You know, I had always heard that Wintergreen LifeSavers would “spark” when chewed, but I don’t think I ever actually tried it. Evidently, it is true (and my wife says she has verified it). So, why does it do this? According to exploratorium.edu,
When you crunch on wintergreen candies, you are making light with friction. The scientific name for this process is triboluminescence, from the Greek word tribein, which means “to rub,” and the Latin word lumin, which means “light.”
[read more]
Here is another interesting site where someone crushed Wintergreeen LifeSavers with needle-nosed pliers and took some pictures of it. Pretty cool.
I’m going to have to figure out a way to work triboluminescence into a conversation. “I witnessed triboluminescence while eating my Wint-O-Green LifeSavers in the dark.”
Explanation from exploratorium.edu
Explanation from howstuffworks.com
Pictures of Wintergreen flashes
More candy articles about: candy, wintergreen, science, mint, mints, lifesavers, lightning
[…] Wint-O-Green Lifesavers: Lightning in Your Mouth. Science! […]
February 7th, 2006 at 2:35 pmit was very helpful
May 19th, 2006 at 4:30 pmcan you give me all the info on this lightning in you mouth!
RESPONSE: ???
August 28th, 2006 at 12:31 pm–Brian
well i asked this question earlier and did not get a very good response! but here it goes again… can you give me all the info on this lightning in you mouth!
RESPONSE: The info is in the article. I\’m not sure what you are asking for.
September 25th, 2006 at 3:42 pm–Brian
sorry maddy…cant help you there maybee you should try mentos in diet coke
September 25th, 2006 at 3:45 pmThe Lifesavers wint-o-green lightning experiment is a popular science experiment in school. I remember doing it several times- the last of which was sophmore year in high school (I’m 20).
October 16th, 2006 at 12:25 amI tried them and they taste disgusting. They are totally not lightning in yo mouth! Also y did you chose that catch phrase anyway?
sincerely, Gracie “Loo” Freebush
December 7th, 2006 at 7:40 pmE-mail- Sonderby@gti.net
dude you are wrong tribo is greek for rubbing and luminescence is light that is gebeated without hign temperatures.it is pronuced try-bow-loom-in-ess-ence
March 13th, 2007 at 10:06 ami got alot of info on this candy wint0green life savers
im doing it for my science fair theres alot more to it than that
Rikkie Burden
Waz ERE
March 13th, 2007 at 10:08 am!00 boxes of yummy candy.
January 24th, 2008 at 5:04 pmi think this is so cool…im doing it for my science showcase project i hope it works and that the judges like it
May 21st, 2008 at 9:18 am