Saturday Word: Sonoluminescence

[theidolhands.livejournal.com]

son·o·lu·mi·ne·scence [sŏn'ə-lo͞o'mə-nĕsʹəns]:
origin: [1934] Latin; sonare= resound + luminescere= shine.

noun
"Star in a jar." - Prof. Seth Putterman, PhD in physics.

A currently somewhat inexplicable reaction, made when a sound wave is passed through a bubble suspended in liquid, causing the bubble to expand, then collapse (cavitation), then burst into a bright light; bubble fusion!

Watch and see for yourself.

Last Week's Word: Dacha & Zoopraxiscope

Comments

[med_cat]

Fascinating, never heard of this, thanks!

[theidolhands.livejournal.com]

You're most welcome, and thank you for saying so!

[med_cat]

:)

[trellia-chan.livejournal.com]

Both the word and what it describes are magical! <3 I've never heard of this! Luminous and luminescence are already on my short list of favorite words as it is.

[theidolhands.livejournal.com]

I was really blown away by discovering this because I keep sensing things like this about the universe, but I keep not seeing things like this explored; it was satisfying and mystifying!