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Mad Scientist Invents Colored Bubbles

Posted by Zonk on from the bubbles-make-the-heart-float dept.

Anonymous Custard writes "Popular Science has a fascinating article up about toy inventor Tim Kehoe's quest to create colored bubbles. 'Chemical burns, ruined clothes, 11 years, half a million dollars--it's not easy to improve the world's most popular toy. ... It turns out that coloring a bubble is an exceptionally difficult bit of chemistry.'"

17 of 251 comments (clear)

  1. Giggling Geek by dada21 · · Score: 4, Funny

    My broad just told me I was smiling like a freak and asked what was so happy-inspiring.

    Who would have guessed bubbles can make a grown man giggle still?

    Great story. I digg.

    1. Re:Giggling Geek by rbarreira · · Score: 3, Funny
      My broad just told me I was smiling like a freak and asked what was so happy-inspiring.

      Who would have guessed bubbles can make a grown man giggle still?

      Well, I guess you're using the expression "grown man" in the broad sense...
      --

      The AACS key is NOT 0xF606EEFD628B1CA427BEA93A9CA9773F
    2. Re:Giggling Geek by dada21 · · Score: 3, Funny

      Thanks, Tom, err Tom's neighbor :)

      This guy is going to be a billionaire over this technology.

      Makes me think of the circle on the bar napkin. You know? For kids?

  2. Really? by SpiritGod21 · · Score: 3, Funny

    I can think of all kinds of chemicals (ingredients cheaply purchased at your local supermarket) that can make one see all kinds of different coloured bubbles...

  3. Wow by ApuD2 · · Score: 5, Funny

    "...Chemical burns, ruined clothes, 11 years, half a million dollars..."
    Sounds like Michael Jackson's life story.

    1. Re:Wow by wildsurf · · Score: 4, Funny

      "...Chemical burns, ruined clothes, 11 years, half a million dollars..."
      Sounds like Michael Jackson's life story.

      Not to mention the color change.

      --
      Weeks of coding saves hours of planning.
  4. Wow, awesome. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 3, Funny

    "Chemical burns, ruined clothes, 11 years, half a million dollars--it's not easy to improve the world's most popular toy."

    And yet, that never stops people from trying, does it?

    (Posted anon because I would like to have a political career someday)

  5. As a socially concerned geek... by Elrac · · Score: 5, Funny

    I'm deeply concerned about the rapid decline of species, about global warming, the limping economy, political corruption, the war in Iraq and the ever-shortening attention spans of

    OOH! COOL! COLORFUL BUBBLES!!

    --
    When one person suffers from a delusion, it is called insanity. When many people suffer from a delusion it is called Rel
  6. Comment removed by account_deleted · · Score: 4, Funny

    Comment removed based on user account deletion

  7. Re:He's not a Mad Scientist! by Scrameustache · · Score: 5, Funny

    That being said, this is EXCELLENT. Imagine possibilities like clothing that changes color depending on the soap you wash it with.

    Imagine?

    Ask your mom to put some bleach in your next color's wash, it's FUN! ;- )

    --

    You can't take the sky from me...

  8. I actually.. by Chickenofbristol55 · · Score: 5, Funny
    am a subscriber to popular science, so I read this article about a week ago. In the article it was kind of silly, because it was in the section of the "best of 2005", along with a super-advanced bionic arm, and the like. While it's a cool idea, it isn't even practical or useful (even as a form of entertainment). Here's how I think it went:

    Scientist 1 "Haha! I have done it!"

    Scientist 2 "What? Cured cancer...AIDS!?"

    Scientist 1 "No, much better!"

    Scientist 2 "Really? OMG What is it?!"

    Scientist 1 "I have created..... the first coloured bubble!!!"

    Scientist 2 "Your're a real jerk, Mark"

    Scientist 1 "True, but look at the pretty colours!"

    --
    public class null extends java applet { System.out.print ("Tabula Rasa"); }
  9. Re:He's not a Mad Scientist! by moosesocks · · Score: 5, Funny

    According to the article, he initially tried using nitric acid to color the bubbles because of its red color.

    The fact that he thought he could sell nitric acid as a child's toy I believe qualifies him as being legitimately crazy.

    --
    -- If you try to fail and succeed, which have you done? - Uli's moose
  10. Noxious gases? by whitehatlurker · · Score: 3, Funny
    He's had to evacuate his family because he filled the house with noxious fumes.

    Beans at the Kehoes' for supper, again?

    --
    .. paranoid crackpot leftover from the days of Amiga.
  11. Re:He's not a Mad Scientist! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 4, Funny

    I love how it's a given that mom is doing my laundry.

  12. Amazing range of experimental ingredients... by suitepotato · · Score: 4, Funny

    Tim Kehoe has stained the whites of his eyes deep blue.

    It seems he even tried using melange. I am impressed.

    --
    If my grammar and spelling are off, I am [distracted/tired/careless] (take your pick)
  13. Blue eyes by JazMuadDib · · Score: 5, Funny

    Come ON you guys. The man turned the whites of his eyes blue. BLUE. And you think of bubbles! For shame! Have you not considered that he may be the Kwisatz Haderach?

  14. Re:Where can I invest a few bucks???? by CrazyJim1 · · Score: 4, Funny

    Even after 1999, we have people who want to invest in a bubble market.

    --
    God spoke to me.