What does 3,000 Alka-Seltzer Tablets, 3,000 film canisters and Steve Spangler have in common with the Ellen DeGeneres Show?
Steve demonstrated the explosive power of carbon dioxide when thousands of film canisters rained down on the Ellen set Wednesday. Cameras were covered, Ellen dressed in a rain coat, safety goggles and a hard hat and even Tony had an umbrella for protection. To say Steve blew the roof off of the Ellen Show is saying Mentos and Diet Coke make a small mess.
What do you get when you combine water, cornstarch, an amplifier and a speaker? (Besides a mess.) You make cornstarch monsters.
Depending on the frequency played through the speaker and the vibrations it makes, the cornstarch will move and dance. Cornstarch is a non-Newtonian fluid which means it becomes a solid when it is under stress and a liquid when it flows. The trick is to find the right frequency that makes the best vibrations to move the cornstarch. You can actually see the sound.
This is a fun activity to take to a friend’s house and borrow their stereo equipment. For more on Cornstarch Monsters, read the experiment.
Q: Tell us a little about who you are…
A: My name is Blake James, and I am all about creativity. I enjoy graphic design, writing/producing music, photography, and long walks on the beach!
Q: What do you do at Steve Spangler Science?
A: I have the privilege of designing things like catalogs and web pages for Steve Spangler Science. I am also known in the front office for my extremely corny jokes.
Q: What do you like best about what you do?
A: My favorite part about what I do for Steve Spangler Science is the environment that I get to work in. The energy in the office is always explosive (sometimes literally). The people I work with are funny, intelligent, and spontaneous. I get everything I need from the people I work with, the projects I’m working on, and even the building itself, to keep my creativity fueled all day long.
Q: What is your favorite Steve Spangler Science moment?
A: My favorite SSS moment…. it’s really hard to pick just one favorite moment! I guess I would have to say that my favorite moment was when I found out that our company was awarded Website of
