FlipFact of the Day: Pumice floats on water, and can even stay afloat for years.
Lightweight and porous, pumice is a type of igneous or magmatic rock formed when lava cools quickly and traps gases inside it prior to solidification. This creates multiple air holes inside the rock, giving it a porosity of 64–85% by volume and allowing it to float on water until it eventually sinks (which could take years).
For a long time, the secret of floating pumice—specifically, how it manages to stay afloat for so long—baffled scientists. Read how they cracked the mystery here.
Today’s Science History Milestone: On September 15, 1835, English naturalist Charles Darwin reached the Galápagos Islands via the HMS Beagle.
Still remember your 5th-grade science classes? Test your knowledge and see if you still remember these facts and fundamental concepts in human anatomy, biology, botany, and other branches of science. Click here to try the “Are You Smarter Than A Pinoy Fifth-Grader” Challenge.
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Cover image: Jeff Butterworth
References
- https://www.iflscience.com/physics/scientists-solve-mystery-of-how-pumice-stones-float-/
Author: Mikael Angelo Francisco
Bitten by the science writing bug, Mikael has years of writing and editorial experience under his belt. As the editor-in-chief of FlipScience, Mikael has sworn to help make science more fun and interesting for geeky readers and casual audiences alike.
