Teen Scientist Debunks Theory on Hakone's Famous 'Black Eggs'

A 15-year-old boy named Rintaro Kimura debunked the theory behind the black shells of "Kuro Tamago" black eggs in Hakone's Owakudani hot springs. Previous theories suggested that volcanic gases caused the darkening, but Rintaro's experiments revealed that the black substance is actually an organic melanoidin created by the Maillard reaction. The melanoidin reacts with sulfur in the hot springs, forming a rubber-like coating on the eggs' shells. Rintaro's findings were published in a scientific journal, and he expressed gratitude for the support of leading researchers in his pursuit of knowledge.