Over on Neatorama, I found this great video of two men demonstrating the properties of non-Newtonian fluid — aka, cornstarch and water. They’ve filled a pool with the stuff and can actually run across it, all Jesus-like. I remember playing with this stuff on a small scale as a kid, and this is like a dream come true. All you need, apparently, is a cement mixer. I’m sorely tempted to see about renting one for my next party. Screw Jello wrestling, this is real science! Make your own oobleck by combining 1 part water to 1.5 to 2 parts cornstarch and have a blast!
Ideas keep coming over on last week’s threads, so keep it up. Sadly, I haven’t heard from anyone yet who can draw like Jack Chick. Where are all the artists?
You don't really need a cement mixer, just a plastic kiddie pool and umpty-ump bags of cornstarch. Trust me on this one.
I have advanced into the Google generation ("Generation G?") by uploading a video of oobleck for the world to see. For further demonstrations of this amazing substance (in this case combined with liquid nitrogen), check this out (recorded at Tep Xi).
Oh, the pun-anity!
This reminds me of this clip from TopGear (via YouTube) where they drive a car over a lake. The car has to keep a constant momentum to avoid sinking ;-). They then take a snow mobile across the lake.