It's in the jeans

Charles Trautmann, adjunct professor of civil and environmental engineering and director of the Sciencenter, prepares a demonstration July 13 to open the museum's new exhibit "Clothing: Science Head to Toe," which runs through Oct. 25. In the demonstration, seven pairs of blue jeans -- and then fewer pairs in each successive try -- were able to lift a 3,500-pound Volvo off the ground. The fabric gave way and the car dropped when one pair of jeans remained. Nicola Kountoupes/University Photography