Making an Impossible Shape

In the previous post, while mentioning bubbles are typically spherical in shape, I alluded to the large array of  shape possibilities that clustering bubbles can take on. In this post, I will be demonstrating two ways to produce a particular shape -  a mythical six-sided bubble. 

Method 1: Bubble Frame 

This method requires a truckload of bubble solution, so be warned! 

1. Construct a cube frame out of straws. I cut six straws into halves, and then hot glued them at the corners to form a cube.

2. Dip the cube in bubble solution, then carefully pull it out.

The frame should now have a formation that looks like this:

Note the square in the center; this is critical to the proper growth of our cubular friend.

3. Using a bubble wand, blow a bubble and then drop it into the center of the cube. At this point, the cubic bubble is formed after the just blown bubble settles in the center.

4. (optional) The size of the cubic bubble can be altered by wetting the end of a straw and inserting it into the center, at which point air can be passed through the straw to inflate or deflate the bubble.

Voila! The final result looks like this:

Method 2: Manual Blowing 

This method is the more difficult one to do because it requires a bit of manual dexterity. You will need one bubble wand and one straw, and enough bubble solution to blow a few bubbles. 

1. Using the straw, first blow a single bubble but ensure that it attaches to the wand.

2. Then, using the straw, blow another bubble that attaches to the first bubble’s bottom to create a vertical stack of two bubbles. This part is the most finicky, as it requires a bit of wrangling to do. 

3. Take either the straw or the second bubble wand and blow another bubble that contacts both of the vertical bubbles. After the three bubbles unionize, remove the wand.

4. Repeat the process of step 3 three more times to form this.

5. Take a wetted straw and insert it into the center of the formation, and then gently blow and inflate a bubble. Now, since there are six bubbles surrounding it, the bubble in the center will be compressed into a cube.

If you have followed along these steps, congratulations - you now know how to produce a cubic bubble. If you have just been reading through, please go back and complete the steps before considering yourself a worthy bubbleologist.