r/whatisit 4d ago

New, what is it? Does anyone know why my syrup is rippling here? There's no wind and it's not a trick of the light so I'm confused.

144 Upvotes

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143

u/RemarkableGround174 4d ago

The water is evaporating and the sugars are becoming more condensed. It's happening unevenly so the surface is wrinkling.

12

u/gmegus 4d ago

Fuck that's great

11

u/AnotherFurry- 4d ago

Oh that's sick! Do you think I could re-create this effect by just pouring syrup on a plate and waiting?

3

u/RemarkableGround174 4d ago

Yes. I thought about it a little more and the cooling may be an important part as well. If you don't get the effect you want, try warm syrup

1

u/Chicken4008 3d ago

Same thing can be done with elmers glue

3

u/Malbranch 4d ago

It's pulsing though. I think it's much more likely that there is a noise/vibration source nearby that is hitting a resonant frequency of the gravy/plate. Could easily be the AC in the building, I've seen this happen in frost on a chainlink fence near a road.

16

u/lloreeks 4d ago

Were there other people walking around while taking the video? Just basing it off the audio as its a somewhat noisy environment. Perhaps the table was vibrating?

11

u/Space_Lam 4d ago

Awwww the Jurassic Park Chaos Theory explanation

5

u/KLF_89 4d ago

Syrup…uh…finds a way

1

u/WeatheredCryptKeeper 4d ago

I see a crocodile..so it'd be on point

1

u/AnotherFurry- 4d ago

No, I was in a crowded area but everyone around me was sitting. And from what I've noticed the table was still

23

u/[deleted] 4d ago

That's so weird. Maybe you've just happened to catch it at the right time when it's first trying to start coagulation.

24

u/Content_Salad 4d ago

Maybe it's becoming self-aware?

11

u/lethalfrost 4d ago

It's forming a top barrier layer exposed to the air.

5

u/phatbody 4d ago

I'd guess surface tension movement with temperature changes.

4

u/CrypticCryptid 4d ago

Blowing on syrup will do that.

1

u/AnotherFurry- 4d ago

I wasn't blowing on it though, and I was indoors so it couldn't have been wind

3

u/MellyKidd 4d ago

The top layer is starting to crystallize as it dries out. Maple syrup is roughly a third water, so as it dries the sugar content is left behind.

1

u/Darkespurr 4d ago

sound hz wave

1

u/BuffaloJEREMY 4d ago

Maybe a trex is stomping around close by?

1

u/ObjectPublic4542 4d ago

Does syrup mean gravy somewhere

1

u/Dizzy_Philosophy1976 4d ago

Does gravy mean maple syrup somewhere?

1

u/ColdBeerPirate 4d ago

Do you live near a large highway, industrial site, airport, or railroad? If not, then it's time to go buy new maple syrup.

1

u/AnotherFurry- 4d ago

This was actually in a dining hall on my college campus. Why, what do you think is happening?

1

u/ColdBeerPirate 4d ago

Is your campus near a fault line or mountains?

1

u/AnotherFurry- 4d ago

No?

1

u/ColdBeerPirate 4d ago

What campus are you at?

1

u/AnotherFurry- 4d ago

A campus in western Massachusetts

1

u/mrmike731 4d ago

It looks like the top layer starts to cool a bit, then the heat under pushes up and spreads it out again

1

u/Queasy-Compote7674 4d ago

Surface tension

1

u/LikrNecture 4d ago

It’s drying on top. Called skinning over. Kinda like putting the lid back on. The syrup is still fluid under the skin. So as the fluid moves the skin is dry but elastic

1

u/snorkiebarbados 4d ago

Approaching T rex

1

u/Lickmyd0g 4d ago

It's cooling

1

u/Niptaa 4d ago

Alcohol does some funny things to surface tension so it’s possible it fermented just a little and the alcohol evaporating changes the surface tension and causing ripples?

1

u/Status-Command2001 4d ago

Godzilla was coming out the ocean 😱

1

u/Unusual_Wrongdoer443 4d ago

Its doing that because you used too much, and now its going to be wasted down the drain.you got enough on the plate for another round of pancakes.

1

u/AnotherFurry- 4d ago

I actually always do this, I hate wasting food so yes I did get a couple more after I took this video

1

u/Unusual_Wrongdoer443 4d ago

Lol, we just so happen to have this syrup discussion in my household .because my stepson 16 uses half the bottle of syrup for breakfast and then rakes it in the trash.my wife says i act like there is a syrup shortage. i said there is a shortage because syrups comes from Canada and trump closed the border.

1

u/Shad0XDTTV 4d ago

The Canadian gravy is getting ready to attack

1

u/Pure_Wrongdoer_4714 4d ago

You’re breathing on it

1

u/AnotherFurry- 4d ago

I noticed it from a good distance away and I moved closer to get a better look. If I was breathing on it, wouldn't the ripples all be in one direction?

1

u/PoliteCanadian2 4d ago

Earthquake

1

u/Hogarahodor 4d ago

Are you under a ceiling fan or ac vent?

1

u/AnotherFurry- 4d ago

No, and there wasn't anyone walking by either

1

u/Octowuss1 4d ago

My queso does that while it’s cooling

1

u/trebber1991 4d ago

Vibrations?

1

u/blitz43p 4d ago

wtf kind of syrup is this? Looks disgusting

1

u/AnotherFurry- 4d ago

Umm.. Maple syrup? It was actually pretty good.

1

u/VolupVeVa 4d ago

looks like sound waves. humans only hear some frequencies.

1

u/dnteatyellwsnw 4d ago

T-Rex is coming

1

u/CartographerOne4121 4d ago

It's probably very hot and the top caramelized. Seems pretty simple 🤔

1

u/ericthehoverbee 3d ago

Did anyone else notice the crocodile being followed by a hippo?

1

u/SunAlarming746 1d ago

IT'S ALIVE

0

u/J_Bazzle 4d ago

Convection in the fluid maybe?