From MSNBC



Guinness bubbles really do sink.

Scientists said Monday they had finally proved that the dark stout’s creamy bubbles defy expectations and flow down instead of upwards.

“Our group carried out preliminary experiments at a local pub a few years ago, but the results proved inconclusive,” said Dr. Andrew Alexander, from the University of Edinburgh’s School of Chemistry.

They first thought the dark liquid flowing down as a pint was poured gave the illusion the bubbles were going down as well.

Now close examination has revealed that, as a pint settles, bubbles touching the walls of the glass experience drag, similar to that a person feels sliding a finger along glass, and that prevents them floating up.

The bubbles in the middle however, are free to rise, creating a circular flow within the glass that causes bubbles at the edge to be pushed downwards on the inside surface of the glass.

The Edinburgh team, working with researchers at Stanford University in California have produced high-speed video footage of the sinking bubbles — to put at rest the minds of any drinkers who might have felt they were seeing things.


I've been listening to Pink Floyd and watching the Bubbles all day.

Britt

 

It usually don't stay in the glass that long in my house.

 

I really, seriously, deeply, hope that those guys got paid to sit around in pubs and research this. I don't really like Guinness; tastes like month-old rancid coffee to me, but it's the principle of the thing!

 

Hick! I don't know who Guinness is or what he's been eatin, but my bubbles STINK too! Specially when I've been eatin cabbage or hotdogs and get in da hot tub. Whew! Momma won't come near da tub fer hours!

(Geico is quickly re-reading DTR's rules on bathroom / flatulant / hottub humor before Jack get here! )

 

Wow. We need to hang out, cus it sounds like you're fun.

what albums? I need to go buy The Final Cut.

 

Maybe you two should get a room?

 

Today it was the "Division Bell" and "A Momentary Lapse of Reason" but I've got them all. Started listening to them when I was 10 or so. I guess I would have to say that they are my favorite band of all time.

Britt

 

Britt, admitting you have a problem is the first step to recovery! You think too much about beer, and foreign beer at that.

 

I didn't know you could think about beer to much... Mmmm Shiner Bock...

 

I'll second the Shiner Bock. It rates right behind my favorite, St. Paulie Girl.

 

Dude, are you a beeraholic???? your posts are starting to worry us. BTW, I had the pleasure of seeing the Wall in L.A. in the 80ies? Best show/concert Ive ever seen.

 

That is what I want to do when i grow up!

I know they use CO2 for carbonation and nitrogen for the creamy head I wonder if that is why the bubbles sink, because nitrogen molecules are bigger and heavier i think.

 

That would be a good way to describe it. Actually I usually don't drink more than 2-3 beers a day. But, sometimes.....

I just like the atmosphere that surrounds beer. To me there isn't anything I would much rather do than sit around with my friends and talk about nothing over a few good beers.

I would have given anything to have seen The Wall. They rebroadcast The Wall (with Roger Waters) in Berlin a few months ago and I have it saved. That was an awesome concert. I think I have just about every piece of Pink Floyd memorbila out there.

Britt

 

You ain't the only one. Nothing is more relaxing than bs'ing with a couple of good buddies over an ice cold beer.

 

Make it three of us... I drink beer pretty much every day. But usually one or two. Sometimes more