July 26. “Button, what comes first—the chicken or the egg?”

“The egg, obviously. Chicks hatch from eggs. This is one of the simplest riddles you’ve asked me in a while.”

“Wrong. It’s now official that the chicken comes first.”

“How is that possible?”

“A team from the University of Sheffield and the University of Warwick has found that a protein called ovocleidin (OC 17) is crucial in the formation of egg-shells. It is produced in the pregnant hen’s ovaries. This protein acts as a catalyst, kick-starting the conversion of calcium carbonate in the chicken’s body into calcite crystals. These make up the hard shell that houses the yolk and other fluids while the chick develops.”

“I am still not convinced.”

“I am no expert either but if scientists have discovered this, it’ll stand on its feet till someone disproves it.”

“I guess. But where does the chicken come from?”