Surprise Your Friends With Magic Water

With two ingredients and a phone flashlight, watch turmeric sink through water in glowing golden trails that look like a magic show. 

 

Materials you'll need

• Glass of cold water
• 1 tbsp turmeric
• Spoon
• Cellphone

 

Step-by-step tutorial

Step 1: Place your phone face-up on a flat surface with the flashlight turned on and facing up. 

Step 2: Fill a glass with cold water and set it on the phone. 

Step 3: Carefully spoon 1 tablespoon of turmeric on top of the water. Don't stir! Watch as the golden turmeric floats on the surface, then slowly sinks.

Learn more

Turmeric seems to hover on the water like magic, but it's really science at work! Turmeric is hydrophobic — meaning it's "water-fearing" and doesn't dissolve in water. Water molecules are strongly attracted to each other, forming a stretchy, skin-like layer at the surface called surface tension. Hydrophobic particles like turmeric can sit on top of this "skin" for a moment before gravity slowly pulls them down through the water in those beautiful swirling trails.

Still have turmeric out? Turmeric Invisible Ink puts that same spice to work as a secret decoder, turning hidden baking soda designs reddish-brown as you paint over them.