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The Physics of Zero-G Whipped Cream

Posted by CmdrTaco on from the government-spending-at-work dept.

SpaceAdmiral writes "An experiment on the Space Shuttle Columbia has been analyzing your ice cream sundae. Or, rather, it looked at the phenomenon of 'shear thinning,' which explains why whipped cream comes out of the can like a liquid, but sits atop your sundae like a solid. The experiment actually involved shear thinning of xenon, a substance used in ion rocket engines, but whipped cream tastes better." I'm not sure it was cost effective to fly Herb Alpert & the Tijuana Brass into low earth orbit either, but hey, it's NASA — who am I to judge?

5 of 80 comments (clear)

  1. You know... by InMSWeAntitrust · · Score: 2, Insightful

    ...with only a fraction of a percent of the national budget NASA is making groundbreaking (not being sarcastic) research; Imagine the leaps and bounds they would make with late 1960's percentages. I personally can't wait to see some of the applications of the research still being done at the fund-starved NASA.

  2. Am I the only one by i+kan+reed · · Score: 1, Insightful

    Who noticed the summary is discussing Space shuttle columbia in the present tense? This seems pretty tactless

  3. Not Whipped Cream by John+Hasler · · Score: 3, Insightful

    > ...whipped cream comes out of the can...

    That's "dessert topping" (it may also be a floor wax). Whipped cream does not come in a can.

    --
    Warning: this article may contain humor, sarcasm, parody, and perhaps even irony. Read at your own risk.
    1. Re:Not Whipped Cream by ix42 · · Score: 2, Insightful

      "Ingredient: Cream. Propellant: Nitrogen"

      You just have to be careful which can you buy.

  4. who are you to judge.... by the+brown+guy · · Score: 3, Insightful

    but hey it's NASA, who am I to judge?
    A taxpayer...
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    Orbis terrarum est non altus satis