We all likely have fond memories from childhood of blowing soap bubbles in the air and watching as they float away.
However, three US bubblers have come up with something else to do with the soap.
On 7 May 2023, Gary Pearlman, Blaise Ryndes, and Dustin Skye created the largest soap bubble tornado, measuring 51.50 cm (20.27 in).
That’s the size of a large beach ball!
@thisiscleveland A swirling tornado inside of a soap bubble? That’s not your average bubble. #ThisisCLE#bubbleologist#bubbleology#worldrecord#soapbubble#bubbleblowing#DrUrAwesome#DrAwesome#guinnessworldrecords♬ Epic Music(863502) - Draganov89
A soap bubble tornado is a miniature tornado-like vortex created inside a soap bubble.
Gary and Blaise created the soap bubble tornado by using a custom support structure created by Dustin.
Using Uncle Bubble soap solution and a variety of acrylic tubes in assorted sizes, they were able to blow a large bubble on the bubble wand structure.
They then used a custom fog machine to add a fog bubble to the bottom of the large clear bubble.
Blaise then used a straw to blow air in one side of the bubble to create a vortex and then popped the membrane between the fog and the clear bubble, which allowed the fog to rest at the bottom of the bubble.
“Gary and I then popped the bubble film at the top of the support structure (bubble wand) which created a channel that allowed the fog to be funneled through the top of the bubble wand that created the fog tornado formation inside of the clear bubble,” explained Blaise.
It took several months of planning and many conversations ahead of time to prepare our strategy.
Gary says an understanding of the technique is needed to create the right effect.
“Mind you, this isn’t as easy as it sounds,” said Gary.
“Practice is definitely needed to figure out how much blowing you need to create the vortex before releasing the smoke to visually see the tornado.”
Gary and Blaise first met back in 2015 at a symposium of bubble artists from around the world at the Boston Children’s Museum in Boston, Massachusetts, USA.
Blaise was only 14 years old at the time and had just started his career in the bubble arts.
“Gary was so kind and helpful, and we have developed a wonderful friendship ever since,” said Blaise.
“It’s because of Gary that all of this was possible, and I am so grateful that he and I were finally able to work together and have this awesome experience!”
The duo had to overcome many obstacles and challenges to achieve the record.
“The soap bubble tornado is one of the most difficult feats in bubble artistry, however; creating the largest soap bubble tornado is a totally different prospect,” said Blaise.
“Since Gary and I live in totally different parts of the United States, we coordinated our strategy through many phone calls and intense planning.”
The bubblers each built different aspects of the bubble tornado, and both played to each other’s strengths as bubble artists.
Such a large bubble is unbelievably fragile and requires delicate precision to be able to achieve the tornado effect.
However, Blaise said he had a blast creating the soap bubble tornado with his “bubble bro.”
“It has always been one of my favourite bubble effects, and I am so proud to be able to hold this record, especially considering that it is a duo record with Gary,” said Blaise.
There’s no one I’d rather share the title with!
The bubblers say the most impactful moment of the record attempt was when the fog tornado finally formed inside of the bubble.
Once the tornado was created, it had to hold for several seconds.
“It was a very nerve-racking moment,” said Blaise.
“But the bubble held up very well, and I think both Gary and I felt a huge sense of relief that we were able to accomplish such a difficult feat.”
Gary says seeing the final effect was the best part of the entire record attempt.
“My favourite part of the tornado bubble attempt was watching the vortex form and twist like the tornado,” he said.
“Blaise and I considered it a great achievement.”
In addition to the largest soap bubble tornado, the bubblers tried to break records for the tallest free-standing soap bubble, the tallest supported soap bubble tube, the tallest free floating soap bubble, and the largest soap bubble volcano.
Gary also holds an additional two Guinness World Records titles:
- Largest free floating soap bubble (outdoors) – Volume of 96.27 m³ (3,399.7 ft³)
- Largest free floating soap bubble (indoors) – Volume of 21.45 m³ (757 ft³ 863 in³)
Next, Gary would like to achieve the record title for the largest soap bubble net.
“My dream is to have a net line made that is so large it will need to be hung off a bridge to launch it,” he said.
It brings me great joy and satisfaction to be able to achieve what could seem to others as the impossible.
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