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Leidenfrost effect: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leidenfrost_effect http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leidenfrost_effect The stuff of which awesome party tricks ar

Leidenfrost effect: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leidenfrost_effect http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leidenfrost_effect The stuff of which awesome party tricks are made. I have myself put a very small amount of liquid nitrogen in my mouth and blown it out, although I then heard that the guy who taught me that trick (Jearl Walker) cracked a tooth doing that, so I never tried it again. And for the love of god do not swallow or you will literally kill yourself very painfully -- see footnote 3 of the above Wikipedia article. I think I'll stick with dipping fingers briefly into LN, which is way less stupid. Done that many times. Do not get it on your clothing, though, because then you can't retreat quickly and the frost is going to bite!

sliverstorm 15y ago
I am aware of that effect, and I have seen it in action. I am trying to reconcile what I see in the video with what I have seen of Leidenfrost in the past. He actually grips the object, and I don't see extra smoke. When I have observed the Leidenfrost effect in the past, I see a noticable increase in outgassing, and the liquid (as it usually is) skitters about freely, so it seems like it might be difficult to grasp an object through the vapor layer.
- ars 15y ago
  It's not liquid nitrogen, but rather dry ice. You can touch dry ice for short times if you don't squeeze tight and your fingers are dry.
martinkallstrom 15y ago
"What was really astounding about Michael's case is that the liquid nitrogen instantly expanded from a volume of about 3 or 4 cc's to about 3 or 4 liters and then dissected into five separate body compartments" Ouch. http://www.wpi.edu/news/19989/nitro.html http://www.wpi.edu/news/19989/nitro.html
- mechanical_fish 15y ago
  Yes, if this Wikipedia article had existed when I was a college senior I'd never, ever have tried that particular party trick. ;) Yet another example of how the web makes us much, much smarter. I estimate that I used a tiny sip, not 3 or 4 ccs, but still. Crazy risky.
  - sliverstorm 15y ago
    A teaspoon is 5ccs. 3-4cc IS pretty much a tiny sip, unless you have excellent lip-control.

sliverstorm 15y ago

I am aware of that effect, and I have seen it in action. I am trying to reconcile what I see in the video with what I have seen of Leidenfrost in the past. He actually grips the object, and I don't see extra smoke. When I have observed the Leidenfrost effect in the past, I see a noticable increase in outgassing, and the liquid (as it usually is) skitters about freely, so it seems like it might be difficult to grasp an object through the vapor layer.

ars 15y ago
It's not liquid nitrogen, but rather dry ice. You can touch dry ice for short times if you don't squeeze tight and your fingers are dry.

martinkallstrom 15y ago

"What was really astounding about Michael's case is that the liquid nitrogen instantly expanded from a volume of about 3 or 4 cc's to about 3 or 4 liters and then dissected into five separate body compartments" Ouch. http://www.wpi.edu/news/19989/nitro.html http://www.wpi.edu/news/19989/nitro.html

mechanical_fish 15y ago
Yes, if this Wikipedia article had existed when I was a college senior I'd never, ever have tried that particular party trick. ;) Yet another example of how the web makes us much, much smarter. I estimate that I used a tiny sip, not 3 or 4 ccs, but still. Crazy risky.
- sliverstorm 15y ago
  A teaspoon is 5ccs. 3-4cc IS pretty much a tiny sip, unless you have excellent lip-control.