In classic physics demonstrations, light can be tricked into making solid glassware vanish entirely. This famous optical experiment uses a plain Pyrex glass stirring rod or small beaker submerged into ordinary cooking oil, such as wesson or vegetable oil.
Normally, human eyes detect transparent glass because light bends, or refracts, as it passes from the air into the denser glass material. This bending of light waves reveals the edges, curves, and thickness of the container.
However, borosilicate glass like Pyrex has an optical index of refraction of roughly 1.474. Common vegetable oils and pure glycerin share nearly this exact same refractive index value. When the glassware enters the liquid, light travels straight through both materials without bending or bouncing.
Because the light waves do not change speed or direction at the boundary between oil and glass, no reflection or refraction occurs. The immersed glass becomes completely invisible to the human eye, reappearing only when lifted back out into the open air.
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Disclaimer: This video is for informational and educational purposes. The facts are gathered from public educational sources and visuals serve an illustrative purpose.
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