Here are 5 of the 6 Alkali metals reacting to air and water. When reacting to air, the metals seem to simply change color, but when they touch water, each one becomes a small explosive. [via]
Water droplets bounce on the surface of water
November 9, 2009 @ 9:04 pm
At 2000 frames per second, this video shows a droplet of water bouncing on top of the surface of liquid that it touches. According to science, this happens because there is a very thin layer of air between the droplet and the surface of the water which gets pushed out as the weight of the droplet pushes downward. When the air between the droplet and the surface gets squeezed away, the water droplet pops and the resulting wave on the water pushes the droplet upwards causing it to bounce. This happens several times until the water droplet is small enough to be absorbed by the water. [via]
MY MIND IS BLOWN.
Our Blue Sun
November 4, 2009 @ 7:10 pm
Today’s Astronomy Picture of the Day is a wonderful photo of a blue Sun (our Sun). The photo is converted blue to highlight the rapidly moving gases that end up looking like bristles on a carpet.
The description on the photo is particularly interesting, mainly this part:
Our Sun glows because it is hot, but it is not on fire. Fire is the rapid acquisition of oxygen, and there is very little oxygen on the Sun. The energy source of our Sun is the nuclear fusion of hydrogen into helium deep within its core. No sunspots or large active regions were visible on the Sun this day, although some solar prominences are visible around the edges.
I have always thought of the Sun as an object that was on fire, but now it actually makes sense to read that the sun is almost never on fire. It’s just very hot.
Superior Motion Control robots by ABB Robotics
October 19, 2009 @ 11:34 pm
Using 3 independent robots, ABB Robotics was able maneuver a pin between a set of 6 cans of soda with just 1mm to spare between the pin and the cans. Mind you, this is all done while the three independent robot arms are swinging wildly in space. According to ABB Robotics, the path of the pin between each can is speed-independent, which means that each arm can move at its own pace without really screwing up the other. [via]
Sea mucus poses threat to life in the sea
October 15, 2009 @ 11:34 pm
Sea bacteria like this which resembles a thick mucus membrane is becoming more and more common, and scientists fear that its spread could cause danger to sea animals and humans alike. The sea mucus can potentially carry E.Coli and is sometimes so thick that it actually suffocates fish. [via]
Melting steel with sunlight
October 10, 2009 @ 8:57 pm
This is incredible. Imagine if somebody had accidentally waved their hand in front of that beam of light. [via]
Support this site
