Squeaking Bubbles from a Red-Hot Ball of Nickel

View full size image

When a ball of red-hot nickel meets water, the reaction is strangely squeaky. As the liquid comes in contact with an object much hotter than its boiling point, a layer of water vapor forms around the ball. The pressure from this vapor layer insulates the liquid from touching the hot surface and creates the squeaking bubbles. This is called the Leidenfrost effect.

<

Follow Life's Little Mysteries on Twitter @llmysteries. We're also on Facebook & Google+.