The scientists wanted to figure out how to estimate soil erosion on farmland using certain soil properties. They studied 36 different soils across the USA and found that very fine sand is crucial for predicting erosion values. They also discovered that slope steepness is important for predicting erosion on hills. By looking at soil texture and mineralogy, they came up with equations to predict erosion based on soil properties like sand, organic carbon, and slope. These equations were able to predict soil erodibility, but with varying levels of accuracy.