5 Strangest Materials

MattSparkes writes to tell us that NewScientist recently posted a quick look at five interesting materials with some very strange properties. There are liquids you can walk on, liquids that will escape containers by creeping up the sides, and magnetic liquids that can easily show you the shape of magnetic fields. The story also offers video links to display some of more amazing properties described.

I have one for you

[heauxmeaux]

I would like to nominate whatever the hell Wonder Bread is made from.

One tiny loaf can turn an entire nation into disgusting bloated sacks of lazy crap.
Truly a mystery of the ages.

Finally an answer!

[LiquidCoooled]

I always wondered why I kept sliding out of the bath.
Now I know its just because my atoms all have the same quantum state.

Does it include the ever mysterious ethyl alcohol

[HMC CS Major]

The simple liquid capable of making clothes come off, cars swerve, and random impregnation?

"There are liquids you can walk on..."

[EXMSFT]

Really? Jesus!

<sorry - had to do it.>

Re:Does it include the ever mysterious ethyl alcoh

[Anonymous Coward]

Funny you should say that as I read this today:

"...Yesterday, government scientists suggested that men should take a look at their beer consumption, considering the results of a recent analysis that revealed the presence of female hormones in beer. The theory is that drinking beer makes men turn into women. To test the finding, 100 men were fed 6 pints of beer each. It was then observed that 100% of the men gained weight, talked excessively without making sense, became overly emotional, couldn't drive, failed to think rationally, argued over nothing, and refused to apologize when wrong. No further testing is planned..."

Yes but can they change shape into Robert Patrick

[spaceramblings]

and go looking for 'that boy'?

5 strange materials

[robyannetta]

Alas, Taco Bell was left off the list again, coming in at number six.

Re:I have one for you

[Hatta]

What about transparent aluminum?

I love stuff like this!

[markbt73]

When I was a kid I had a book called "Scientific Experiments You Can Eat." I seem to remember there being something like the "Oobleck" in there.

I'd love to try it out, but I get the feeling my wife would kill me if I started cooking up stuff like that in the kitchen...

Re:So Did Jesus walk on water using cornstarch?

[Hatta]

Well, except for the fact that corn was no known in the old world at the time of JC's walkabouts.

That's why it's a miracle.

Re:Magnetic Fluid

[barry99705]

DO NOT!!! Put one of those magnets within two feet of the bottle of ferro fluid while the lid is off. That stuff stains paint, on the ceiling....

Ummm...

[dangitman]

LSD is a pretty strange material.

Hey! Who moved the submit button? And what are all these ponies doing here?

Re:Hammer, Feather, Freefall on the Moon: Revisite

[Brandybuck]

I'm embarrassed to admit this, but I can't tell if your post is hyperbole or not.

This is Slashdot. He was probably being completely serious.

Re:I have one for you

[Anonymous Coward]

I'm scared of foods that mold won't grow on. It's just not right.

Re:Does it include the ever mysterious ethyl alcoh

[Landshark17]

We're doing plenty of casual studies on it at my college.

Re:I have one for you

[imdx80]

i can also think of a object that gets bigger (like an auxetic material), when beaten or (repeatedly) stretched

Re:I have one for you

[Viper Daimao]

Wonder Bread, which is neither...

Re:why are the only interesting materials only flu

[TheLink]

Nah.

Dry ice is sublime ;).