#oobleck

Oobleck is a peculiar substance. Formed from a suspension of cornstarch particles in water, it can flow like a liquid at low shear rates or jam into a solid under impact. Here, researchers explore what happens to a droplet of oobleck impacting a surface. (Image and research credit: A. Mobaseri et al.; via APS)

fukig Oobleck

Dark Oobleck: {Credit}

oobleck belongs to @a-v-j

Also. You shouldn't pour me down the drain.

Oobleck is the stuff I used to stop Stanley's bullet. Or- I tried, at least. It's a non-newtonian fluid. Solid under hard impact and liquid when handled gently. I've talked about starch and its special properties on here before. It's not water soluble, so it doesn't just turn into dough or a suspension when you mix it with water. It's made of strong polymer chains. When you're gentle with the oobleck mixture, those chains can shift more easily and find space to arrange themselves like a liquid. If you're rough, the chains aren't able to move quickly enough, so they get packed together and turn the mixture into a solid. Did Mr. Infuriating think to tell you any of that?