... to empirically evaluate if we could!

We, as scientists, want to challenge the nature of reality, redefine what it means to be human and expand the mental borders of the universe! And sometimes we just want a nice splash and lots of foam. Cool explosions are good, too.

Panel 1:
We see an empty chair in front of a desk with a microphone.
?: The high court calls the next witness. ... Prof. ... Owl ... Prof. Owl, please take the seat.
Panel 2:
Prof. Owl sits on the chair.
?: Prof. Owl, is it true that you applied for a research grant last year, to blast the old water tower with an electromagnetic shockwave?
O: Yes, one that mimics natural cosmic shockwaves to see if it would withstand ...
Panel 3:
?: ... and is it true that your grant application was denied, as the operation was deemed too risky?
O: Unfortunately, yes.
Panel 4:
?: Then why was exactly that water tower, which was repurposed as storage for a cola factory, blasted with exactly the kind of shockwave you described in your proposal, making it crack and release its content into the nearby Mentos factory?
Panel 5:
O: sweating Well ... coincidences happen, you know? There’s no harm in that being the official story, I mean, think of what it would do to ... the public opinion of science, if you ... Oh! And also ...
?: yeeees ...
Panel 6:
O: Scientist from Birdmingham were also involved. Do you really want to make this an international matter?
?: Case dismissed.
O: Whew.