It seemed like a great day to test an old idea: If it gets hot enough, you can fry an egg on a sidewalk.

It was 106 degrees in the parking lot of the Democrat-Herald shortly after 3 p.m. Wednesday.

Online Editor Graham Kislingbury brought an egg from home. News Editor Kim Jackson cracked it, not on a sidewalk but on the parking lot pavement near the main entrance.

The "frying" location wasn't level, so the egg ran down hill. And so did the experiment.

A number of staffers waiting to watch the egg sizzle left after a few minutes. Raw egg is all they saw. Only the bystanders were getting fried by the heat.

Kislingbury brought out a cone to protect the egg, after everyone went back inside.

Two hours later, Jackson returned, with spatula, to inspect. It was now 107 degrees - and a short while later, the parking lot thermometer reached the day's high of 108.

The egg white remained clear, but the entire egg was somewhat firm.

"No frying occurred," Jackson declared. "It looks like vulcanized rubber."