Liesegang Rings
chillphysicsenjoyer.substack.com33 points by surprisetalk 4 days ago
33 points by surprisetalk 4 days ago
> It was much quicker and easier to get the agar to 90C temperature by putting it in a microwave for 40s at 900W
Agarose gels in molecular biology labs are prepared in a similar way. (Agarose is the main component of agar.)
It’s also the main reason those microwaves are so gross!
Since it’s relatively thick, boiling solution sputters everywhere and is—-at best—-partially cleaned up by harried scientists. Use a big container and try not to overshoot the temp.
Nice write up! Felt like a Nile Blue/Red experiment.
> Even though liesegang rings aren't the mechanism behind animal patterning, you still can't help but marvel at what goes on behind the scenes
Turing Patterns, maybe? I wish more people knew about them, they're so cool!
For an example of this that most anyone can find in nature, look up the humble agate (banded ones, most seam agates do not display the phenomena to as great of an extent.)