Exploding Hydrogen Bubbles

The title pretty much says it.

Film by James Hennessy and Brady Haran

[UristMcTubedwarf]

"its always good to be wrong, it shows that your learning something."
if only everyone thought that way.

[JontyLevine]

"It's always good to be wrong. It shows that you're learning something."
What a brilliant Poliakoff quote.

[GavinAtkin]

Martyn was my tutor for chemistry at Newcastle University back in the 1970s, so it's great to find him here. Still very much the same chap!

[UberChipfrk]

Please tell Prof. Poliakoff on behalf of all subscribers that he's a great man :)

[guiltyguildleader]

"Hey, lets combine soap bubbles and hydrogen and fire!"
"What for?!"
"FOR SCIENCE!"

[lesorax]

"It's good to be wrong because it shows that you are learning something"

Great quote.

[howdougetoutofhere]

Those tiny fireballs that pop up and disappear quickly are so beautiful. Thank goodness for high-speed cameras!

[Karabetter]

Experiment suggestion: Orange color due to incomplete mixing before ignition? So go back to a balloon. This time *cautiously* fill it with 2 parts hydrogen to 1 part oxygen. Wait five minutes. Stand back at a safe distance. Cover your ears. Then ignite what should be a complete mix and see what color the slo-mo-cam captures?

[buschtoens]

„It's always good to be wrong. It shows, that you're learning something.“

You are one of the most inspirational persons I know. Thank you very much
.

[jimm]

You deserve your own, full time, BBC produced weekly science show. This is some great stuff and you're all just naturally so fun to watch. Better yet, come to the states and make it here.

[tryfinally]

I want a compilation of this slo-mo footage, looped, going on for like 10 hours, with optional eerie yet soothing ambience in the background

[christophersavarese]

The thing I found most interesting was the flame on the match was still burning after a hydrogen bubble popped next to it. It makes me think about the oxygen still supplying the flame even with the burning hydrogen surrounding the flame.

[antonk.]

I was so surprised when i watched the video that came up randomly on youtube for me and discovered that he is actually at my university! Greetings from Sutton Bonington and biosciences :)

[kicsiqki]

"Its always good to be wrong. It shows that you're learning something."

That is a great thought.

[halsti]

Sick! .. your job must be so much fun :)

[Scixxy]

I love how the flame seems to be extinguished and then seems to re-light from the hydrogen flame.

[kendelion]

it's always good to be wrong, it shows that you are learning something.

[taralovescm]

Every day I read the Christmas card you sent me Professor. It made my year and has massively helped my depression knowing someone as inspirational as you took the time to care and praise me. I'm so grateful for your work and your kind spirit. Thank you so much.

[blazebluebass]

"Bubble blewing kit" - makes it sound like an actual apparatus. A TOY xD !
Great experiment idea!

[LillianWinterAnimations]

I noticed the effect of the bubble catching fire had a property I found really cool! The burning gas continued to move up, expanding, but it wasn't a sphere, it actually appeared to be taking the form of the upper portion of a mushroom cloud! My hypothesis is that it might be due to the fact that, given that the hydrogen does not ignite at exactly the same time, and possibly the hydrogen (when ignited), rises faster, the upper portion rises faster (forming the top surface of the cloud), and then the lower portion speeds up to catch up to it (forming the bowl in the bottom of the cloud).