003-09-20T23:54:57Z")
Building on what **Waenara** said, what if parent of said person, recognizing an opportunity for a big, fat product liability lawsuit, neglected to mention the microwave portion when explaining to the cops what happened? ---
**Author:** ![Finagle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/b19c9b/32.png) [@Finagle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Finagle)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2003, 12:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/exploding-jawbreaker-cruely-burns-child-like-fuck-it-does/202580/71 "2003-09-21T00:16:32Z")
One more farfetched possibility – if the jawbreakers had been stored in the sun at some point, is it possible that a candy center could have formed a supersaturated solution? When such a solution finally crystallizes, it can be strongly exothermic (c.f. these handwarmer thingies [http://thermo-pad.com/handwarm.htm](http://thermo-pad.com/handwarm.htm)). I’d be astonished if this turned out to be the explanation, but wackier things have happened. ---
**Author:** ![Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bosda_di_chi_of_tricor/32/16845_2.png) [@Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosda_Di_Chi_of_Tricor)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2003, 12:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/exploding-jawbreaker-cruely-burns-child-like-fuck-it-does/202580/72 "2003-09-21T00:42:37Z")
I’ve checked both linked newsarticles, and I don’t see any references to microwave ovens in either of them. Only a freezer. How do you get burns from a hard candy that’s been in the freezer? BTW–I’ve lived in Florida, & putting candy in the freezer is a good idea, given the heat & humidity. ---
**Author:** ![Lord\_Ashtar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7ea924/32.png) [@Lord\_Ashtar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lord_Ashtar)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2003, 12:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/exploding-jawbreaker-cruely-burns-child-like-fuck-it-does/202580/73 "2003-09-21T00:43:29Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Bosda Di’Chi of Tricor \* > \*\*Oh, BTW–one of the big reasons child abuse goes on so often, is this “don’t accuse” crap. > > The kids would be better off if people were more open with their concerns. \*\* **Bosda** , your ignorance astounds me. Are you seriously suggesting that if a child has any kind of injury, no matter how minor or easily explained away, that the parents are guilty of child abuse until proven innocent? ---
**Author:** ![Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bosda_di_chi_of_tricor/32/16845_2.png) [@Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosda_Di_Chi_of_Tricor)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2003, 1:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/exploding-jawbreaker-cruely-burns-child-like-fuck-it-does/202580/74 "2003-09-21T01:00:55Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Lord Ashtar \* > \*\ ***Bosda** , your ignorance astounds me. Are you seriously suggesting that if a child has any kind of injury, no matter how minor or easily explained away, that the parents are guilty of child abuse until proven innocent? \*\* How is this child’s injuries “minor”? And if it’s so damned easy to explain, **you fucking explain it!** How _does_ a jawbreaker explode? HEY, EVERYBODY! **Lord Astar** is going to explain _the whole thing!_ :dubious: So tell us, **Ashie** --just why _did_ a hard candy explode such force that it seared her flesh so horribly? Assuming that it _was_ the jawbreaker, a patently absurd notion. The likelyhood of such a bizarre event happening is nowhere near as great as some sadistic bastard torturing his child with fire. On the one hand we have an absurdly unlikely event, so bizarre that nobody has ever heard the like. On the other, we have the possibility of child abuse, which is _documented_ in thousands of court cases every year. The fact that you are yammering nonsense in the name of “fairness” doesn’t impress. You are being so “open minded” that your brains are falling out. ---
**Author:** ![Bryan\_Ekers](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bryan_ekers/32/183_2.png) [@Bryan\_Ekers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bryan_Ekers)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2003, 1:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/exploding-jawbreaker-cruely-burns-child-like-fuck-it-does/202580/75 "2003-09-21T01:46:35Z")
Well, the answer is obvious. It’s not a jawbreaker at all, but a Happy Fun Ball, and the girl didn’t heed the warnings to run and cover her head when it started to smoke. ---
**Author:** ![Zenster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/cdc98d/32.png) [@Zenster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zenster)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2003, 5:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/exploding-jawbreaker-cruely-burns-child-like-fuck-it-does/202580/76 "2003-09-21T05:54:53Z")
I smmookke haaapppyy ffuunnn baaalllsss aallll thhheee ttiimmmee aannnddd nnoootthhhinnngg hhaaass eevveer haaappeennned tttooo mmeeee! ---
**Author:** ![KGS](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/90ced4/32.png) [@KGS](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KGS)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2003, 6:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/exploding-jawbreaker-cruely-burns-child-like-fuck-it-does/202580/77 "2003-09-21T06:05:29Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Bosda Di’Chi of Tricor \* > \*\*On the one hand we have an absurdly unlikely event, so bizarre that nobody has ever heard the like. > > On the other, we have the possibility of child abuse, which is _documented_ in thousands of court cases every year. \*\* Frankly, if I were to abuse my own child, I can think of a thousand more direct ways than to boobytrap some giant jawbreaker. Unless we’re talking about some major sociopath who’s thinking, “Ooh ooh I know! I’ll microwave this candy so it explodes in her face! NOBODY will ever believe I did it! Well, except that **Bosco** guy on SDMB, maybe…” Uh…does not compute. > [@](#): > > \*\*The fact that you are yammering nonsense in the name of “fairness” doesn’t impress. You are being so “open minded” that your brains are falling out. \*\* :rolleyes: Well, shit. Remind me, next time you’re accused of some crime, to tell the cops & the judge ENOUGH OF THIS FAIR-MINDED CRAP let’s bring on the executioner!!! Hey, we spend too much money on courts & lawyers as it is! ---
**Author:** ![Rilchiam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/2bfe46/32.png) [@Rilchiam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rilchiam)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2003, 12:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/exploding-jawbreaker-cruely-burns-child-like-fuck-it-does/202580/78 "2003-09-21T12:11:40Z")
Are there any witnesses to the explosion besides her parents? Anecdote: When I was in I think grade two, I would usually have a soft drink with my lunch. Well, you know how, when you open a can of pop (and this was back when you still peeled the tab right off), you always have that burst of _fizzzzzzzzzz…_? And then it settles down and you can drink it. Well, one day, it didn’t fizz when I opened it. It waited until just when I was taking my first sip. Ack! Faceful of diet cola! And nobody rigged it to do that, either, as far as I know. Some people laughed, but no one jeered the way they would if they’d made it happen, and no one looked guilty. I don’t think I’d left it unattended, anyway. And I hadn’t dropped it or shaken it or anything unusual. To this day, I don’t know what happened to cause that delayed reaction. But it was forceful enough to make me sneeze. ---
**Author:** ![Azael](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/a8b319/32.png) [@Azael](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Azael)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2003, 1:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/exploding-jawbreaker-cruely-burns-child-like-fuck-it-does/202580/79 "2003-09-21T13:45:21Z")
> [@](#): > > \*\*The fact that you are yammering nonsense in the name of “fairness” doesn’t impress. You are being so “open minded” that your brains are falling out. \*\* And the fact that you already have your noose ready when all you really know about the situation is what you’ve read online impresses **far, far** less. I don’t know what kind of personal issues you may have with child abuse; it seems like you are projecting those issues though. How does a jawbreaker explode? You got me, I haven’t had a chance for that experiment yet. However leaving it out in the heat for God knows how long might be a good start. Investigating whether abuse is a possibility is another avenue of course, but it’s zealots like you who split up the innocent as well of the guilty due to a little something called confirmation bias. ---
**Author:** ![Una\_Persson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/una_persson/32/346_2.png) [@Una\_Persson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Una_Persson)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2003, 2:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/exploding-jawbreaker-cruely-burns-child-like-fuck-it-does/202580/80 "2003-09-21T14:07:53Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by World Eater \* > \*\*FWIW my girlfriend is in med school right now, and she is not taught that. \*\* FWIW my ex SO was a doctor and while she was not taught to assume most patients are lying _per se_, it has been her experience that even under the most innocent circumstances people change their stories about injuries quite a bit - simply from mis-remembering or inability to communicate well, if nothing else. And when she worked in the low-income clinics which featured a lot of drug abusers as the patients, nearly all of them would lie about their injuries. The stories would change by the minute, starting with “I got this cut by tripping over a pew in church” and ending up with “OK, so the bitch stabbed me when I wouldn’t sell her a rock”. Since the assessment of injury and treatment might change depending on the nature of the event, she was encouraged to “get to the truth” in med school. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/exploding-jawbreaker-cruely-burns-child-like-fuck-it-does/202580.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/exploding-jawbreaker-cruely-burns-child-like-fuck-it-does/202580.md?page=5)