Colorado State University

When you stick a needle in a balloon, the rubber tears—the balloon pops. But high-speed video reveals the details, and there are some surprises to be had. How does the rubber unzip as it tears? It’s different for a round balloon and a longer balloon-animal balloon. And if the balloon is filled with plastic beads, the compression of the beads (and perhaps some static electricity) leads to a dramatic shower as the beads are released. Watch this episode of “Now You Know” to learn more!