Waterproof clothes can be made out of rubber sandwiched between two layers of fabric – this process was invented by Charles Macintosh, which is why waterproof coats are sometimes called 'macintoshes' or 'macs'. To make a small piece of waterproof fabric, spread dandelion sap on a piece of cloth and allow it to dry – this will now not let water through, though it will stay rather sticky.
Make a Bouncing Ball
Acid helps latex stick together (coagulate) – mix half a teaspoon of sap and quarter of a glass of water and stir with a straw. Slowly add a bit of vinegar – the acid will make the latex stick to the straw. Squeeze the latex into a ball – this will get rid of the excess water – and try giving it a bounce! A rubber ball bounces because it is elastic and squashes as it hits the ground – the energy used in movement goes into changing the ball’s shape. As it returns to its original shape, it releases the energy, which turns into movement again.
Using Dandelions
These aren't just fun experiments to do – in 2008, Ohio State University’s Ohio Agricultural Research and Development Center and the Ohio BioProducts Innovation Center received a grant of around $3 million to study methods to make rubber from the roots of a Russian dandelion, Taraxacum kok-saghyz. Source (Via)
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