Wire frames for surface tension study

When you dip these wire figures into a solution of soap and water, a thin soapy film will form between the wires. Physics professor Joseph Plateau used them for his surface tension research. Soap bubbles, however, don’t take long to pop. Therefore, it is quite challenging for scientists to study them. For that reason, Plateau called in photographer Adolphe Neyt. At the time, photography was relatively new, and Neyt was an authority in the field. Thanks to Neyt, Joseph Plateau managed to capture the fragile soap bubbles in three-dimensional stereo photographs. This way, he was able to observe them without interruption as well as share his observations with fellow scientists. So, what’s the moral of the story? When scientists break out of their own disciplines and put their heads together, it can yield surprising new insights!