The fascinating science of bubbles, from soap to champagne | Li Wei Tan

譯者: Lilian Chiu 審譯者: Yanyan Hong

Some years ago, I was visiting Paris

幾年前，我造訪了巴黎，

and walking along the Seine River during a beautiful summer afternoon.

在一個美好的夏天午後， 我沿著塞納河散步。

I saw giant bubbles floating on the riverbank,

我在河岸上看到 巨大的泡泡在飄浮，

like this one.

就像這種。

The next moment, it popped and was gone.

隔天早上，它破掉了，消失了。

Making them were two street performers surrounded by a crowd.

兩位街頭藝人在製造這些泡泡， 旁邊圍著一群觀眾。

They visibly make a living by asking for donations

很明顯，他們靠大家賞錢來過活，

and by selling pairs of sticks tied with two strings.

他們也販售一組兩根棍子， 綁著兩條繩子。

When I was there, a man bought a pair of sticks for 10 euros,

我在那裡的時候， 有一名男子用十歐元買了一組，

which surprised me.

這讓我很吃驚。

I am a scientist who is passionate about bubbles.

我是個對泡泡充滿熱忱的科學家。

I know the right trick to make the giant bubbles

我知道若要製造出 巨大的泡泡，密訣在於

is the right soapy water mixture itself --

要把肥皂水的混合做對——

not the sticks,

不在於棍子，的確需要棍子，

which may be needed,

but you can easily make them at home.

但你很容易就可以在家自製出來。

Focusing on the sticks makes us not see that the real tool is the bubble itself.

把焦點放在棍子上， 讓我們無法發現，

真正的工具是泡泡本身。

Bubbles might seem like something just children make while playing,

泡泡似乎是給小朋友玩的，

but sometimes it can be really stunning.

但有時，泡泡也可以很驚人。

However, there are more fascinating science to bubbles,

然而，泡泡背後 還有更多迷人的科學，

such as problem-solving tools.

比如，解決問題的工具。

So I would like to share with you

所以，我想要和各位分享

a few stories about the science of creating bubbles

幾個故事，都是關於 製造泡泡的科學，

and the science of eliminating the microscopic ones.

以及消除微小泡泡的科學。

Since it's up on the screen, let's start with the soap bubble.

既然已經展示在螢幕上了， 咱們就從肥皂泡泡開始吧。

It is made from very common substances:

它是用非常常見的物質製成的：

air, water, soap, in the right mixture.

空氣、水、肥皂， 再把它們做正確的混合。

You can see soap bubbles constantly changing their colors.

你們可以看見，肥皂泡泡 常常會改變顏色。

This is due to the interaction with light at various directions

原因是因為和不同 方向的光進行交互作用，

and the changes of their thickness.

以及厚度的改變。

One of the common substances, water molecules,

其中一項常見物質，水分子，

are formed by two atoms of hydrogen and one atom of oxygen -- H2O.

是用兩個氫原子

和一個氧原子形成的—— H2O。

On most surfaces, water droplets tend to curve inwards,

通常水滴的大部分表面向內彎曲，

forming a semihemisphere shape.

形成半球形。

This is because the water droplet's surface is like an elastic sheet.

這是因為水滴的表面 就像是一張彈性床單一樣。

The water molecule on the surface is constantly being pulled inwards

表面的水分子經常會被

中心的分子向內拉。

by the molecule at the center.

And the quality of the elasticity is what we call "surface tension."

而彈性的品質就是 我們所謂的「表面張力」。

Now by adding soap,

加上肥皂，

what happens is the soap molecule reduces the surface tension of water,

肥皂的分子就會減低 水的表面張力，

making it more elastic and easier to form bubbles.

讓它更有彈性，更容易形成泡泡。

You can think of a bubble as a mathematical problem-solver.

可以把泡泡想像成是 數學的問題解決者。

You see it relentlessly trying to achieve geometry perfection.

你會看到它持續不斷嘗試 要達成幾何上的完美。

For instance, a sphere is the shape with the least surface area

比如，若體積不變，

表面積最小的形狀就是球形。

for a given volume.

That's why a single bubble is always in the shape of a sphere.

那就是為什麼單一的泡泡 總是球形的。

Let me show you. Check it out.

讓我示範給各位看。

This is a single bubble.

這是單一的泡泡。

When two bubbles touch each other,

當兩個泡泡碰在一起時，

they can save materials by sharing a common wall.

它們可以共用一座牆， 來節省材料。

When more and more bubbles are added together,

當越來越多泡泡結合在一起，

their geometry changes.

它們的幾何學會改變。

These four bubbles are added together.

這四個泡泡被結合在一起。

They meet at one point at the center.

在中間，它們有一個交會點。

When six bubbles are added together,

當六個泡泡結合在一起時，

a magical cube appears at the center.

中間會出現一個魔法般的立方體。

(Applause)

（掌聲）

That is surface tension at work,

這就是表面張力在發揮作用，

trying to find the most effective geometry arrangement.

嘗試找到最有效的幾何安排方式。

Now, let me give you another example.

讓我再舉一個例子。

This is a very simple prop.

這是個非常簡易的道具。

This is made from two layers of plastic

它的構造是兩層塑膠，

with four pins connected to each other.

上面有四個釘栓將它們連結起來。

Imagine these four pins represent four cities that are equally apart,

想像這四個釘栓是四個城市，

它們之間的距離相同，

and we would like to make roads to connect these four cities.

我們想要建造道路 來連結這四個城市。

My question is: What is the shortest length to connect these four cities?

我的問題是：連結這四個城市， 最短的路徑是什麼？

Let's find out the answer by dipping it into the soapy water.

咱們把它浸入肥皂水中， 來找出答案。

切記，肥皂泡泡的形式 永遠都會嘗試去

Remember, the soap bubble forms will always try to minimize

將它們的表面面積給最小化，

their surface area

with a perfect geometry arrangement.

用最完美的幾何安排 來做到這一點。

So the solution might not be something you expected.

所以，解決方案可能 不是你所預期的。

The shortest length to connect these four cities

連結這四個城市最短的路徑長度

is 2.73 times the distance between these two cities.

是 2.73 乘以兩個城市之間的距離。

(Applause)

（掌聲）

Now you've got the idea.

現在你們有概念了。

The soap bubble forms will always try to minimize their surface area

肥皂泡泡的形式，

永遠都會嘗試將 它們的表面面積最小化，

with a perfect geometry arrangement.

用最完美的幾何安排 來做到這一點。

Now, let us look at bubbles in another perspective.

現在，讓我們用 另一個視角來看泡泡。

My daughter, Zoe, loves visiting zoos.

我的女兒柔伊很喜歡去動物園。

Her favorite spot is Penguin Cove at Marwell Zoo in Southern England,

她最愛的地方是南英格蘭 瑪爾維動物園裡的企鵝小灣，

where she could see penguins swim at speed under the water.

在那裡，她能看見企鵝 在水中快速游泳。

One day, she noticed that the body of penguins

有一天，她注意到企鵝在游泳時，

leaves a trail of bubbles when they swim

身體後面會留下泡泡痕跡，

and asked why.

她問，為什麼。

Animals and birds like penguins

像企鵝這種動物和鳥類，

that spend a lot of their time under the water

很多時間待在水中，

have evolved an ingenious way of utilizing the capability of bubbles

牠們已經演化出一種巧妙的方式，

可以利用泡泡的能力，

to reduce the density of water.

來減少水的密度。

Emperor penguins are thought to be able to dive a few hundred meters

一般認為，皇帝企鵝可以潛入

海面下幾百公尺深。

below the sea surface.

They are thought to store the air under their feathers

在下潛之前，他們會把空氣儲存在

before they dive

牠們的羽毛下，

and then progressively release it as a cloud of bubbles.

再漸漸以泡泡雲的 形式將空氣釋出。

This reduces the density of water surrounding them,

這樣做會減少牠們身邊的水密度，

making it easier to swim through

就更容易游過去，

and speed up their swimming speed at least 40 percent.

且能將游速增加至少四成。

This feature has been noticed by the ship manufacturers.

船製造商已經注意到這項特徵。

I am talking about the big ships here,

我指的是大船，

the ones that are used to transport thousands of containers across the ocean.

用來運送數千個貨櫃渡海的大船。

Recently, they developed a system called "air lubricating system,"

近期，它們開發了一個系統， 叫做「空氣潤滑系統」，

inspired by the penguins.

靈感就來自企鵝。

In this system, they produce a lot of air bubbles

這個系統會產生很多的空氣泡泡，

and redistribute them across the whole of the ship,

將它們重新分配到整艘船各處，

like an air carpet that reduces the water resistance

就像一張空氣地毯，

當船在移動時能減少水的阻力．

when a ship is moving.

This feature cuts off the energy consumption for the ship

這項特點能讓船的能源消耗

up to 15 percent.

減少達到 15%。

Bubbles can also be used for medicines.

泡泡也能用在醫學上。

It can also play a role in medicines,

它在醫學中也有能扮演的角色，

for instance, as a method for noninvasive delivery systems for drugs and genes

比如，它能做為一種

非侵入性的藥物和基因傳遞系統，

to a specific part of the body.

遞送到身體的特定部位。

Imagine a microbubble

想像一個微小的泡泡，

filled with a mixture of drugs and magnetic agents

裡面滿是藥物和磁劑的混合物，

being injected into our bloodstream.

被注射到我們的血液當中。

The bubbles will move to the target areas.

泡泡會前往目標區域。

But how do they know where to go?

但它們怎麼知道要去哪裡？

Because we placed a magnet there.

因為我們在那裡放了磁鐵。

For instance, this part of my hand.

比如，我手的這個部分。

When the microbubbles move to this part of my hand,

當微小的泡泡移動到 我手的這個部分，

we can pop it via ultrasound

我們能用超音波將它弄破，

and release the drug exactly where it's needed.

將藥物在需要用藥的 正確位置釋出。

Now, I mentioned about the science of creating bubbles.

我之前有提到創造泡泡的科學。

But sometimes we also need to remove them.

但有時候，我們也需要除去泡泡。

That's actually part of my job.

我的工作有一部分就是在做這件事。

My exact job title is "ink formulation scientist."

我的職稱是「墨水配方科學家」。

But I don't work on the ink that you use for your writing pens.

但我處理的墨水不是 寫字筆中用的墨水。

I'm working on some cool applications

我要處理一些很酷的應用，

such as organic photovoltaics, OPVs,

比如有機光電, （organic photovoltaics, OPVs）

and organic light-emitting diodes, OLEDs.

以及有機發光二極體（OLED）。

Part of my job is to figure out how and why we want to remove the bubbles

我的工作有一部分是要找出

如何及為什麼要將泡泡

from the ink that my company produces.

從我的公司所製造的墨水中除去。

During the formulation-mixing process,

在配方混合的過程中，

or preparation process,

或是準備的過程中，

we mix active ingredients, solvents and additives

我們會混合活性藥物成分、

溶劑，和添加物，

in order to achieve the formulations with the properties we want

確保產生出來的配方能夠讓墨水

在被使用時具有我們想要的特性。

when the ink is being used.

But just like you would make drinks

但就像你在做飲料 或烘焙蛋糕一樣，

or bake cakes,

it is unavoidable that some air bubbles will be trapped inside that ink.

無可避免，總會有一些 空氣泡泡被困在墨水當中。

Here, we are talking about a different space

在這裡，我們談的泡泡和我在巴黎

from the bubbles I'd seen in Paris.

看到的泡泡是不同的大小。

The bubbles that are trapped inside those inks

困在墨水當中的泡泡

vary between a few millimeters,

尺寸大約是從幾毫米

a few microns

到幾微米不等，甚至會到幾奈米。

or even a few nanometers in size.

And what we are concerned about

我們擔心的

is the oxygen and the moisture that is trapped inside.

是泡泡裡面的氧氣和濕氣。

At this size scale, removing them is not easy.

要除去尺寸這麼小的 泡泡並不容易。

But it matters,

但它很重要。

for instance, for organic light-emitting diodes inks

比如，就有機發光 二極體墨水來說，

that we can use to produce display for your smartphone, for example.

其中一個應用的例子

就是智慧手機的顯示。

It's supposed to last for many years,

它應該可以用很多年，

but if the ink that we use has been absorbed with oxygen and moisture

但如果氧氣和濕氣沒有被除去，

[which] are not being removed,

就會吸收我們用的墨水，

then we can quickly see dark spots appear in the pixels.

我們很快就會在像素中看到黑點。

Now, one challenge we face in removing the microbubbles

在除去微小泡泡時，

我們遇到的其中一個難題

is that they are not very cooperative.

就是它們不太樂意合作。

They like to sit there,

它們喜歡坐在那裡，

bathing in the ink without moving much.

在墨水中沐浴，不太移動。

But how do we kick them out?

但我們要如何把它們踢出去？

One technology we use

我們用的一項技術

is to force the ink going through a thin, long and tiny tube

就是強迫讓墨水通過

一根細長的小管子，

with a porous wall,

管壁上有孔，

and we place the tubes inside the vacuum chamber,

我們把管子放在真空室當中，

so that the bubbles can be squeezed out from the ink

將泡泡從墨水中擠出來，

and be removed.

將它們除去。

Once we manage to remove the bubbles from the ink that we produce,

一旦我們能夠把泡泡從 我們所製造的墨水中除去，

it is time for celebration.

就該大肆慶祝了。

Let's open a bubbling champagne.

咱們來開一瓶氣泡香檳吧。

Ooh, this is going to be fun!

喔，這一定會很好玩！

(Laughter)

（笑聲）

Woooo!

嗚呼！

(Applause)

（掌聲）

You could see a lot of bubbles rushing out from the champagne bottle.

你們可以看到， 有很多泡泡從香檳瓶中湧出。

These are the bubbles filled with carbon dioxide,

這些泡泡充滿了二氧化碳，

a gas that's been produced during the fermentation process of the wine.

二氧化碳是在葡萄酒 發酵過程中產生的氣體。

Let me pour some out.

讓我倒一些出來。

I can't miss the chance.

我不能錯失這個機會。

I guess it's enough.

我想應該夠了。

(Laughter)

（笑聲）

Here, I can see a lot of microbubbles

我可以看到這裡 有許多微小的泡泡，

moving from the bottom of the glass to the top of the champagne.

從玻璃杯的底部向上移動 到香檳的最上方。

Before it pops,

在它爆裂之前，

it will jet tiny droplets of aroma molecules

它會噴出小滴的香氣分子，

and intensify the flavor of champagne,

強化香檳的香味，

making us enjoy much more the flavor of champagne.

讓我們更享受香檳的味道。

As a scientist who is passionate about bubbles,

身為對泡泡充滿熱情的科學家，

I love to see them,

我很愛看泡泡，

I love to play with them,

我很愛玩泡泡，

and I love to study them.

我很愛研究泡泡。

And also, I love to drink them.

此外，我也很愛喝泡泡。

Thank you.

謝謝。

(Applause)

（掌聲）