Mixing the Unmixable

markthebrewer writes "From an article in the New Scientist: Conventional wisdom every 15 year-old knows says that you can't mix oil and water without some kind of surfactant. However a team lead by Richard Pashley from the Australian National University in Canberra have done it simply by first removing all dissolved gases from the water. Apart from the obvious potential improvements in salad dressings, it could have an impact on the manufacture of everything from drugs to paint - anywhere an emulsion is required. Apparently, it will also give some insight into the mysterious 'long-range hydrophobic effect' (or why oil droplets coalesce over surprisingly long distances)." Keep in mind the usual scientific caveat: this experiment doesn't seem to have been replicated by other experimenters yet.

Comments

hmm

[Mourgos]

Salad dressings.... I don't know about you, but I would never trust chemically engineered food. Don't eat anything that you can't make at home!!!!!!!! That includes chicken with no heads...:Pp

Re:Excuse me...

[stratjakt]

>> I did an science fair experiment with mixing oil and water and found I had to add soap to get them to mix. It was pretty cool.

No it wasnt.

Couldnt you wrap your head around the 'baking soda and vinegar' volcano theorem?

Re:A better headline:

[miyako]

mod parent up +1 funny