Many years ago, I commented on one of your firework tutorials and asked if you could make a star mine. I didn't expect it to actually happen but you posted a star mine tutorial not long after. It meant the world to me at the time. Your videos played a large part of introducing me to the world of science. Now as a slightly older, slightly less ignorant adult, I just wanted to share that I've gotten my degree in chemistry. Glad to see you're still at it and thanks for being an inspiration!
plant biologist here. I don't want to... burst your bubble ;), but the majority of stuff that you extract using this method (salt+detergent+IPA) is pectin. DNA is there and there's a lot of it, but the bulk of the mass is just pectin. You can check that out by dissolving the goo in water, adding pectinase, letting it react, and then trying to extract it again by adding salt and isopropyl alcohol. Maybe also you can try by adding pectin to you bubble mix and compare the results - you'll know if it's really the DNA that improves the bubble mix.
Last year I spent several hours reading papers on the mind boggling polyploidy of plants, when they mentioned strawberries chromosomes I wondered whether that actually corresponds to an increased DNA per cell/volume/mass versus plants with fewer chromosomes. Wikipedia and a couple of papers I read mentioned ophioglossum reticulatum as having the highest number of chromosomes, a mind boggling 760 pairs. I wanted to know more about its biochemistry, whether each chromosome was relativity short and each cell relatively large but unfortunately all the papers I found only mentioned it as a reference for highest plant chromosomes. There are other forms of life that can have thousands of nuclei in a single cell including those from other species, or others still that incorporate just of the DNA/RNA itself, however those cells tend to be massive. When doing this research I had wondered what organism with a sizeable genome (not a simple bacteria/virus) has the greatest density of genetic material. As a plant biologist do you happen to know where I should look? Something on a macroscopic scale that I could look at and know is near bursting with DNA. It is a useful polymer and a species which spends tons of energy just pumping out base pairs would be cool.
that's why he is on the edge of pseudoscience... not the first time, unfortunately... even from the "experiments" perspective - like 3 random tries each? and to make a conclusion that "alleged strawberry dna" "works well" for creating the bubbles? how about actually making the rig for reproducible experiments, test the actual properties of the used substances - like surface tension etc and running, say, 100 experiments for each? so far based on this video - I can roughly conclude that "it doesn't matter" - the most basic of the recipes will work acceptably well for the purposes described, it might all be the dish soap as well... while the subject is interesting by itself, and trying to find some novel or much better recipe for the substance is good in general - the methods used and described seem, as I said, on the edge of being not very scientific...
No particular comments, but I just want to say I really appreciate the effort made towards genuine DIY and the focus on making recipes simple and require minimal ingredients and equipment while still being very cool stuff.
@@nikkiofthevalley Yeah, exactly. And even when he uses something relatively fancy, it's always as a temporary step for prototyping before he figures out how to get rid of it. The fanciest thing I've recently seen in one of his DIY videos is the fiber blower which is definitely a bit more setup/assembly than most of his stuff and it's still something he put together out of hardware store materials. There's like, genuine research into making processes simpler and more robust being done here.
I've been making giant bubbles for over 15 years and it never occurred to me to use DNA as an additive. I strongly recommend you get some crappie poles for use in your giant bubble making. I like B&M Black Widow poles. They're telescopic and lightweight. I buy the 13 foot long ones and remove the skinny tip section which makes them about 11 feet long. With poles that length you can hold the poles with your palms up with the butt end of the poles cantilevered under your forearms. It massively decreases the strain on your wrists that way. Thanks for sharing your results. It was a fun watch.
I known you since your "mini canon from lighter" video. I was a little kid back then, and now I will gradute college. I don't know how to express it but you are like big brother to me at this point. Like someone from my family. Your personality and your quality didn't change a bit overtime unlike many other youtubers. You were always curious, candid and to the point of any topic. I love your videos, your attitude towards failures and your manner as a person. Thank you for being here for us.
Very well said. I can’t stand the over the top bubbly in your face attitude all the other big TH-camrs have. I get why they do it, it’s just annoying to me personally , especially when it’s supposed to be science based not pleasing the masses based.. but obv the 3 latter gets more views. Anyways all that to say I love this guy too, one of my first ever ppl I subbed to like a decade ago that I still watch every vid
This is the kinda video i love. Cranking up the craziness on a normally simple and mundane experiment to 11 to see what happens is more interesting than starting off with a concept i dont even understand. This is just really cool big bubbles.
I would've loved to have done this at my middle school and then the next day start calling them the DNA GMO Bubbles. There are few things more hilarious than a stern looking Assistant Principal demanding to know if I've exposed my students to DNA. Great videos. I love these. When I first followed the NighthawkinLight bubble formulas I released them off my front porch which is 14' in the air, on a hillside. I had some nice gentle up drafts. (Idiot proof which I needed.) These bubbles puzzled a hummingbird, who hovered to watch and then zoomed out of there -- but then came right back. And watched several more. My students also released a bunch of semi giant bubbles off the Santa Monica Pier. People down on the beach 50 yards away were puzzled to see the giant bubbles floating by.
Here is a scaled version of the recipe for 1 gallon of water, so you can make it in smaller/larger batches! 1 cup (237.5 mL) Dawn Platinum 2 g J-Lube 3.3 g Baking Powder 1 gal (3.8 L) Hot Water
That's not the same as the one in the video. The one in the video is for 4.25 gallons of water, so for one gallon it'd be 0.94 cups(224 ml) of Dawn Platinum, 1.88g of J-lube and 3.29g of baking powder.
That huge bubble starting at 29:12 is geniunely one of the most beautiful and mesmerizing things I have ever seen. I had to rewatch that bubble forming and bursting like 20 times
Super weird to see a bubble so big that it takes like 3 full seconds to disappear fully after bursting, especially as "like a pricked soap bubble" is an expression for saying something disappeared instantly lol.
I'm admittedly a bit sad that it's not another radiative cooling video but I'm still every bit as stoked anyway because NIGHTHAWKINLIGHT! Who knew DNA of any kind, let alone strawberry DNA could make freakin' bubbles!? 🤯 Apparently YOU did! You never cease to amaze, Ben!
Maybe try mixing the DNA and the J-Lube. The idea being that the longer chains would leave bigger holes which the J-lube can close up. Love your way of exploring and experimenting.
I'm travelling home from uni over Christmas. I'm 100% using these recipes to show off to my young sisters to cement my place as the best brother. Thanks dude
Your first bubble video is how I found your channel, and after watching it I immediately went home, bought the supplies, and started making huge bubbles for my nieces. They were absolutely drenched in the solution by the time we were done - they absolutely loved it! They're teenagers now, but it might be time for me to break the stuff out again for another go.
I love that your sponsorship message for Brilliant is brief and to-the-point. I assume those TH-camrs who make much longer ones are paid more, but many people skip them, so I'm guessing this may be more effective, as well as less annoying.
Yeah, any time you see a red, purple, or blue part of a plant, there's a good chance it's from anthocyanins! When it rains, purple morning glory flowers often end up with differently-colored spots where the lingering rain drops have changed the pH. And black turtle beans are actually very-dark-purple turtle beans, and soaking them produces a pH-sensitive purple liquid. It's all over the place.
first reading the title I couldn't help but chuckle over the almost AI'ish sounding, sort of unusual combination of DNA, Strawberry, and Bubbles in one sentence... then again, NightHawk, so perfectly legit :D
Loved this video. At my old job i worked a gig making giant balloons, so much fun. Been watching your channel for well over a decade. Your staic electricity generator was the first electronics project I attempted, and your videos have been the biggest inspiration for what became my style of videos. The passion and joy is contagious. Keep em coming
DNA is amazing? I've found, whatever process or thing that exists there is, if you think about it long enough, you'll find it's absolutely beyond amazing that it's possible at all. From the smallest speck of dirt, to the stars. It's all beyond all imagination.
I enjoy your fun-loving jovial personality and paced speaking. Also, no background music. It's really a pleasant experience to watch your videos and I leave smiling. 10/10
This would be a perfect encapsulated lesson for younger students (and tbh students of all ages). It's got everything you could want: fruit, goop, and bubbles. Pair the lesson with a zine of the process and you've got a great library activity
I've extrated a lot of DNA in the labs, but never even in my wildest dreams did i think someone would us it to make giant bubbles!!!! The creativity is next level!
On those giant bubbles there's a phenomenon on the bottom where excess fluid from the entire bubble all comes down at once and makes a point that's trying to pull off straight down. Often it touches the ground and pops, but surprisingly often it either pulls off or bounces back up (it's hard to tell which is the footage) and the bubble survives. Keeping that from popping the bubbles fast may be the key to super giant bubbles.
I first saw giant bubbles from a guy on the wharf in San Francisco in 1987 and I bought two wands from him for my siblings. His demonstration was way cool and yours is, indeed, way cooler and bigger even !!!
When childhood wonder collides with the brilliance of physics and chemistry, pure magic happens! Watching those giant soap bubbles float and shimmer, crafted by a guy whose excitement matches their size, is nothing short of mesmerizing. It's the perfect blend of science and childlike joy-proving that you’re never too grown up to be totally thrilled by a bubble! ✨
No way it's been 7 yea- Oh man.... Awesome video, i never would have even considered such a wild way of improving bubbles, much less actually pulling it off!
I wonder if the fishing pole bubble loop would work better if there was a reservoir of bubble fluid at the tip of each pole. You could make a puffball of that cotton clothesline shell like you would for the top of a stocking cap. That would hold enough fluid to keep the line soaked for a longer period. This was a great video! Thanks for showing us how well they each worked.
I have to tip my hat off to you Ben. YOU are one inquisitive human being who educates us all on YOU TUBE. Thanks and have a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year too. vf
In such a time of horror I am so thankful that Ben is here to remind us to be curious and find delight in things like giant bubbles. This channel has such a perfect mix of truly outstanding citizen science and heartfelt silly fun. Ben still makes videos for US, and not the damn algorithm.
These bubbles were like some ethereal creature from another dimension. Something really special about a day and age when grown men can give literal flight to their inner children’s imagination this way. This was magic.
@AsmageddonPrince I found one but didn't find one that also added some Dawn Dishwashing Liquid to the mix. Here is most of the recipe. *Ultimate Bubble Recipe* *Ingredients* - 1 cup Mr. Bubble bubble solution - 2-3 tablespoons glycerin - 1 tablespoon Knox unflavored gelatin - 1 cup water *Instructions* 1. Mix 1 cup water with 1 tablespoon Knox gelatin. Heat until gelatin dissolves. 2. Add 1 cup Mr. Bubble and 2-3 tablespoons glycerin. Stir until well combined. 3. Let mixture sit for 24-48 hours to allow gelatin to fully dissolve. 4. Stir before use. 5. Dip bubble wand or loop into solution. 6. Blow bubbles! *Tips* - More glycerin = longer-lasting bubbles. - Less glycerin = smaller, more fragile bubbles. - Adjust gelatin ratio for desired bubble strength. - Experiment with ratios for optimal results. - Use distilled water for better performance. *Benefits* - Longer-lasting bubbles - Stronger bubbles - Less popping frequency - Bigger bubbles *Variations* - Giant Bubble recipe: Mix 1/2 cup Mr. Bubble with 2 cups water, 2 tablespoons glycerin, and 1 tablespoon Knox gelatin. - Super-Strong Bubble recipe: Mix 2 cups Mr. Bubble with 1 cup glycerin and 2 tablespoons Knox gelatin. *Safety Precautions* - Adult supervision recommended. - Avoid eye contact. - Wash hands after use. Enjoy blowing giant, long-lasting bubbles!
@AsmageddonPrince experiment, get 10 containers and put different amounts in each and none in one for the control then judge for yourself the best amount, then you can report it back to the rest of us.😉😉
What I find super interesting to see is the fact that those giant bubles collect liquid in lower spots which then form spikes that grow downwards until either the liquid drips out or the spike touches the ground - popping the bubbles in the process. So it would be cool to see much longer giant-bubble-poles (with counterweights to help your wrists) so the bubbles could start further from the ground.
Just started watching your channel recently because i was interested in the radiative cooling, but my son and i watched this video together and now we're excited to make some giant bubbles ourselves
A step you could add to your DNA-extraction is adding an enzymatic detergent. The enzymes in the detergent break down proteins like the histones the DNA is wrapped around. With this you might be able to get purer DNA with longer chains. Not sure if this helps with giant bubbles. (Also not sure, if the detergent also damages the DNA.) You add the detergent as the last step before the alcohol and heat it to body temperature for some minutes, so that the enzymes work optimally. I've used this DNA-extraction method small scale some times. It works quite well, but I never tested any properties of tthe DNA.
After seeing you use that monster gooey PEO on your cooling fabric videos, I really wanted to see them being turned into these bubbles. And because of the hilarity of it, it did not disappoint. All your videos are a treat, even these less serious ones. Stay awesome, Ben 👍
This is absolutely super cool. You've already come up with so many novel, innovative, and achievable-at-home topics, I'm amazed you have time for more hobbies like big bubble making and it is absolutely mesmerising. Keep up with working on the stuff you're passionate about, it's truly wonderful and inspiring to watch :) I feel like I gotta go discover more stuff myself, now.
At 8:45 you made a polydensity solution. Bottles demonstrating different densities of liquid (polydensity bottles) have salt water about 17% salt by weight at the bottom and isopropyl alcohol at the top. They're about 0.9 and 1.1 g/cm^3 respectively. They are not soluble with each other so even when mixed they separate. Water will normally dissolve in isopropyl alcohol, but the salt preferentially dissolves into the water meaning the salt water can't be dissolved in alcohol. That's why after mixing the new liquid has a density of 1 g/cm^3. If you have beads of 0.95 and 1.05 g/cm^3 in the bottle, they'll briefly separate to the top and bottom when the liquids are mixed and slowly meet back in the middle as the liquids separate.
OMG! You are so great at making videos. And this one was wonderful for the bubblers of the world. I agree with someone below that the gel you extracted is probably not mostly DNA but whatever it is it is surprisingly effective. So much potential for further research uncovered by these tests. A couple tips: Longer poles relative to the hoop size make it easier to keep it off the ground. The telescoping graphite ones are lighter. They do make it harder to put the loop into a small bucket of course. So, I use shallow wide containers that I can pour back into a bucket. I also add a plastic sheet under the container to keep my strings from hitting the grass. I may be overly-finicky about cleanliness. I suggest a faster closing motion (kinda slap 'em shut in a gentle way). I also think it is much harder to make them big by walking backwards. The bumpyness of the motion seems hard on them. So, for perfection, find perfectly clean and moist air with a windspeed (maybe around 6 - 12 miles per hour). That way you can open the wand and let them form on their own. The faster the breeze, the longer the bubble could become before it pops. I think there is often a time-element to when the bubble is going to pop. So, get it big and closed before that time runs out if you can. Also, if you have a breeze, lean back as you make it, then rather quickly (but smoothly) lean forward as you close it to make the closing less stressful for the bubble that is running away from you. You will be able to feel the difference and know what I am talking about if you try it. Thanks for the great video!
Baking powder to neutralize the pH: Are you sure you didn't mean *baking soda* (sodium bicarbonate) ? Baking powder also contains its own acid so it doesn't neutralize anything, and contains other stuff to react when heated. The screen shot shows you using "Argo double-acting baking powder" this contains Sodium Acid Pyrophosphate, Sodium Bicarbonate, Corn Starch, and Monocalcium Phosphate. Baking powder generally contains a slight excess of acid, so after the reaction is complete you will have a slightly acidic effect. I really don't understand why baking powder is a useful additive here.
I was wondering the same thing. I imagine the description of the purpose is wrong, not the name, and it really is baking powder that's useful. I wonder if the starch helps too.
Some years back, on a Yahoo Group where bubble people first gathered online, it was suggested that there might be an advantage to adjusting the pH. Several of the people doing Big Bubbles experimented using baking SODA and citric acid. They then reported their results and once there was general agreement about the ideal pH range, someone pointed out that baking POWDER's buffering effect was equally effective and much less fussy when measuring. No one seems to think that the starch has an effect, in fact, it can be seen at the bottom of the mix, having failed to go into solution.
Baking powder reduces the alkalinity of the detergent gently and buffers (stabilizes) the pH around 7-7.5. Adding an acid directly is very easy to overdo and requires monitoring the pH to know when you've hit the target.
@@Nighthawkinlight So because it contains both acid and base that are matched to react with each other, it serves as a buffer? I know I used buffers in aquariums but never understood how they work.
What I always love about your videos, and what makes you stand out to me, is your infectious enthusiasm and obvious joy when doing the things you're doing. Ordinarily I wouldn't care much about bubbles, but you definitely delivered.
So the Dna story is a bit more complex than chromosome numbers. production breeds of strawberry contain 8 sets of 7 unique chromosomes, while humans contain two sets of 23 unique chromosomes (ignoring XY). but it's not just chromosome number but length. All in the strawberry has 2 billion base pairs per cell (8 x 250m) while humans have 6 billion base pairs per cell (2 x 3b).
I started watching in early days. The firework videos, I think. I’m still a fan. My boys and one of their cousins spent an afternoon making giant soap bubbles. They got together recently and that was a fond shared memory. Thanks for what you do.
I always love watching your videos, I have several of your videos saved as general guides for any experimental project (like the parameter tuning) and several for projects Id like to try. But mostly, you’re inspirational. You’re out here as an ordinary (though don’t get me wrong, certainly talented, experienced, and skilled) self funded guy doing real science that’ll help real people (through your radiative cooling projects) and bring joy and wonder. What you do is a blessing, thank you
This is such a beautiful and delightful science project to throw into the mix of your regular more serious projects! Producing beauty and art (like the fireworks) following scientific method has such a strong appeal and I think it should really be part of the standard science curriculum everywhere.
7:49 Does Calcium also work? I would imagine it would be even better since calcium LOVES to form insoluble salts with phosphates and has a 2+ charge which would encourage crosslinking.
I'm not sure. I think you want the bond to be fairly weak and temporary. If you start forming insoluble salts it might cause the DNA to disintegrate entirely
@@Nighthawkinlight I was thinking that perhaps setting a gentle heater on the ground where it could produce a plume of warm air that you could pass the bubble wand through as you create the bubble might be a simple way to give the bubbles just enough extra buoyancy to loft them away from the ground without tending to dry them out too quickly. A pigment might be interesting, particularly with the PEO since it seems to make the most supportive film that would tend to immobilize the pigments. I assume you are already familiar with the Zubbles colored bubble product and the interesting story behind the development of the colorant they use. Great bubble footage! The diffraction effects are so bright they make some of the shots look like CGI.
im just reminded how long ive been watching this channel. probably around 2013? All I know is this channel still brings a lot of joy. always love when the problem is solved after so long. like a good drama show lol
Watching this at 1/4 speed is super cool. Especially when the bubble first closes, when it starts to lose surface strength and when it pops. And the reflections! Real slow-mo footage would be amazing. Controlling light and air movement would be so cool too - maybe an empty warehouse? Awesome video.
Nah you do that by visiting the local gay bar and asking around. Though your chances are better if you have the money to pay for some good food and drinks.
I made giant bubbles for my 6 nieces/nephews using this exact J-Lube recipe, and it was an absolute hit!! Many core memories were made, and I am one step closer to being the cool chemistry uncle. I absolutely love your process and your videos, PLEASE keep up the good work.
As much as I'm excited by your radiative cooling projects, I'm glad I get to watch you follow your curiosity. I had no idea how easy it was to extract DNA, and and watching you use it as a long-chain polymer made for some really neat science!
I remember doing the DNA thing with strawberries when we were 9 back in school. Nostalgic for sure :D. These days, that many strawberries would cost hundreds so not really worth it.
This is so cool! I love the monolithic size and how it almost looks back at you in a way, I wish I could (or someone) could replicate that effect and make it convincing as a VFX in a horror movie (maybe kinda like Nope).
I think I seen you at the capitol awhile back. I love bubbles. If it was you I was the lady jumping up and down clapping my hands acting like a little kid in the candy sore. Bibles are fascinating and medical to me. Totally awesome. I now live in Florida. Enjoying the weather. ❤️❤️❤️
Ben, I ALWAYS enjoy when you release a new video! You have some of the best, well delivered content that promises to educate and entertain. All the best to you sir!
oh man this is amazing! I have a similar issue I'm working on, dealing with molecules that repel, so seeing that salt trick was inspirational. love this channel
That is such an incredible visual. I would love to see a slow motion of the pop. I've seen slow-mos of balloons with water so many times but never a bubble with such beautiful color refractions. You said your wrists and forearms were not happy. My traps and delts were "empathy burning" watching you hold those things in a Y pose for so long. (p.s. your commitment to your comment section despite the seemingly unmanageable quantity is... commendable)
Awesome bubbles. My daughter is 2 and we have been having fun with our little bubble machine. I was able to take some beautiful pictures too. Mixing bubbles and kids are fun.
Many years ago, I commented on one of your firework tutorials and asked if you could make a star mine. I didn't expect it to actually happen but you posted a star mine tutorial not long after. It meant the world to me at the time. Your videos played a large part of introducing me to the world of science. Now as a slightly older, slightly less ignorant adult, I just wanted to share that I've gotten my degree in chemistry. Glad to see you're still at it and thanks for being an inspiration!
whoa that's so awesome
That's amazing!
Congrats on finishing your degree! Huge achievement well earned! 🎉
Congrats!🎉🎊🎈
What is a "star mine"?
plant biologist here. I don't want to... burst your bubble ;), but the majority of stuff that you extract using this method (salt+detergent+IPA) is pectin. DNA is there and there's a lot of it, but the bulk of the mass is just pectin. You can check that out by dissolving the goo in water, adding pectinase, letting it react, and then trying to extract it again by adding salt and isopropyl alcohol. Maybe also you can try by adding pectin to you bubble mix and compare the results - you'll know if it's really the DNA that improves the bubble mix.
Last year I spent several hours reading papers on the mind boggling polyploidy of plants, when they mentioned strawberries chromosomes I wondered whether that actually corresponds to an increased DNA per cell/volume/mass versus plants with fewer chromosomes. Wikipedia and a couple of papers I read mentioned ophioglossum reticulatum as having the highest number of chromosomes, a mind boggling 760 pairs. I wanted to know more about its biochemistry, whether each chromosome was relativity short and each cell relatively large but unfortunately all the papers I found only mentioned it as a reference for highest plant chromosomes.
There are other forms of life that can have thousands of nuclei in a single cell including those from other species, or others still that incorporate just of the DNA/RNA itself, however those cells tend to be massive. When doing this research I had wondered what organism with a sizeable genome (not a simple bacteria/virus) has the greatest density of genetic material.
As a plant biologist do you happen to know where I should look? Something on a macroscopic scale that I could look at and know is near bursting with DNA. It is a useful polymer and a species which spends tons of energy just pumping out base pairs would be cool.
What other things could be hanging around in there
that's why he is on the edge of pseudoscience... not the first time, unfortunately... even from the "experiments" perspective - like 3 random tries each? and to make a conclusion that "alleged strawberry dna" "works well" for creating the bubbles? how about actually making the rig for reproducible experiments, test the actual properties of the used substances - like surface tension etc and running, say, 100 experiments for each? so far based on this video - I can roughly conclude that "it doesn't matter" - the most basic of the recipes will work acceptably well for the purposes described, it might all be the dish soap as well... while the subject is interesting by itself, and trying to find some novel or much better recipe for the substance is good in general - the methods used and described seem, as I said, on the edge of being not very scientific...
@@jbtnt1087 the powerhouse of the cell
@@TheMastertbc mitochondria are more like transformers in this case, the chloroplasts provide the power
No particular comments, but I just want to say I really appreciate the effort made towards genuine DIY and the focus on making recipes simple and require minimal ingredients and equipment while still being very cool stuff.
Yeah, someone could follow along with all of his stuff if they had the time and willpower. He rarely, if ever, uses fancy machinery
@@nikkiofthevalley Yeah, exactly. And even when he uses something relatively fancy, it's always as a temporary step for prototyping before he figures out how to get rid of it. The fanciest thing I've recently seen in one of his DIY videos is the fiber blower which is definitely a bit more setup/assembly than most of his stuff and it's still something he put together out of hardware store materials.
There's like, genuine research into making processes simpler and more robust being done here.
I've been making giant bubbles for over 15 years and it never occurred to me to use DNA as an additive. I strongly recommend you get some crappie poles for use in your giant bubble making. I like B&M Black Widow poles. They're telescopic and lightweight. I buy the 13 foot long ones and remove the skinny tip section which makes them about 11 feet long. With poles that length you can hold the poles with your palms up with the butt end of the poles cantilevered under your forearms. It massively decreases the strain on your wrists that way. Thanks for sharing your results. It was a fun watch.
The way they pop is breathtaking. It feels like they pop in slowmo.
X1.5 Mult
I known you since your "mini canon from lighter" video. I was a little kid back then, and now I will gradute college. I don't know how to express it but you are like big brother to me at this point. Like someone from my family. Your personality and your quality didn't change a bit overtime unlike many other youtubers. You were always curious, candid and to the point of any topic. I love your videos, your attitude towards failures and your manner as a person. Thank you for being here for us.
Very well said. I can’t stand the over the top bubbly in your face attitude all the other big TH-camrs have. I get why they do it, it’s just annoying to me personally , especially when it’s supposed to be science based not pleasing the masses based.. but obv the 3 latter gets more views.
Anyways all that to say I love this guy too, one of my first ever ppl I subbed to like a decade ago that I still watch every vid
Strawberry DNA and massive bubbles are like, the most unrelated things but you've somehow connected them
like a DNA chain?
This video was a great way to learn the fascinating fact that DNA is a polymer.
makes it actually feels like something nilered would do, but in reverse 😂
Connecting two thing that so unrelated are the définition of all advance in science and technologie , and a marker of intelligence!! Good job !!
Unlike strawberry DNA and veterinary lubricant 🤣
This is the kinda video i love. Cranking up the craziness on a normally simple and mundane experiment to 11 to see what happens is more interesting than starting off with a concept i dont even understand. This is just really cool big bubbles.
I would've loved to have done this at my middle school and then the next day start calling them the DNA GMO Bubbles. There are few things more hilarious than a stern looking Assistant Principal demanding to know if I've exposed my students to DNA.
Great videos. I love these. When I first followed the NighthawkinLight bubble formulas I released them off my front porch which is 14' in the air, on a hillside. I had some nice gentle up drafts. (Idiot proof which I needed.) These bubbles puzzled a hummingbird, who hovered to watch and then zoomed out of there -- but then came right back. And watched several more.
My students also released a bunch of semi giant bubbles off the Santa Monica Pier. People down on the beach 50 yards away were puzzled to see the giant bubbles floating by.
Here is a scaled version of the recipe for 1 gallon of water, so you can make it in smaller/larger batches!
1 cup (237.5 mL) Dawn Platinum
2 g J-Lube
3.3 g Baking Powder
1 gal (3.8 L) Hot Water
That's not the same as the one in the video. The one in the video is for 4.25 gallons of water, so for one gallon it'd be 0.94 cups(224 ml) of Dawn Platinum, 1.88g of J-lube and 3.29g of baking powder.
J lube???
Is that the same thing as a sex lubricant?
32:10 Who needs bubble effects when you can just make your own bubbles - this shot is AWESOME!!!!
POV: your windows vista screensaver in 2008 be like
That huge bubble starting at 29:12 is geniunely one of the most beautiful and mesmerizing things I have ever seen. I had to rewatch that bubble forming and bursting like 20 times
Super weird to see a bubble so big that it takes like 3 full seconds to disappear fully after bursting, especially as "like a pricked soap bubble" is an expression for saying something disappeared instantly lol.
yea that looked incredible, its cool that you can see little waves in the material after it breaks
I'm admittedly a bit sad that it's not another radiative cooling video but I'm still every bit as stoked anyway because NIGHTHAWKINLIGHT!
Who knew DNA of any kind, let alone strawberry DNA could make freakin' bubbles!? 🤯
Apparently YOU did! You never cease to amaze, Ben!
Maybe try mixing the DNA and the J-Lube. The idea being that the longer chains would leave bigger holes which the J-lube can close up. Love your way of exploring and experimenting.
If you mix your own DNA with J-Lube it becomes JRHNBR
It's a thing of beauty when all this science goes into making art.
Perfect way of seeing the art in chemistry and physics.
One of the best channels on all of TH-cam!
I'm travelling home from uni over Christmas. I'm 100% using these recipes to show off to my young sisters to cement my place as the best brother. Thanks dude
the cars passing by probably thought you were a wizard
He is.
Your first bubble video is how I found your channel, and after watching it I immediately went home, bought the supplies, and started making huge bubbles for my nieces. They were absolutely drenched in the solution by the time we were done - they absolutely loved it! They're teenagers now, but it might be time for me to break the stuff out again for another go.
lol first comment I made seeing this video was that I had to get the materials together to show my nieces 😅 Im sure theyd love it as much as yours did
I love that your sponsorship message for Brilliant is brief and to-the-point. I assume those TH-camrs who make much longer ones are paid more, but many people skip them, so I'm guessing this may be more effective, as well as less annoying.
Strawberries do have anthocyanin, which is a pH indicator
Yeah, any time you see a red, purple, or blue part of a plant, there's a good chance it's from anthocyanins! When it rains, purple morning glory flowers often end up with differently-colored spots where the lingering rain drops have changed the pH. And black turtle beans are actually very-dark-purple turtle beans, and soaking them produces a pH-sensitive purple liquid. It's all over the place.
first reading the title I couldn't help but chuckle over the almost AI'ish sounding, sort of unusual combination of DNA, Strawberry, and Bubbles in one sentence... then again, NightHawk, so perfectly legit :D
Loved this video. At my old job i worked a gig making giant balloons, so much fun. Been watching your channel for well over a decade. Your staic electricity generator was the first electronics project I attempted, and your videos have been the biggest inspiration for what became my style of videos. The passion and joy is contagious. Keep em coming
3:45 i appreciate the synchronization of the word "pop"
the little strands that are left behind when the bubbles pop are so alien looking. so cool!
DNA is amazing? I've found, whatever process or thing that exists there is, if you think about it long enough, you'll find it's absolutely beyond amazing that it's possible at all. From the smallest speck of dirt, to the stars. It's all beyond all imagination.
Do you listen to sadhguru
Thanks!
Thank you!
Almost skipped to the cool part and then I realized who posted this. Back to the start I go. I here for it all!
I enjoy your fun-loving jovial personality and paced speaking. Also, no background music. It's really a pleasant experience to watch your videos and I leave smiling. 10/10
That second dna freestanding one looked so otherworldly!
it looks like one of sabaody archipelago bubbles
Great work, as always!
Thanks!
This would be a perfect encapsulated lesson for younger students (and tbh students of all ages). It's got everything you could want: fruit, goop, and bubbles. Pair the lesson with a zine of the process and you've got a great library activity
I've extrated a lot of DNA in the labs, but never even in my wildest dreams did i think someone would us it to make giant bubbles!!!! The creativity is next level!
On those giant bubbles there's a phenomenon on the bottom where excess fluid from the entire bubble all comes down at once and makes a point that's trying to pull off straight down. Often it touches the ground and pops, but surprisingly often it either pulls off or bounces back up (it's hard to tell which is the footage) and the bubble survives. Keeping that from popping the bubbles fast may be the key to super giant bubbles.
I first saw giant bubbles from a guy on the wharf in San Francisco in 1987 and I bought two wands from him for my siblings. His demonstration was way cool and yours is, indeed, way cooler and bigger even !!!
When childhood wonder collides with the brilliance of physics and chemistry, pure magic happens! Watching those giant soap bubbles float and shimmer, crafted by a guy whose excitement matches their size, is nothing short of mesmerizing. It's the perfect blend of science and childlike joy-proving that you’re never too grown up to be totally thrilled by a bubble! ✨
No way it's been 7 yea-
Oh man....
Awesome video, i never would have even considered such a wild way of improving bubbles, much less actually pulling it off!
I wonder if the fishing pole bubble loop would work better if there was a reservoir of bubble fluid at the tip of each pole. You could make a puffball of that cotton clothesline shell like you would for the top of a stocking cap. That would hold enough fluid to keep the line soaked for a longer period.
This was a great video! Thanks for showing us how well they each worked.
I have to tip my hat off to you Ben. YOU are one inquisitive human being who educates us all on YOU TUBE. Thanks and have a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year too. vf
In such a time of horror I am so thankful that Ben is here to remind us to be curious and find delight in things like giant bubbles. This channel has such a perfect mix of truly outstanding citizen science and heartfelt silly fun. Ben still makes videos for US, and not the damn algorithm.
Why is it "such a time of horror"?
These bubbles were like some ethereal creature from another dimension. Something really special about a day and age when grown men can give literal flight to their inner children’s imagination this way. This was magic.
Knox Gelatin mix will make bubbles that almost behave like plastic saran wrap. They can even survive contact with grass!
Gelatine + Jlube would be very interesting
How much of it do you need to add, and what's the rest of the recipe?
@AsmageddonPrince I found one but didn't find one that also added some Dawn Dishwashing Liquid to the mix. Here is most of the recipe.
*Ultimate Bubble Recipe*
*Ingredients*
- 1 cup Mr. Bubble bubble solution
- 2-3 tablespoons glycerin
- 1 tablespoon Knox unflavored gelatin
- 1 cup water
*Instructions*
1. Mix 1 cup water with 1 tablespoon Knox gelatin. Heat until gelatin dissolves.
2. Add 1 cup Mr. Bubble and 2-3 tablespoons glycerin. Stir until well combined.
3. Let mixture sit for 24-48 hours to allow gelatin to fully dissolve.
4. Stir before use.
5. Dip bubble wand or loop into solution.
6. Blow bubbles!
*Tips*
- More glycerin = longer-lasting bubbles.
- Less glycerin = smaller, more fragile bubbles.
- Adjust gelatin ratio for desired bubble strength.
- Experiment with ratios for optimal results.
- Use distilled water for better performance.
*Benefits*
- Longer-lasting bubbles
- Stronger bubbles
- Less popping frequency
- Bigger bubbles
*Variations*
- Giant Bubble recipe: Mix 1/2 cup Mr. Bubble with 2 cups water, 2 tablespoons glycerin, and 1 tablespoon Knox gelatin.
- Super-Strong Bubble recipe: Mix 2 cups Mr. Bubble with 1 cup glycerin and 2 tablespoons Knox gelatin.
*Safety Precautions*
- Adult supervision recommended.
- Avoid eye contact.
- Wash hands after use.
Enjoy blowing giant, long-lasting bubbles!
@AsmageddonPrince
experiment, get 10 containers and put different amounts in each and none in one for the control then judge for yourself the best amount, then you can report it back to the rest of us.😉😉
What I find super interesting to see is the fact that those giant bubles collect liquid in lower spots which then form spikes that grow downwards until either the liquid drips out or the spike touches the ground - popping the bubbles in the process. So it would be cool to see much longer giant-bubble-poles (with counterweights to help your wrists) so the bubbles could start further from the ground.
your videos are incredible. people have no idea how difficult this type of quality is.
Just started watching your channel recently because i was interested in the radiative cooling, but my son and i watched this video together and now we're excited to make some giant bubbles ourselves
This is my favorite cooking channel! ❤️
You are by far one the coolest people I have ever had the pleasure to listen to, learn from and watch with awe. Thank you for who you are.
"Dawn Ultra, recently rebranded as Dawn 50% less Scrubbing"
Ultra, still on the label: Am I a joke to you?
With all sincerity you make some of my absolute favorite content on youtube. Thanks Ben
A step you could add to your DNA-extraction is adding an enzymatic detergent. The enzymes in the detergent break down proteins like the histones the DNA is wrapped around. With this you might be able to get purer DNA with longer chains. Not sure if this helps with giant bubbles. (Also not sure, if the detergent also damages the DNA.) You add the detergent as the last step before the alcohol and heat it to body temperature for some minutes, so that the enzymes work optimally.
I've used this DNA-extraction method small scale some times. It works quite well, but I never tested any properties of tthe DNA.
dawn platinum/ultra is an enzymatic detergent
nice. then the question is, if the soap used in the dna extraction is dawn
After seeing you use that monster gooey PEO on your cooling fabric videos, I really wanted to see them being turned into these bubbles. And because of the hilarity of it, it did not disappoint. All your videos are a treat, even these less serious ones. Stay awesome, Ben 👍
Ah yes, I'm familiar with J-Lube. Highly recommended product.
This is absolutely super cool. You've already come up with so many novel, innovative, and achievable-at-home topics, I'm amazed you have time for more hobbies like big bubble making and it is absolutely mesmerising. Keep up with working on the stuff you're passionate about, it's truly wonderful and inspiring to watch :) I feel like I gotta go discover more stuff myself, now.
At 8:45 you made a polydensity solution. Bottles demonstrating different densities of liquid (polydensity bottles) have salt water about 17% salt by weight at the bottom and isopropyl alcohol at the top. They're about 0.9 and 1.1 g/cm^3 respectively. They are not soluble with each other so even when mixed they separate. Water will normally dissolve in isopropyl alcohol, but the salt preferentially dissolves into the water meaning the salt water can't be dissolved in alcohol. That's why after mixing the new liquid has a density of 1 g/cm^3. If you have beads of 0.95 and 1.05 g/cm^3 in the bottle, they'll briefly separate to the top and bottom when the liquids are mixed and slowly meet back in the middle as the liquids separate.
I can't believe THIS tiny man is inside our bodies causing us to burp with his bubbles. Why does he feel the need to do this though?
dude what are you even talking about
OMG! You are so great at making videos. And this one was wonderful for the bubblers of the world. I agree with someone below that the gel you extracted is probably not mostly DNA but whatever it is it is surprisingly effective. So much potential for further research uncovered by these tests. A couple tips: Longer poles relative to the hoop size make it easier to keep it off the ground. The telescoping graphite ones are lighter. They do make it harder to put the loop into a small bucket of course. So, I use shallow wide containers that I can pour back into a bucket. I also add a plastic sheet under the container to keep my strings from hitting the grass. I may be overly-finicky about cleanliness. I suggest a faster closing motion (kinda slap 'em shut in a gentle way). I also think it is much harder to make them big by walking backwards. The bumpyness of the motion seems hard on them. So, for perfection, find perfectly clean and moist air with a windspeed (maybe around 6 - 12 miles per hour). That way you can open the wand and let them form on their own. The faster the breeze, the longer the bubble could become before it pops. I think there is often a time-element to when the bubble is going to pop. So, get it big and closed before that time runs out if you can. Also, if you have a breeze, lean back as you make it, then rather quickly (but smoothly) lean forward as you close it to make the closing less stressful for the bubble that is running away from you. You will be able to feel the difference and know what I am talking about if you try it. Thanks for the great video!
Baking powder to neutralize the pH: Are you sure you didn't mean *baking soda* (sodium bicarbonate) ?
Baking powder also contains its own acid so it doesn't neutralize anything, and contains other stuff to react when heated.
The screen shot shows you using "Argo double-acting baking powder" this contains Sodium Acid Pyrophosphate, Sodium Bicarbonate, Corn Starch, and Monocalcium Phosphate. Baking powder generally contains a slight excess of acid, so after the reaction is complete you will have a slightly acidic effect.
I really don't understand why baking powder is a useful additive here.
maybe the acid is intentional? I was under the impression that detergent would be strongly alkaline
I was wondering the same thing. I imagine the description of the purpose is wrong, not the name, and it really is baking powder that's useful. I wonder if the starch helps too.
Some years back, on a Yahoo Group where bubble people first gathered online, it was suggested that there might be an advantage to adjusting the pH. Several of the people doing Big Bubbles experimented using baking SODA and citric acid. They then reported their results and once there was general agreement about the ideal pH range, someone pointed out that baking POWDER's buffering effect was equally effective and much less fussy when measuring. No one seems to think that the starch has an effect, in fact, it can be seen at the bottom of the mix, having failed to go into solution.
Baking powder reduces the alkalinity of the detergent gently and buffers (stabilizes) the pH around 7-7.5. Adding an acid directly is very easy to overdo and requires monitoring the pH to know when you've hit the target.
@@Nighthawkinlight So because it contains both acid and base that are matched to react with each other, it serves as a buffer? I know I used buffers in aquariums but never understood how they work.
What I always love about your videos, and what makes you stand out to me, is your infectious enthusiasm and obvious joy when doing the things you're doing. Ordinarily I wouldn't care much about bubbles, but you definitely delivered.
Klavier Gavin jumpscare
So the Dna story is a bit more complex than chromosome numbers. production breeds of strawberry contain 8 sets of 7 unique chromosomes, while humans contain two sets of 23 unique chromosomes (ignoring XY). but it's not just chromosome number but length. All in the strawberry has 2 billion base pairs per cell (8 x 250m) while humans have 6 billion base pairs per cell (2 x 3b).
Should've used (standard, diploid) human cells, SMH.
Dislike👎🏻 Unsubbed.
@@JosGeerinkchickens have 39 pairs
@@tedarcher9120 the joke is that he would've had to to put a human in a blender.
Yes, but how many cells per milliliter?
@@jxtq27 Usually a lot more in humans, but tissue density varies.
I started watching in early days. The firework videos, I think. I’m still a fan. My boys and one of their cousins spent an afternoon making giant soap bubbles. They got together recently and that was a fond shared memory. Thanks for what you do.
50,000 miles long of DNA in a single cell is such awesome engineering
I always love watching your videos, I have several of your videos saved as general guides for any experimental project (like the parameter tuning) and several for projects Id like to try. But mostly, you’re inspirational. You’re out here as an ordinary (though don’t get me wrong, certainly talented, experienced, and skilled) self funded guy doing real science that’ll help real people (through your radiative cooling projects) and bring joy and wonder. What you do is a blessing, thank you
Bro, you’ve gone too far!! Joking. 😂 hi from South Africa
This is such a beautiful and delightful science project to throw into the mix of your regular more serious projects! Producing beauty and art (like the fireworks) following scientific method has such a strong appeal and I think it should really be part of the standard science curriculum everywhere.
7:49 Does Calcium also work? I would imagine it would be even better since calcium LOVES to form insoluble salts with phosphates and has a 2+ charge which would encourage crosslinking.
I'm not sure. I think you want the bond to be fairly weak and temporary. If you start forming insoluble salts it might cause the DNA to disintegrate entirely
@@Nighthawkinlight Makes sense!
Love your enthusiasm, taste test and laughter in learning and Mose eating strawberry.
What would happen if you put carbon black in the bubble mixture? Could It capture some heat and even rise?
That's a really interesting idea. Increased heat would cause the bubble to evaporate and pop more quickly, but it might be fun to experiment with
@@Nighthawkinlight I was thinking that perhaps setting a gentle heater on the ground where it could produce a plume of warm air that you could pass the bubble wand through as you create the bubble might be a simple way to give the bubbles just enough extra buoyancy to loft them away from the ground without tending to dry them out too quickly.
A pigment might be interesting, particularly with the PEO since it seems to make the most supportive film that would tend to immobilize the pigments.
I assume you are already familiar with the Zubbles colored bubble product and the interesting story behind the development of the colorant they use.
Great bubble footage! The diffraction effects are so bright they make some of the shots look like CGI.
Uplifting inrush of low barometric pressure?
21:30 those are starlings! when they fly in huge groups like that it can have a beautiful effect -- it's called a murmuration
People make massive bubbles… but no one has ever tried extremely tiny bubbles… like bubbles a cell would blow
pfas tier foaming bubbles.
im just reminded how long ive been watching this channel. probably around 2013? All I know is this channel still brings a lot of joy. always love when the problem is solved after so long. like a good drama show lol
Will try this with my kids. Thanks!
Noooo! Don't extarct their DNA 😢
"how do you even think about something like that.... Now to make giant bubbles" might be the best transition ever.
Great now i have more stuff to pick up from the hardware store and tractor supply
Watching this at 1/4 speed is super cool. Especially when the bubble first closes, when it starts to lose surface strength and when it pops. And the reflections! Real slow-mo footage would be amazing. Controlling light and air movement would be so cool too - maybe an empty warehouse? Awesome video.
Spongebob would be proud
So happy you tried those large looks. Learned a lot for my next "normal" tries at home to impress my daughter 😎🙏🇩🇪
4:42 Is this the same way you would extract human DNA?
Nah you do that by visiting the local gay bar and asking around. Though your chances are better if you have the money to pay for some good food and drinks.
I made giant bubbles for my 6 nieces/nephews using this exact J-Lube recipe, and it was an absolute hit!! Many core memories were made, and I am one step closer to being the cool chemistry uncle. I absolutely love your process and your videos, PLEASE keep up the good work.
What is J lube?
Is it the sex lubricant?
Thanks for helping me out.
11:57 NightHawkTuahInLight
This was really interesting!! I love the colors you get from bubbles like these!!
I'm also a crazy bearded guy named Ben in Michigan. Are you me?
always love to see you explore any random topic! been watching for almost 2 decades now crazy.
That outro with the boubles falling looked amazing. That part of the crows too!
As much as I'm excited by your radiative cooling projects, I'm glad I get to watch you follow your curiosity. I had no idea how easy it was to extract DNA, and and watching you use it as a long-chain polymer made for some really neat science!
I remember doing the DNA thing with strawberries when we were 9 back in school. Nostalgic for sure :D. These days, that many strawberries would cost hundreds so not really worth it.
This is so cool! I love the monolithic size and how it almost looks back at you in a way, I wish I could (or someone) could replicate that effect and make it convincing as a VFX in a horror movie (maybe kinda like Nope).
Good to see you Ben. You’re
The kind of science explainer that drove me to strive for engineering. Keep doing your thing.
Thanx from bringing a smile to my face whenever I see you posted a new video. Thanx twice for keeping my smile while watching said video.
I think I seen you at the capitol awhile back. I love bubbles. If it was you I was the lady jumping up and down clapping my hands acting like a little kid in the candy sore. Bibles are fascinating and medical to me. Totally awesome. I now live in Florida. Enjoying the weather. ❤️❤️❤️
Love it! I still remember the day my science teacher had us extract strawberry DNA. Gamechanger!
Ben, I ALWAYS enjoy when you release a new video! You have some of the best, well delivered content that promises to educate and entertain. All the best to you sir!
oh man this is amazing! I have a similar issue I'm working on, dealing with molecules that repel, so seeing that salt trick was inspirational. love this channel
Those turned out AMAZING! Almost looked like a visual effect, it was so unreal!
9:05 You, sir, are lovely. Thank you for openly sharing this.
It really gave me Carl Sagan vibes. Inspiration comes from sharing your passion, as opposed to simply information.
Wow Ben, your stack of talents is a gift that keeps on giving - Love it!
You and NileRed are heroes! Gods of educational content! With all my heart, I say, I fking love you guys!
Congratulations for your research on DNA, i am a bubble artist for almost 15 years and i never tried with that!! Thank u!!
I love how simple it is. You can easily get all the ingredients to do this yourself
That is such an incredible visual. I would love to see a slow motion of the pop. I've seen slow-mos of balloons with water so many times but never a bubble with such beautiful color refractions. You said your wrists and forearms were not happy. My traps and delts were "empathy burning" watching you hold those things in a Y pose for so long. (p.s. your commitment to your comment section despite the seemingly unmanageable quantity is... commendable)
I been watching you for over 13 years. Keep it up, stay young
Awesome bubbles. My daughter is 2 and we have been having fun with our little bubble machine. I was able to take some beautiful pictures too. Mixing bubbles and kids are fun.