What type of thermometer did the scientists make on the island?

The scientists actually made two thermometers. Firstly, a glass thermometer was constructed using methanol as the liquid. A very thin tube was made by heating glass in a furnace and then carefully stretching the molten glass. In order to calibrate the thermometer, we needed several known temperatures such as ice (0^oC/32^oF) or boiling water (100^oC/212^oF). We couldn't use either: there was a distinct lack of ice on our Caribbean island and methanol boils at 67^oC (153^oF) so would have completely evaporated by the time the water reached 100^oC. Instead we used sea water (which we guessed to be around 24^oC/75^oF) and room temperature (which we thought to be around 30^oC/86^oF in the lime factory).

Kathy's glass thermometer

The Rough Science resistance thermometer 

Major funding for Rough Science was provided by the National Science Foundation. Corporate funding was provided by Subaru.

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