Stuff You Should Know Short Stuff: Mood Rings
May 17, 2023
Dive into the fascinating history of mood rings, those trendy accessories that captured hearts in the 1970s. Discover how they were linked to emotions and the cultural phenomena of their time. Explore the science behind mood rings, including the thermotropic liquid crystals that react to body temperature. Learn about their ambiguous effectiveness in reflecting true feelings and the amusing tales they evoke from nostalgic fashion trends. What color does your mood ring show today?
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Mood Ring Fad
- Mood rings were a 70s fad, selling 40 million units in mere months.
- Like pet rocks and key parties, they quickly vanished from popularity.
Mood Ring Origins
- One origin story credits Josh Reynolds, a stressed Wall Street worker turned biofeedback advocate.
- Reynolds' Q-Tran Limited offered mood rings for feedback and promoted meditation.
Alternative Origin
- Jeweler Marvin Wernick also claimed invention, inspired by a doctor using thermotropic tape.
- He envisioned measuring body temperature through color-changing jewelry.