This Is What Happens When You Combine Ferrofluids and Glowsticks

Ferrofluids are cool. Glowsticks are cool. And what happens when you combine them is pretty neat, too.

Ferrofluids are liquids that hold tiny nano-sized particles of magnetic material within themselves in suspension. When they experience a magnetic field, they assume all kinds of interesting patterns, from complex swirling loops to spiky hedgehog-like domes.

Here, Physics Girl adds a little of the luminescent fluid from glowsticks to the mix, to show the shapes and patterns more clearly. She does a nice job of explaining the properties of ferrofluids, too—so it’s worth watching the video for more than just the pretty footage.

[Physics Girl via Fuck Yeah Fluid Dynamics]