Theodore Gray demonstrates The Leidenfrost effect, which briefly shields your hand from -320° temps with a layer of bubbles, by dunking his hand into a vat of liquid nitrogen.
No, seriously. Check it:
PopSci's extremely brave Theodore Gray trusts in science and tests the phenomenon with his own mitt, coming out unscathed. With his hand in the frigid vat for a split second, Gray says he "barely felt the cold at all." The principle that kept him from losing his hand is the same one you spot when water droplets fall onto a scalding hot skillet—rather than evaporating immediately, they bounce around on a thin layer of steam. And when you stick your hand into the sub-zero nitrogen—boom—another instant layer of protective gas. Just make sure to pull yourself out as quickly as you went in, because those bubbles don't last long, and frostbite is no fun.
Still not convinced? Ok. Let's go to the tape:
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