Maziyar Jalaal

In ordinary water, ripples from a thrown stone spread in even concentric circles. But imagine a liquid whose molecules are like tiny screws with a right-handed thread. In such a medium, the surface acts like a one-way street: waves can only travel in a certain direction.

Yeast are trapped in a clear gel, like raisins in jelly. They can't move on their own, but soon they start rising to the top. The secret lies in their own homemade fizz. During fermentation, yeast release carbon dioxide. In a thick medium, the gas doesn't escape but accumulates until bubbles form.

In the freshwater lakes, cyanobacteria Microcystis often cause toxic blooms. They gather into colonies — elastic little spheres, like dense jelly. The cells are glued together by a special substance based on carbon, acting as a powerful natural adhesive. Scientists tested these "jelly balls" for the first time and found their strength astonishing.