Bouncing spheres with thin shells can carry any aqueous load

What is it about?

In the course of making catalysts for converting biodiesel into a better fuel, a new substance was discovered which spontaneously forms a shell around water droplets to make beads that bounce and tumble if the jar they are is in is gently rocked. These beads are stable and make it possible to study the aqueous solutions inside them, as well as to better understand the physical chemistry of emulsions (emulsions are water and oil mixtures which do not spontaneously separate, like homogenized milk).

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Why is it important?

Discovery is the heart of science. When the organic compound was designed in this study, it was a total surprise to find it made fascinating beads when it was stirred with aqueous base and an organic solvent like toluene. So while its original application turned out not to work, the beads and the compound that forms them turned out to be worthy of further study to see what aspects of the molecule are responsible for bead formation. Based on the structure, it is not surprising that extensive hydrogen bonding and a liquid crystalline state are implicated.