Why, if an unfastened duvet cover is put into a washing machine, does it bag up all the other items in there to be washed?
Garry Trethewey
Arkaroola Wilderness Sanctuary,
South Australia
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It is a stochastic process with a filter. Imagine a modified pool table with 10 balls, oscillating sides and a single pocket in the middle. The balls would move around randomly, but, now and then, one would fall into the pocket. This can give the impression of some sort of intentionality 鈥� 鈥渢he thing that makes balls collect in the pocket鈥�.
Your duvet cover is like that. Imagine chucking socks at it from random directions. From the right (for example), they will collect in the bag; from the left, they won鈥檛.
Peter Coates
Yukon, Canada
Everyone knows that duvet covers are the apex predators of the washing machine ecosystem.
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