Comments on: Synthetic life and corn starch babies http://www.starchamber.com/2007/03/synthetic-life-and-corn-starch-babies.html Ned Gulley's Blog. Resident buzzwords: synthetic biology, ambient displays, swarm robotics, wise crowds. Tue, 02 Dec 2008 13:21:17 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.5 By: Luke Stark http://www.starchamber.com/2007/03/synthetic-life-and-corn-starch-babies.html#comment-7180 Luke Stark Mon, 16 Apr 2007 00:43:15 +0000 http://www.starchamber.com/2007/03/synthetic-life-and-corn-starch-babies.html#comment-7180 Oobleck! It was one of my favorite party toys in college. Dump a box of cornstarch in a mixing bowl and start dripping in water while mixing by hand. Add the water very slowly, as too much will prevent the cornstarch from "locking" under pressure. Mixing by hand works best. You'll know when you have the right amount of water when the cornstarch starts to resist being prodded by fingers. Once you reach that point, you can dig a clawed hand in and literally tear a piece out and hold it in your hand, so long as you keep passing it back and force, keeping pressure on it to keep it "solid". Dropping it or no longer applying pressure will allow it to flow like thick fluid out of your hand. Very cool (if messy) fun. Allow any spills to dry completely and then rub with a brush to break up and vacuum away the cornstarch. Oobleck! It was one of my favorite party toys in college. Dump a box of cornstarch in a mixing bowl and start dripping in water while mixing by hand. Add the water very slowly, as too much will prevent the cornstarch from “locking” under pressure. Mixing by hand works best.

You’ll know when you have the right amount of water when the cornstarch starts to resist being prodded by fingers. Once you reach that point, you can dig a clawed hand in and literally tear a piece out and hold it in your hand, so long as you keep passing it back and force, keeping pressure on it to keep it “solid”.

Dropping it or no longer applying pressure will allow it to flow like thick fluid out of your hand.

Very cool (if messy) fun. Allow any spills to dry completely and then rub with a brush to break up and vacuum away the cornstarch.

]]> By: JMike http://www.starchamber.com/2007/03/synthetic-life-and-corn-starch-babies.html#comment-5326 JMike Mon, 26 Mar 2007 13:36:39 +0000 http://www.starchamber.com/2007/03/synthetic-life-and-corn-starch-babies.html#comment-5326 Dude! It was trying to climb out of the vat! DON'T GO INTO THE BASEMENT!!! Dude! It was trying to climb out of the vat! DON’T GO INTO THE BASEMENT!!!

]]>