Curious Cases 1. Space Bubbles
Oct 12, 2024
Dr. Helen Czerski, an oceanographer and physicist, and Dr. Justin Burton, a physicist focusing on giant bubbles and fluid mechanics, dive into the whimsical world of bubbles. They explore how to make colossal bubbles, including the feasibility of encasing the Earth. Fun anecdotes reveal NASA's role in bubble record-breaking and the chemistry behind stable bubbles. The duo also investigates bubbles in zero gravity as a potential climate solution, showcasing their vital role in oxygen absorption and carbon dynamics in oceans.
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Dr. Awesome's Record Bubble
- Gary Perlman, also known as Dr. Awesome, holds the record for the largest free-floating bubble.
- A NASA director even took a day off to witness and calculate the bubble's volume.
Guar Gum for Giant Bubbles
- Use guar gum to create giant, long-lasting bubbles.
- This ingredient makes the bubble mixture stretchy and resistant to breaking.
The Science of Guar Gum
- Long polymers in guar gum act like chains with hooks, resisting stretching and creating stability.
- These entangled molecules allow the bubble film to stretch without breaking easily.