Water bridge created with high voltage

Physicist Elmar Fuchs and his colleagues from Graz University of Technology are investigating why water, when exposed to high voltages, forms this strange liquid bridge as the liquid moves from one beaker to another. They published their research in the Jouranl of Physics D: Applied Physics. The water bridge was cylindrical with a diameter of 1 to 3 mm and spanned as much as 25 mm. From PhysOrg.com:

The group’s analyses have shown that the explanation may lie within the nature of the water’s structure. Initially, the bridge forms due to electrostatic charges on the surface of the water. The electric field then concentrates inside the water, arranging the water molecules to form a highly ordered microstructure. This microstructure remains stable, keeping the bridge intact.

Link to Physorg article, Link to the scientific paper (Thanks, Sean Ness!)

[#1 posted by Darth Paradox , October 1, 2007 4:47 PM]

Here's the missing Physorg.com link.

[#2 posted by Umbriel , October 1, 2007 6:32 PM]

So _that's_ how those aliens did it in The Abyss...

[#3 posted by dculberson , October 1, 2007 7:17 PM]

Did it smile at them?

[#4 posted by David Pescovitz , October 1, 2007 7:37 PM]

Thanks, Darth. Duh!

[#5 posted by Otto Dye Dacked , October 1, 2007 11:50 PM]

Russian Water Tentacle for the win!

[#6 posted by mdhatter , October 2, 2007 6:39 PM]

If it explains The Abyss, it must have something to do with the Stargate too.

[#7 posted by Bill Beaty , October 2, 2007 6:39 PM]

This phenomenon has been known for a century, under the name "Wasserfadden." From a very old book (which I don't have the reference!), the instructions were like this:

Connect two full glasses of water to the two terminals of a Wimshurst electrostatic generator. Connect the rims of the glasses with a silk thread about .5cm long. Crank the generator and a bridge of water begins flowing along the thread. The silk thread will be driven out of the bridge, leaving an unsupported "water thread" connecting the two glasses. Dye placed in one glass will flow through the core of this bridge, and dye placed in the other glass will flow on the outside of this bridge (I don't recall which polarity is center and outside though.)

[#8 posted by Bill Mister , November 4, 2007 5:48 PM]

I work with D.C. voltages up to thirty thousand volts on a regular basis. The power supply can only deliver up to 300 microamps. Would this be enough current in order for me to replicate the water bridge demonstration? [e-mail]