Summary
Episode 1: When a latex balloon bursts, two scenarios may happen: either it divides into two fragments (meaning the balloon is moderately inflated), or in multiple fragments (meaning it is fully inflated). Scientists in Paris have demonstrated that the more inflated a ballon is, the faster the crack spreads when it bursts. Past a certain speed (570 metre per second), the crack will split into two, hence the multiple fragments. This study could open up new prospects in fields such as geophysics and aeronautics.