© 2005 All Rights Reserved. Do not distribute or repurpose this work without written permission from the copyright holder(s).
Printed from https://www.damninteresting.com/retired/a-plasmoid-for-the-common-man/
This article is marked as 'retired'. The information here may be out of date, incomplete, and/or incorrect.
I don’t know why we continue to call them “everyday household items.” Behind their coy, artificial commonality, many of these objects are concealing the ability to produce wonders. The modest collection of items described by this article is no different… using little more than a glass bowl, a few plastic lids, a cork, and and a toothpick, this construction can generate a stable plasmoid (aka Ball Lightning) in an ordinary microwave oven.
The linked article’s early-nineties web design leaves something to be desired, but who has time for modern web design when you’re knee-deep in science?
How to build a stable plasmoid at one atmosphere
More fun with plasma, including improved plasmoid generators
© 2005 All Rights Reserved. Do not distribute or repurpose this work without written permission from the copyright holder(s).
Printed from https://www.damninteresting.com/retired/a-plasmoid-for-the-common-man/
Since you enjoyed our work enough to print it out, and read it clear to the end, would you consider donating a few dollars at https://www.damninteresting.com/donate ?
I did this. I used a microwave we have here in a laboratory fume hood, three plastic Petri dishes for the spacers, and 0.5 mm mechanical pencil lead as the ignitor. I found the self-igniting style to work the best. The glass vessel I used was one of those “Bowl-O-Roses” or “Bowl-O-Beauty” things one sees at state fairs. I haven’t done it for a while, as I converted the container into a terrarium– but since everything is dead, I may try it again.
I have this to say– IT’S TERRIFYING. The plasmoid makes a loud buzzing sound and rolls around the top like it’s trying to escape. Coolest thing ever. Maybe I’ll try again and get some video.
Other must-try experiments: Cut grapes in half, leaving only a tiny bit of skin between the hemispheres. Stick them in the microwave and watch them arc.
Pickle-glowing: Pickles sizzle and flash with an unnerving yellow light when 110 volt house current passes through them. If you damage yourself, others, or property, don’t even think of mentioning my name at the trial.
Bryan Lowder said: “Pickles sizzle and flash with an unnerving yellow light when 110 volt house current passes through them. “
Pondering how you might have come upon this fact causes me alarmed curiosity.
The plasmoid experiment is certainly on the must-try list. Also now, arcing grapes and glowing pickles. Ah, the microwave… what can’t it do?
Bryan Lowder said: Pickles sizzle and flash with an unnerving yellow light when 110 volt house current passes through them.”
i have heard this is an interesting way to cook different objects works best with a high salt content
I’ve seen the pickle/gerkin thing… My friend blew the fuses in an entire floor of a school building with that… He called it the “Incredibly Dangerous Glowing Gerkin Machine”
Is there anything on this site that Bryan Lowder HASN’T made a comment on?? I can’t hear yooooouuu!!
LOWDER!! LOWDER!! LOL!
Bryan Lowder
“I have this to say– IT’S TERRIFYING.”
Uh, dude….I’ve had guns pointed in my face with a silencer on the end of it, and you’re scared of some ball lightning in a microwave and a glowing pickle? where the hell did you grow up? Sesame Street?
I always love how off topic these posts get. And seeing as I have nothing to do I will make one last,though most likely never read again statment. No one cares what happens in your life,make a comment on the article and move on. No need to mock people just because they’ve never had a gun pointed in there face. You have to be pretty stupid to allow yourself to be put in a situation where a gun will be pointed in your face.
Hmm… It seems I have an Arch Enemy. Interesting.
Enter your reply text here. OK
///////////////////////////////////If you damage yourself, others, or property, don’t even think of mentioning my name at the trial.///////////////////////////
Disturbing culture when lawyers are heroes.
///////////////////////I found the self-igniting style to work the best.////////////////////////
I am smart. What the hell is the basis for a plasma. What is it? Ok so it is a light ball. But what is it?
Pondering how you might have come upon this fact causes me alarmed curiosity. – Good material.
////////////////////////The Creature #5 June 25th, 2006 4:43 pm
Is there anything on this site that Bryan Lowder HASN’T made a comment on?? I can’t hear yooooouuu!!///////////////
HEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY
///////////////////////////////The Creature #6 June 25th, 2006 4:47 pm
Uh, dude….I’ve had guns pointed in my face with a silencer on the end of it, and you’re scared of some ball lightning in a microwave and a glowing pickle? where the hell did you grow up? Sesame Street?//////////////////////////////////////////
Hey tuff guy, can you make a girl orgasm? Because that’s what matters.
Bryan, your comments are truly marvelous!
It’s funny how “tough guys” have to constantly portray the tough guy image…. or else it’s lost…. even on the internet. Plus I don’t understand why one would brag that he’s had a gun pointed at his face.
Anyway, I could imagine “terrifying” as being an ititial reaction. It would be easy to think it could cause a fire, burning your house and personal possessions.