On Tue, 28 Dec 2004 10:58:35 -0500, Kevin J. Cheek wrote:

> It was going so well. I sterilized the jar and utensils, mixed in one cup
> of warm water (chlorine free) with one cup of whole wheat flour and set
> aside. After 24 hours the flour had settled, leaving dark water at the
> top, but there were some bubbles.
>
> Mixed, poured out one cup and mixed in 1/2 cup whole wheat flour and 1/2
> cup warm water. In 12 hours the mixture had doubled, with bubbles about
> 1/8 of an inch across throughout, and was floating atop a layer of water.
> The starter had a sour smell. Mixed, poured out one cup, mixed in 1/2 cup
> whole wheat flour and 1/2 cup warm water, and set aside again.
>
> Then nothing. After 12 hours there were no signs of bubbles. Mixed and
> waited 12 hours more. Nothing. Waited another 24 hours. Nothing.
>
> What happened?
>

Here is one hypothesis: whatever was growing in your concoction was killed
by a viral infection.

> - Kevin Cheek

--Mac