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First Viral Mentos And Coke Video Was Uploaded 15 Years Ago

First Viral Mentos And Coke Video Was Uploaded 15 Years Ago

EepyBird's experiment sparked a global phenomenon

Dominic Smithers

Dominic Smithers

It's been 15 years since a video was uploaded to the internet that showed what happens when a packet of Mentos is mixed with a big ol' bottle of Diet Coke, sparking a viral trend that's never really died out. Not familiar with the meme? Here's a great example:

A demonstration of what happens had previously been carried out by Lee Marek and 'Marek's Kid Scientists', during an appearance on the Late Show with David Letterman in 1999.

However, it wasn't until 3 June 2006 that the simple science experiment became a global phenomenon.

In a video posted to its page, Know Your Meme explains: "In a YouTube video uploaded on June 3rd 2006, 200 litres of Diet Coke were mixed with over 500 Mentos mints to create a massive eruption.

"The creators (EepyBird) of the video made several sequels, including a world record for the time of the largest number of geysers set off at once in the same location."

Watch below:

In the first nine days after the group's website went live, Eepybird.com had more than two million visitors, and the following year its Mentos video had in excess of 20 million views.

And if you've watched the clip at the top of this article, you'll also be familiar with the time TV scientist Steve Spangler soaked his fellow presenter with fizzy pop while demonstrating the scientific process.

In the segment, filmed back in 2005, Spangler says: "This is really good. So here's the set-up. We use Mentos. And the reason we choose Mentos is because they have this chalky-like quality.

"And we're gonna just put them into the test tube so that they go down into the test tube like this. Thirteen Mentos, just in case you're counting.

"Now, we're just using Diet (Coke) because it's less sticky when it finally does a disaster."

Spangler and his co-host then place a card over the end of their test tubes, holding it over the lip of the open bottle of pop.

After pulling the card away, both bottles erupt, with their contents spraying high into the air.

Steve Spangler wowed the world with his Mentos experiment.
Steve Spangler

The explosion is caused by a rapid rise in carbon dioxide within the bottle, creating a rapid build-up of pressure.

And in the years that have passed, millions of people around the world have tried to replicate it, usually resulting in their kitchens and living rooms being covered in a sticky, minty liquid.

Some, however, have taken the stunt to new heights, quite literally, and not always using sweets to do so.

Last year, a vlogger Maxim Monakhov, known as Mamix, mixed 10,000 litres of Coca-Cola with a massive pile of baking soda to see what would happen. I think he knew what was going to happen.

The experiment was filmed and shared online, racking up millions of views.

In the video, huge buckets of cola can be seen being poured into a vat before adding baking soda, sending the mixture into the air and covering both Maxim and his team.

Here's to many more years to come of people carrying the Mentos torch.

Featured Image Credit: EepyBird

Topics: Science, Entertainment, Sweets, US News, US Entertainment, Coca-Cola