The Rubber-Band Drop: How an Elastic Liquid Bounces Back Whole ⚡ экспресс
Original: "Balloon regime: Drop elasticity leads to complete rebound"
An elastic drop, upon hitting a superhydrophobic surface, stretches out a tail like a rubber band, balloons up, and bounces back completely.
Links in the knowledge graph 1
Drop a blob of viscous gel onto a lotus leaf—it won't spread but will jump up, stretching a tail and blowing a tiny balloon. The secret lies in the microscopic pits on the surface and the liquid's elasticity, which keeps it from tearing. This discovery will improve water-repellent fabrics and inkjet printers.
🎯 A lotus leaf stays dry thanks to microscopic bumps with a waxy coating—this is the lotus effect. Scientists mimic these structures to create superhydrophobic coatings.
🎬 The elastic drop resembles the T-1000 liquid metal from Terminator 2: it can also change shape and reconstitute without tearing.