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How oobleck works: The mystery of shear-thickening cornstarch solutions

When you mix cornstarch and water you get an unusual result. If you treat it gently, it behaves like a liquid. But if you are rough with it, it behaves like a solid. How can this be? Itai Cohen, associate professor of physics, and his graduate student, Neil Lin, demonstrate the phenomenon and explain the reasons behind it.

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Research
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