Ferrofluid may not be a weird, amorphous creature that bonds with its host like the black glorp that eventually turns Eddie Brock into Venom, but it still looks enough like the otherworldly stuff that it would probably make Spider-Man’sOpens in a new tab senses tingle at around maybe an 8 or 8.5. And when the strange, mesmerizing magnetic fluid is inside of a lava lamp and being moved around by neodymium magnets, it may as well be plotting its escape and next victim.
We’ve seen ferrofluid put on some stunning shows previously, when it was used for a clockOpens in a new tab, or even as a reflecting poolOpens in a new tab, but YouTuber CrazyRussianHackerOpens in a new tab — who has brought us some entrancing ferrofluid displays of his own previouslyOpens in a new tab — makes the goop goop dance like it’s 1966 and Peter Parker just fell in love with that other, far danker, Mary Jane.
That hypnotic dance of shapeshifting ferrofluid is due to a confluence of physical events, which are described well in Michael Flynn’s videoOpens in a new tab on the bizarre liquid. Essentially, that black goo is made of oil mixed with iron oxide particles. When the CrazyRussianHacker places a magnet near the ferrofluid, the iron oxide particles are drawn out of the oil. The reason they aren’t pulled out completely is because there is a surfactantOpens in a new tab, which forms a chemical bond holding the particles and oil together.
But what’s holding you together if this stuff ever gets on your skin, and something like this happens?!
OK, it wouldn’t be that bad at all. Although you definitely still shouldn’t touch ferrofluidOpens in a new tab.
What do you think about this ferrofluid lava lamp? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below!
Images: YouTube / CrazyRussianHackerOpens in a new tab
GIF: Marvel Studios / Columbia Pictures
