The Leidenfrost effect

From Science Friday, a video by Luke Groskin about something amazing that we see whenever we cook, but rarely think about.

In the Leidenfrost Effect, a water droplet will float on a layer of its own vapor if heated to a certain temperature. This common cooking phenomenon takes center stage in a series of playful experiments by physicists at England's University of Bath, who discovered new and fun means to manipulate the movement of water.