#Bolus April 12

We may earn money or products from the companies mentioned in this post.

Sometimes one post triggers an idea for another one. In doing some research for iconic items of the 1960’s I came across the word “BOLUS”. I wanted to add it to my vocabulary.

Probably the most common definition of the the word is rather gross but it basically means a small rounded mass of a substance. One example is chewed up food in our mouth. I came across BOLUS while learning about the Lava Lamp.

The lamp was invented in 1963 by British entrepreneur Edward Craven Walker. Mr. Walker died in 2000 at the age of 82. One of the interesting things about his inquisitive business mind was he made his first fortune in 1960 with a movie called “Traveling Light”. His legacy is tied to invention of the Lava Lamp and the BOLUS is a key component on how it works.

The swirling “lava” or BOLUS in a lava lamp is made of wax, the density of which is increased by adding compounds such as carbon tetrachloride. The liquid is either mineral oil or water, sometimes enhanced with glitter or coloring.

The BOLUS receives heat at the bottom of the liquid mix from a light bulb. . The BOLUS absorbs the heat, and as it heats up, it expands. As it expands it becomes less dense. Because the liquids have very similar densities, the formerly heavier liquid is suddenly lighter than the other liquid, so it rises. As it rises, it cools, making it denser and therefore heavier, so it sinks.

This all happens in slow motion because heat absorption and dissipation are a fairly slow processes. Those subtle changes to the BOLUS make a Lava Lamp what it is.

If you have a desire to own a “Lava Lamp” here are the best sellers on Amazon.