This video looks like a freaky awesome kitchen chemistry experiment—but it's actually a trick. The cool thing? Even the trick has some nifty science going on behind it. Watch the video after the jump to find out what's really happening here.
ChemSpider Blog: A Well-Done Scientific Hoax Called 'Water Marbles'
(Thanks, Joanne Manaster!)
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This video looks like a freaky awesome kitchen chemistry experiment—but it's actually a trick. The cool thing? Even the trick has some nifty science going on behind it. Watch the video after the jump to find out what's really happening here. ChemSpider Blog: A Well-Done Scientific Hoax Call... More.
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Awesome, ionized salt and vinager! It's Sciense!
Really nicely designed hoax. It's cool enough that you want to tell people about it but just enough work that you're not going to be arsed to try it yourself.
I hate the millions of folks that always cry, "FAKE!", when they see a questionable video on the interwebnetz, but from the first clip in the hoax video, I knew what was going on. I recall seeing glass bowls and vases filled with these gummy-looking spheres on gaudy table top displays in various places. You should re-post this as a legit video and show the hoax and explanation after the jump. ;D
Iodized salt, not ionized. Also, Uniodized salt is fine. Iodine in salt is for health and not essential for the science.
Holy sh*t! That's the weirdest thing I've ever seen! Man, science is creepy sometimes.
can we use the words 'refractive index' in our 'rly happening' description plz?
My favorite part: At 1:03, with the word IODIZED in the background, this Einstein STILL hammers out "ionized".
From there, I'm dubious...then the explanation using the water's "polar hability" makes sure that you don't need to be a rocket surgeon to figure out the veracity of this one.
I once had a plant that was potted in stuff like this, in a glass container so you could see all the roots. Not sure if it was the same substance, this would have been nearly 20 years ago.
Also works with pyrex and vegetable oil (but not the light kind). Been using that in class for years.
Would this work with regular glass marbles in glycerin? I remember reading that glass disappears in glycerin because of the close indices of refraction, seems like it would apply to glass marbles as well.
No kidding. The video has other various caption errors (e.g. all of the sudden, they are talking about "calcium bicarbonate", when referring to the supposed sodium acetate they made from sodium bicarbonate).
Frankly, I don't consider this a "well-done science hoax". As hoaxes go, it's not actually done that well.
As far as the refractive index thing goes, it's definitely a fun science effect to play around with. Some may recall the Pink Panther cartoon episode in which Inspector Clouseau drinks a glass of water containing a diamond he's supposed to be guarding (including the diamond, of course!), but which had been stolen by the three-headed jewel thief and hidden in the water, taking advantage of the refractive properties of both. Great stuff! :)
I just sent this to my seven year old nephew. He is going to use the idea in his science class. Neat post- learning moment for many!
I just sent this to my seven year old nephew. He is going to use the idea in his science class. Neat post- learning moment for many!