Here's a quick video in which I show you how to make a movable hole in soap film
Here's a quick video in which I show you how to make a movable hole in soap film

You could call it an anti bubble
You could call it an anti bubble

You'd be wrong, but you could call it that I'm gonna call it that in the title
You'd be wrong, but you could call it that I'm gonna call it that in the title

For the clicks and hear the clicks
For the clicks and hear the clicks

It's quite surprising when you first see it and then you think about it for a bit and it kind of makes sense
It's quite surprising when you first see it and then you think about it for a bit and it kind of makes sense

But it's also a really useful metaphor for a cell membrane. I'll get to that in a minute
But it's also a really useful metaphor for a cell membrane. I'll get to that in a minute

I'll first of all show you how to do it
I'll first of all show you how to do it

All you need is some kind of frame I've used thick copper wire you then dunk that in some
All you need is some kind of frame I've used thick copper wire you then dunk that in some

soapy liquid to get your membrane you then drop a loop of thread onto the membrane and then you pop
soapy liquid to get your membrane you then drop a loop of thread onto the membrane and then you pop

the bit of soap film that's inside the loop and
the bit of soap film that's inside the loop and

The loop of thread suddenly jumps out into a perfect circle. Why does it form a perfect circle?
The loop of thread suddenly jumps out into a perfect circle. Why does it form a perfect circle?

Well, the soap film is under tension because it's elastic. It's also fluid so it can move around and
Well, the soap film is under tension because it's elastic. It's also fluid so it can move around and

energetically it's going to move in such a way as to minimize its area in the same way that when you
energetically it's going to move in such a way as to minimize its area in the same way that when you

Open up a balloon the elastic membrane of the balloon will
Open up a balloon the elastic membrane of the balloon will

minimize its area by
minimize its area by

blowing air out of the balloon. When you introduce a hole into the soap film the soap film will minimize its area by
blowing air out of the balloon. When you introduce a hole into the soap film the soap film will minimize its area by

maximizing the area of the hole and you may know that for any
maximizing the area of the hole and you may know that for any

Given fixed perimeter like the fixed length of the loop of thread the maximum possible
Given fixed perimeter like the fixed length of the loop of thread the maximum possible

Area is if you form that perimeter into a circle and that's why this wibbly-wobbly
Area is if you form that perimeter into a circle and that's why this wibbly-wobbly

Loop of thread suddenly pops into this perfect circle.
Loop of thread suddenly pops into this perfect circle.

I came across this trick when I was doing some research for a kids book called the bacteria book
I came across this trick when I was doing some research for a kids book called the bacteria book

Soap bubbles are actually a really good metaphor for cell membranes like the membrane of a bacterial cell
Soap bubbles are actually a really good metaphor for cell membranes like the membrane of a bacterial cell

Cell membranes and soap bubbles are both made of amphiphilic molecules
Cell membranes and soap bubbles are both made of amphiphilic molecules

Which are molecules that have of hydrophobic end and a hydrophilic end and in the case of cell membranes their?
Which are molecules that have of hydrophobic end and a hydrophilic end and in the case of cell membranes their?

Phospholipids so look at one end. You've got these two
Phospholipids so look at one end. You've got these two

hydrocarbon chains and that's the same structure as oil and as you know oil and water don't mix so this is the
hydrocarbon chains and that's the same structure as oil and as you know oil and water don't mix so this is the

Hydrophobic end the end that doesn't mix with water
Hydrophobic end the end that doesn't mix with water

This ends got a hold of our stuff going on and it's polar so it does
This ends got a hold of our stuff going on and it's polar so it does

Dissolve in water it's soluble in water. And this is very similar to the structure of soap
Dissolve in water it's soluble in water. And this is very similar to the structure of soap

So you've got one end that will mix with the grease on your dinner plate
So you've got one end that will mix with the grease on your dinner plate

and you've got another end that will mix with the water in your sponge making it easier for you to
and you've got another end that will mix with the water in your sponge making it easier for you to

Remove the grease from your dinner plate
Remove the grease from your dinner plate

What's really cool is if you put some phospholipid molecules in water, then the hydrophobic ends will
What's really cool is if you put some phospholipid molecules in water, then the hydrophobic ends will

Attempt to avoid contact with the water by facing each other and you end up with what's called a phospholipid
Attempt to avoid contact with the water by facing each other and you end up with what's called a phospholipid

Bilayer like this soap film is very similar except
Bilayer like this soap film is very similar except

It's the hydrophilic ends that point inwards and there's a layer of water
It's the hydrophilic ends that point inwards and there's a layer of water

sandwiched between the two and the metaphor doesn't end there here are some things that they have in common so both cell membranes and
sandwiched between the two and the metaphor doesn't end there here are some things that they have in common so both cell membranes and

soap film are
soap film are

Fluid as you can see this hole is moving around and you get a similar thing with cell membranes you have these
Fluid as you can see this hole is moving around and you get a similar thing with cell membranes you have these

molecules that float around
molecules that float around

Within that phospholipid bilayer and these complex molecules have hole in them and it's for cell transport
Within that phospholipid bilayer and these complex molecules have hole in them and it's for cell transport

It's to allow different molecules in an hour. Finally viruses often have this phospholipid
It's to allow different molecules in an hour. Finally viruses often have this phospholipid

envelope around them
envelope around them

So from the outside
So from the outside

They look a bit like teeny tiny cells and it's believed that these envelopes are used to
They look a bit like teeny tiny cells and it's believed that these envelopes are used to

Evade detection by immune systems because they just look like normal cells
Evade detection by immune systems because they just look like normal cells

and in fact
and in fact

These virus envelopes are stolen from the host cells and actually you can demonstrate that happening with this
These virus envelopes are stolen from the host cells and actually you can demonstrate that happening with this

Model here. Imagine my breath is a virus pushing its way through a cell brain. They go look imagine
Model here. Imagine my breath is a virus pushing its way through a cell brain. They go look imagine

There's a virus inside that little bubble
There's a virus inside that little bubble

This video was supposed to coincide with the release of my kids book the bacteria book, but I'm incredibly disorganized
This video was supposed to coincide with the release of my kids book the bacteria book, but I'm incredibly disorganized

This book's been out for over a year now. And in fact another book by me is out it came out last week
This book's been out for over a year now. And in fact another book by me is out it came out last week

It's called Sciences magic. So I have three books for kids now in total the other one thing how to be a scientist
It's called Sciences magic. So I have three books for kids now in total the other one thing how to be a scientist

I'm not gonna bang on about these for too long
I'm not gonna bang on about these for too long

I will just say how to be a scientist and science is magic are both full of experiments that you can try at home
I will just say how to be a scientist and science is magic are both full of experiments that you can try at home

I worked really hard to make sure it wasn't just the bog-standard experiments you get in books like this
I worked really hard to make sure it wasn't just the bog-standard experiments you get in books like this

So there's loads of stuff in these books that you won't find anywhere else. I'm also really proud of the bacterial book
So there's loads of stuff in these books that you won't find anywhere else. I'm also really proud of the bacterial book

It's all about microbial life and the little characters and the illustrations and stuff done by DK
It's all about microbial life and the little characters and the illustrations and stuff done by DK

I just love them and I hope that you would too therefore kind of 5 to 11 ish years old
I just love them and I hope that you would too therefore kind of 5 to 11 ish years old

So I appreciate that's not really my YouTube demographic
So I appreciate that's not really my YouTube demographic

But you know
But you know

maybe you have nieces and nephews that you keep forgetting to buy birthday presents for
maybe you have nieces and nephews that you keep forgetting to buy birthday presents for

Just get one of these or stick it in a cupboard and then you you're good to go
Just get one of these or stick it in a cupboard and then you you're good to go

If you're interested in that and you feel like being generous then there are affiliate links in the description
If you're interested in that and you feel like being generous then there are affiliate links in the description

You can have a look at and yeah, that's it
You can have a look at and yeah, that's it

I hope you enjoy them and I hope you enjoyed this video
I hope you enjoy them and I hope you enjoyed this video

If you did, don't forget to hit subscribe, and I'll see you next time
If you did, don't forget to hit subscribe, and I'll see you next time