Fluorescence is awesome (here is how it works)

Fluorescence is absolutely awesome.

The science behind it is very cool, absorbing UV light, exciting electrons, and releasing some of that energy as visible light.

Be careful, though, of the statement at 1:38, "this means that the objects are giving back more energy than they receive from the visible light source which explains their gleaming vibrancy under UV."

That statement is correct but sounds impossible at first. The statement says that the energy in the visible light range that they're giving off is more than the energy in the visible light range that they're absorbing. That sounds impossible until you understand that they are absorbing extra energy in the UV range that they're turning into visible light.

Here's a fun way to take advantage of fluorescence.

Pee a Rainbow: Scientist Snaps Shot of Colorful Urine

I apologize in advance, but urine for a treat today.

An article at LiveScience shows the above rainbow of urine colors collected in a week at Tacoma General Hospital in Tacoma, WA.

Thankfully, there's also an explanation of what can change the urine that color.

Next up, a poop rainbow.

Coating to make soap pour cleanly out of plastic bottles, reduce waste and frustration

Anything that makes recylcing easier is to be lauded.

In this article from phys.org, Ohio State researchers found a way to spray coat polypropylene and polycarbonate with

a small amount of solvent and ultra-fine silica nanoparticles onto the inside of bottles. Manufacturers already use solvents to change the texture of molded plastics, because they cause the surface of the plastic to soften a little. By mixing the silica and solvent, the researchers were able to soften the surface of the polypropylene just enough that when the plastic re-hardened, the silica would be embedded in the surface. 

The structures are only a few micrometers—millionths of a meter—high, and covered in even smaller branchlike projections. They look like shaggy heart-shaped pillows, but they're hard as glass. 

They don't cover the inside of the bottle completely, either, but instead are planted a few micrometers apart. The main branches of the "y" overhang the plastic surface at an angle less than 90 degrees—steep enough that water, oils and even surfactant can't physically sustain a droplet shape that would fall in between the branches and touch the plastic. 

"You end up with air pockets underneath, and that's what gives you liquid repellency," Brown said.  

Instead of spreading out on the surface, the soap droplets form beads and roll right off.

Gïk Live! - ¿Cómo se produce el vino azul?

I was reading Uproxx, as I am wont to do, and came upon an article about blue wine. In the article was the following sentence...

To get its distinctive color (self described as “Indigo Blue, WTF.”) the folks at Gik blend red grapes, white grapes, and chemistry.

Well, if they've included chemistry, then it has to be good.

I went hunting a little bit and am pretty sure that they're using the basics of anthocyanins to adjust the color of the wine. All they would have to do is take the pH of the wine from something in the 4-6 range to something in the 7-8 range. Wouldn't be all that tough, I would think.

Luckily one of their own videos says as much...



Aren't pH indicators great?

Gïk Live! - ¿Cómo se produce el vino azul?

I was reading Uproxx, as I am wont to do, and came upon an article about blue wine. In the article was the following sentence...

To get its distinctive color (self described as “Indigo Blue, WTF.”) the folks at Gik blend red grapes, white grapes, and chemistry.

Well, if they've included chemistry, then it has to be good.

I went hunting a little bit and am pretty sure that they're using the basics of anthocyanins to adjust the color of the wine. All they would have to do is take the pH of the wine from something in the 4-6 range to something in the 7-8 range. Wouldn't be all that tough, I would think.

Luckily one of their own videos says as much...


Aren't pH indicators great?

Dogs Teaching Chemistry

How frickin' cute is that, huh?

I know the dogs aren't exactly staying in place for the entire video. The cuts aren't all that smooth.

Still, though, the dogs are so marvelously well trained - holding the ball and rope evenly, unevenly, tugging on command. It's brilliant.

Let's see if the dogs know about atoms.



Huh, apparently they do.

HOLDING AN EXPLOSION at 20,000 fps - Smarter Every Day 156

That's brilliant.

The explosion there is wonderful and marvelous to watch. Gorgeous stuff, there.

Seriously, the explanation of the combustion and the slow-motion imagery is spectacular.

In the daytime, it's a little less thrilling.