# What is this stuff and where can I get some to play with? **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [March 24, 2006, 1:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-stuff-and-where-can-i-get-some-to-play-with/349710 "2006-03-24T13:23:27Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 15\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Marlitharn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/779978/32.png) [@Marlitharn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marlitharn)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2006, 1:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-stuff-and-where-can-i-get-some-to-play-with/349710/1 "2006-03-24T13:23:27Z")
[Video of goopy stuff that does really cool things when you magnetize it.](http://www.2flashgames.com/viewlink.php?url=http://www.lookatentertainment.com/v/v-1913.htm&id=2213) I want some! ---
**Author:** ![Spatial\_Rift\_47](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a8b319/32.png) [@Spatial\_Rift\_47](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spatial_Rift_47)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2006, 2:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-stuff-and-where-can-i-get-some-to-play-with/349710/2 "2006-03-24T14:15:15Z")
That is unquestionably awesome. Looks like you can purchase up to a liter [here](http://www.amazingmagnets.com/index.asp?PageAction=VIEWPROD&ProdID=108). I just might have to get some of this stuff. ---
**Author:** ![CalMeacham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/calmeacham/32/35_2.png) [@CalMeacham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CalMeacham)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2006, 3:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-stuff-and-where-can-i-get-some-to-play-with/349710/3 "2006-03-24T15:25:58Z")
They had siome in an exhibit at the Boston Museum of Science for a while, but it’s gone now. It was all enclosed, so you couldn’t touch it, but you had knobs that let you manipulate magnets around it. ---
**Author:** ![Hypno-Toad](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/b2d939/32.png) [@Hypno-Toad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hypno-Toad)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2006, 3:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-stuff-and-where-can-i-get-some-to-play-with/349710/4 "2006-03-24T15:49:06Z")
I’d like to see the same display done in Zero gravity. ---
**Author:** ![Faruiza](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/ecd19e/32.png) [@Faruiza](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Faruiza)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2006, 9:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-stuff-and-where-can-i-get-some-to-play-with/349710/5 "2006-03-24T21:49:11Z")
Ooo. I wonder what it would do in an MRI machine? ---
**Author:** ![SurrenderDorothy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/surrenderdorothy/32/1221_2.png) [@SurrenderDorothy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SurrenderDorothy)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2006, 5:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-stuff-and-where-can-i-get-some-to-play-with/349710/6 "2006-03-25T05:41:52Z")
oooooh cool! that’s going on my list of stuff to buy as gifts for people cool enough to appreciate it. ---
**Author:** ![jayjay](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jayjay/32/6765_2.png) [@jayjay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jayjay)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2006, 6:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-stuff-and-where-can-i-get-some-to-play-with/349710/7 "2006-03-25T06:15:48Z")
Its MSDS says it has a flash point of 160 degrees Fahrenheit, which seems to me well within the “oopsie” home possibility range. If you do get some, be careful around any open flame or heat source. ---
**Author:** ![Marlitharn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/779978/32.png) [@Marlitharn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marlitharn)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2006, 6:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-stuff-and-where-can-i-get-some-to-play-with/349710/8 "2006-03-25T06:57:09Z")
Oooh, I’m gonna get me some! I just won’t smoke around it. ---
**Author:** ![mhendo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mhendo/32/3159_2.png) [@mhendo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mhendo)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2006, 5:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-stuff-and-where-can-i-get-some-to-play-with/349710/9 "2006-03-25T17:37:33Z")
That stuff looks really cool! You can get a [Ferrofluidic Adventure Science Kit](https://www.teachersource.com/catalog/page/Electricity_Magnetism_Engines/Ferrofluids/?id=be681413d2b15730b3572ad09225b903#FF-100) with magnets, a display container, instructions etc. for $50. You can buy just the liquid as well, $30 for 100ml or $139 for a litre. I also just spent some time looking at [magnets](http://www.wondermagnets.com/cgi-bin/edatcat/WMSstore.pl?user_action=list&category=Magnets_and_Magnetism%3BPermanent_Magnets%3BNeodymium) and reading a bit about NdFeB (Neodymium-Iron-Boron) magnets. I never realized that there were such strong magnets available. [These photos](http://www.wondermagnet.com/crush.html) show that you really have to be careful around magnets this strong. And [here](http://www.wondermagnet.com/150demo.html) is a guy lifting 150 pounds with a magnet that is 1½" x 1½" square, and less than ½" thick. I think i’m going to order a [$20 grab bag](http://www.wondermagnets.com/cgi-bin/edatcat/WMSstore.pl?user_action=detail&catalogno=0015) of these awesome little magnets, and then maybe get me some ferrofluid. ---
**Author:** ![Eleusis](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/f4b2a3/32.png) [@Eleusis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eleusis)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2006, 11:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-stuff-and-where-can-i-get-some-to-play-with/349710/10 "2006-03-25T23:53:35Z")
> [@jayjay](#): > > Its MSDS says it has a flash point of 160 degrees Fahrenheit, which seems to me well within the “oopsie” home possibility range. If you do get some, be careful around any open flame or heat source. Gasoline has a flashpoint of -40 degrees. That’s just minimum temperature that it will burn at all, it doesn’t mean it bursts into flames at that temp. ---
**Author:** ![jayjay](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jayjay/32/6765_2.png) [@jayjay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jayjay)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2006, 11:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-stuff-and-where-can-i-get-some-to-play-with/349710/11 "2006-03-25T23:59:33Z")
> [@Eleusis](#): > > Gasoline has a flashpoint of -40 degrees. > > That’s just minimum temperature that it will burn at all, it doesn’t mean it bursts into flames at that temp. Well, I’ll be spanked! I honestly thought it meant the point at which it ignites! Edumacation accomplished right here in this very thread. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Tikki](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/5daacb/32.png) [@Tikki](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tikki)\ **Post date:** [March 26, 2006, 12:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-stuff-and-where-can-i-get-some-to-play-with/349710/12 "2006-03-26T00:10:07Z")
Wow! It’s like mercury’s way cooler cousin! I’m going to keep that in mind for a Father’s Day present. ---
**Author:** ![Sage\_Rat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sage_rat/32/399_2.png) [@Sage\_Rat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sage_Rat)\ **Post date:** [March 26, 2006, 12:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-stuff-and-where-can-i-get-some-to-play-with/349710/13 "2006-03-26T00:29:55Z")
Is it used for anything? Or is it a discovery still waiting a use? ---
**Author:** ![mhendo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mhendo/32/3159_2.png) [@mhendo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mhendo)\ **Post date:** [March 26, 2006, 12:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-stuff-and-where-can-i-get-some-to-play-with/349710/14 "2006-03-26T00:39:46Z")
> [@Sage Rat](#): > > Is it used for anything? Or is it a discovery still waiting a use? It does have some applications, according to [Wikipedia](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ferrofluid#Applications). ---
**Author:** ![Rysdad](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/7cd45c/32.png) [@Rysdad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rysdad)\ **Post date:** [March 26, 2006, 3:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-stuff-and-where-can-i-get-some-to-play-with/349710/15 "2006-03-26T03:16:40Z")
I first saw a ferrofluid demonstration about 25 years ago done by a guy that worked at the Bureau of Mines. He said that they were testing it out as a means of getting iron out of poor grade ore (plentiful here in Minnesota). I don’t know if anything ever became of that. But this stuff looks pretty neat. I’ve added it to my toy list. 🙂