A Hand In Liquid Nitrogen–Results May Vary

Remember that first season episode on the X-Files where the bad guy shoved a scientist’s head in liquid nitrogen with smashing results? That’s kinda what one would expect to see if someone were to put their unprotected hand in liquid nitrogen. But Theodore Gray of PopSci has shown that your hand can be protected by science (just please don’t do this at home).

In a demonstration of the Leidenfrost effect–in which one’s hand is protected by natural bubbles–Gray plunged his hand into an unshielded dewar of the freezing (-320° F) fluid. The video (after the break) is amazing to behold… and the shots of disposing of liquid nitrogen on a lake is cool to see too!

The Leidenfrost effect is a natural phenomenon where the extreme difference in temperatures between your hand and the liquid nitrogen causes your hand to be protected by layer of instantly evaporated nitrogen gas. It happens every time, but it won’t last for long.

No wonder Gray was only dunking his hand for a second. If he were to keep it in any longer, frostbite (or worse) would be sure to set in.

Keep this in mind, kids, when you go back to school: the protective power of science is amazing!

[via PopSci thanks to @JJKubik]