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Electricity Gives Bubbles Super Strength

Posted by samzenpus on from the under-the-bubble dept.

sciencehabit writes "Left to its own devices, a bubble will weaken and pop as the fluid sandwiched between two thin layers of soap succumbs to gravity and drains toward the floor. But when researchers trapped a bubble between two platinum electrodes and cranked up the voltage, the fluid reversed direction and actually flowed up, against the force of gravity. The newly strong and stable bubbles could live for hours, and even visibly change colors as their walls grew fatter. Because soap film is naturally only nanometers thick, this whimsical experiment could help scientists create more efficient labs-on-chips, the mazes of nanotunnels that can diagnose disease based on the movements of a miniscule drop of blood."

15 of 66 comments (clear)

  1. Anti gravity applications? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 4, Interesting

    Some washing up liquid bottles, sticky back plastic and Sellotape, Blue Peter were way ahead of their time, they just omitted the platinum electrodes and high voltage!

    1. Re:Anti gravity applications? by chronokitsune3233 · · Score: 2

      I thought about antigravity as well, though your reference is lost on me. I'm currently imagining Back to the Future II cars...with bubbles on the bottom. The world will be cleansed...by bubbles. Of course that means there will be people who instead of walking will take the aerobus, so there will need to be bubble shelters where people can avoid the bubbles while waiting for it. After all, who wants to walk into work with sticky clothing, hair, etc.?

      --
      I have been a captive in America my entire life. Everybody and everything uses customary units instead of metric.
    2. Re:Anti gravity applications? by Coisiche · · Score: 5, Informative

      The reference is to a British children's TV program called Blue Peter. Many decades ago, when I watched it, it would frequently feature construction projects where required materials were almost always an empty washing-up liquid bottle, sellotape and sticky-backed plastic. The last one being hard to come by in Aucherterarder; the target audience was clearly city kids.

    3. Re:Anti gravity applications? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Insightful

      Someone want to translate this cryptic passage to English?

      The irony is that it is in English.

      What you want is a translation to American.

    4. Re:Anti gravity applications? by Canazza · · Score: 4, Funny

      Posh bastard!

      We used brown wrapping paper and had to like it.

      Oh what I would have given for some sticky back plastic to cover our books with!

      --
      It pays to be obvious, especially if you have a reputation for being subtle.
    5. Re:Anti gravity applications? by L4t3r4lu5 · · Score: 2

      sellotape and sticky-backed plastic

      They are the same thing; Sellotape is a brand, and couldn't be named on the BBC. The third item you're missing is toilet / kitchen rolls :)

      --
      Finally had enough. Come see us over at https://soylentnews.org/
    6. Re:Anti gravity applications? by Palamos · · Score: 2

      Brands can be, and often are, mentioned on the BBC, as a result there were frequent references to Sellotape. Sticky-backed plastic is different from Sellotape, it's a wider plastic roll, typically about 50cm (20") wide.

  2. Prior art by game+kid · · Score: 2

    Electrically-enhanced bubbles have been used as weapons for decades.

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    You can hold down the "B" button for continuous firing.
  3. Scientists! by nospam007 · · Score: 2, Funny

    "Because soap film is naturally only nanometers thick, this whimsical experiment could help scientists create more efficient labs-on-chips, ..."

    Wot? No new gadget to blow bubbles?

    Think of the children!

  4. Aerogel Application? by metallurge · · Score: 2

    I wonder if this could be used to fabricate aerogels using something akin to a hot piezoelectric print head.

  5. Re:That's all I need by oodaloop · · Score: 2

    See, I thought it was Chemical X that gave Bubbles, Blossom, and Buttercup their super powers.

    --
    Tic-Tac-Toe, Global Thermonuclear War, and relationships all have the same winning move.
  6. Of course one just needs to look at Pokemon.. by Destoo · · Score: 2

    Squirtle - BubbleBeam!
    Pikachu - Lightningrod!

    There you go. Unbeatable bubbles!

    --
    Nouvelles de jeux et technologies en français. TC
  7. Re:That's all I need by foniksonik · · Score: 3, Funny

    Are you saying the Powerpuff Girls grew up and became hookers? I knew the economy was bad but that is just depressing...

    --
    A fool throws a stone into a well and a thousand sages can not remove it.
  8. Thin bubbles by mbone · · Score: 3, Insightful

    Normal soap bubbles are about 500 to 1000 nanometers thick - that's why you can see colors (iridescence) on the surface - it's from interference (diffraction) of light reflecting on the inside and outside of the bubble wall. These bubbles are, according to TOA, nanometers thick, which is very thin, at least compared to the soap bubbles we see.

  9. Someone forward this to the BBC by TheSkepticalOptimist · · Score: 2

    Yes, there are no more real innovations in Science anymore. Bah. Wicked hard bubbles is the future baby!

    --
    I haven't thought of anything clever to put here, but then again most of you haven't either.