00:00Imagine a glass droplet so tough it can withstand a hammer's glow yet shatters explosively if its
00:07tail is tweaked. Meet Prince Rupert's drops. How are they made? Formed by dripping molten glass
00:12into cold water. These teardrop-shaped wonders have a thick head and a slender tail. Why so
00:18strong? Rapid cooling locks in high compressive stresses on the exterior and tensile stresses
00:25inside, making the head incredibly tough. The fragile tail. A slight nick to the tail releases
00:32internal stresses, causing the entire structure to disintegrate explosively into fine powder.
00:39Isn't it amazing how a simple glass drop can harbor such explosive secrets?
00:44Follow for more intriguing science facts.
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