Show liquid helium Is puzzle to scientific observers liquid helium II 11 one of the most peculiar substances ever observed by scientists acts as if it defies the laws of gravitation that apply to all other substances entirely under its own powers it can rise against the pull of gravity and flow into a vessel at a greater height than its own solution this phenomenon was described by prof H grayson smith of the university of toronto at the boston meeting of the american chemical society it was first observed at oxford university if the closed end of a test tube is dipped in into to the liquid helium il II it will flow up the sides of the tube over the opening at the top and fill the tube it will creep over any solid surface with which it comes in contact it leaks readily through solid materials through which gas can be forced in small quantities only at very high pressures this fluid has from to 1000 times the heat conductivity of silver liquid helium II 11 exists only at very low temperatures near absolute zero helium at ordinary temperatures is a gas well known as the noninflammable inflammable non balloon filler it can be changed to a liquid by Sp cooling oling further cooling should change it to a solid as is the case with other gases but instead it changes to another liquid with properties that are arc baffling to the scientists |