In 1958, Hollywood drew on public fears and science to create the movie, The Blob, a creature from outer space that lands near Valley Forge, Pennsylvania.
The fear of creatures from outer space was heightened by the launch of
Sputnik in October 1957, the first artificial satellite. Originally entitled The Molten Meteor, in the movie, The Blob keeps growing in size until it morphs into a giant pile of goo which begins swallowing the town and its population.
Experiment: How Can You Re-create the Blob from the Movie?
Materials: Empty 20 ounce bottle, liquid dish soap, bowl, warm water, hydrogen peroxide, red food coloring and 1 tablespoon of yeast.
Process: Pour hydrogen peroxide into the empty bottle. Add 10 drops of red food coloring, one tablespoon of soap and gently shake together to stir to mix. In a second bowl mix warm water and the yeast together until smooth. Pour the yeast material into the soda bottle! It will erupt suddenly and slowly smooth into the Blob texture.
Result: The yeast separates the hydrogen peroxide into hydrogen and peroxide and dish soap attracts the oxygen resulting in foam. The experiment can be safely flushed down any drain.
