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We Finally Know Why Oil and Water Don't Mix

Posted by timothy on from the they-split-over-demi-moore dept.

CoveredTrax writes "Everyone knows oil and water don't mix. It's a simple concept, sure, but the hydrophobic interactions between fats and water are crucial to the mechanics of microbiology. The weird thing is, the base theories of chemistry suggest that there's no reason oil and water shouldn't mix, even though it's obvious that's not the case. Now there's an explanation: a team of chemical engineers at the University of California, Santa Barbara have defined an equation that measures a compound's hydrophobic character. It's the first such equation of its kind."

2 of 222 comments (clear)

  1. Re:how is baby formed by Reverand+Dave · · Score: 4, Funny

    Hey, if you're not part of the solution, you're part of the precipitate.

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    I got here through a series of tubes
  2. Re:I thought... by swanzilla · · Score: 3, Funny
    FTA:

    The model quantitatively accounts for the elastic strains, deformations, long-range forces, energy maxima, adhesion minima, as well as the instability (when it exists) as two bilayers breakthrough and (hemi)fuse. These results have several important implications, including quantitative and qualitative understanding of the hydrophobic interaction, and making Amish bread makers exercise more.

    Partial credit awarded.

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    0 = 1 + e^(Alt something)