# So, What's IN My Lava Lamp? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [May 24, 2004, 7:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-whats-in-my-lava-lamp/246857 "2004-05-24T19:13:10Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 9\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Eve](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Eve](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eve)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2004, 7:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-whats-in-my-lava-lamp/246857/1 "2004-05-24T19:13:10Z")
A departing coworker willed me her purple Lava Lamp, which is now plugged in and blooping away at my desk, holding me transfixed, as any bright shiny object does. What _is_ Lava Lamp goop? Is it oil and water, not mixing? Is it suspended in plain water, or is something added to that as well? ---
**Author:** ![Q.E.D](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/51bf81/32.png) [@Q.E.D](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Q.E.D)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2004, 7:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-whats-in-my-lava-lamp/246857/2 "2004-05-24T19:20:07Z")
For shame, **Eve** , not checking with [Cecil](http://www.straightdope.com/classics/a2_359) first! > [@](#): > > The principles of Lava Lite operation are simple. The “lava” is basically a specially compounded wax. When heated from below by a 40-watt bulb, it expands until it becomes less dense than the liquid above, causing it to rise. When it gets to the top of the globe, the wax cools and starts to sink again, and the cycle repeats. Convection currents in the liquid presumably add to the effect. ---
**Author:** ![Algernon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/a183cd/32.png) [@Algernon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Algernon)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2004, 7:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-whats-in-my-lava-lamp/246857/3 "2004-05-24T19:20:14Z")
> [@Eve](#): > > What is Lava Lamp goop? It is the sperm from a One Horned One Eyed Flying Purple People Eater. Collecting it is not a job that is high on my list of what I want to do when I grow up. ---
**Author:** ![Duckster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/duckster/32/1244_2.png) [@Duckster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Duckster)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2004, 7:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-whats-in-my-lava-lamp/246857/4 "2004-05-24T19:20:57Z")
According to the official [Lava Lamp web site](http://www.lavaworld.com/cfm/about/history.cfm), “a little of this and a little of that.” 😃 The [HowStuffWorks web site](http://home.howstuffworks.com/question36.htm), has a bit more information. ---
**Author:** ![Otto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/bbe5ce/32.png) [@Otto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Otto)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2004, 7:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-whats-in-my-lava-lamp/246857/5 "2004-05-24T19:21:00Z")
[The Master speaks](http://www.straightdope.com/classics/a2_359.html) ---
**Author:** ![Eve](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Eve](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eve)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2004, 7:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-whats-in-my-lava-lamp/246857/6 "2004-05-24T19:40:25Z")
Thanks all—especially Cecil! I love the name “Craven Walker”—can’t you just see him, skulking around, peering out from behind the lapels of his trench coat? ---
**Author:** ![paperbackwriter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/53a042/32.png) [@paperbackwriter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/paperbackwriter)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2004, 9:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-whats-in-my-lava-lamp/246857/7 "2004-05-24T21:52:49Z")
[hijack] Craven is a likely a family name used as a first name. My own last name is evidently derived from the same family name, and it is the name of [a district in North Yorkshire](http://directory.google.com/Top/Regional/Europe/United_Kingdom/England/North_Yorkshire/Craven_District/). There is also a [village in South Shropshire named Craven Arms](http://www.southshropshire.org.uk/pages/cravenarms.html). Finally, [Craven Cottage](http://www.stadiumguide.com/cravencottage.htm) is the stadium of the Fulham football club (soccer team) in London. [/hijack] ---
**Author:** ![OneYogini](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/b9e5f3/32.png) [@OneYogini](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OneYogini)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2004, 11:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-whats-in-my-lava-lamp/246857/8 "2004-05-24T23:17:11Z")
**is that you wes?** \* 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Rico](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rico/32/3582_2.png) [@Rico](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rico)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2004, 11:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-whats-in-my-lava-lamp/246857/9 "2004-05-24T23:23:30Z")
_Ooooh Wook! A Wava Wamp!_ (just in case you were going through Pwincess Pwecious withdrawals…You can thank me later.) 🆒