We did something similar to this in HS chemistry. If you get the proportions right, you can make a slurry that is hard when hit with force, but soft when touched gently.

that needs editing and a soundtrack
cornstarch Is fun and evil

Writhing masses of fingerlike protrusions squick me out. More, more!

"thixotropic"

if you fill a swimming pool with cornstarch-containing custard, you can walk across the surface, provided you take firm enough steps. stand still and you sink without trace...

New word! Thanks, matthewr!

ok, we have two days to get this ready in front of a catholic congregation

I believe the phenomenon being shown (particulate mass + vibrations and waveforms) is called cymatics.

I've seen a lot of stuff done with cymatics with pure liquids and particulates or powders, but not a thixotropic mass like that.

Those growing, morphing finger things are seriously fucking freaky.

I'd really like to know why disturbing the standing waves in that thixotropic cornstarch mass sets off such an active and entirely improbable chain reaction that bears little or no resemblence to the original patterns and behaviors.

Also, there's ferrofluidics, which was making the rounds a while ago. Searching "ferrofluid" on youtube turns up a lot of results.

Awesome, but that "fingers" segment creeped me out bigtime.

freaky.

Vibrations are neat. I especially like the part where the voiceover comments that the waves are fading in and out because the camera isn't in sync.

*wonders if this lab has any openings*

And this is why science kicks ass. Thanks, muddgirl!

I love this video! I'd seen it before but it's been a while. The physics probably wouldn't support it, but I wish there were some way of doing this at a larger scale, with human-sized figures rising up out of a vibrating swimming pool full of cornstarch and water.