ScienceAugust 15, 2026
surfactant
sur-FAK-tuhnt
Definition
A substance added to a mixture to lower the surface tension between liquids or between a liquid and a solid, often used to create or stabilize foam.
Etymology
The word is a contraction of the phrase 'surface active agent,' combining 'surface,' 'active,' and the suffix '-ant.' It was coined in the mid-20th century to describe chemicals that act on the boundary between different substances.
In the news
In this article, a surfactant is a key ingredient mixed with wood fibers to create the stable, lightweight foam structure used for insulating beverage coolers.
A graduate student in Maine turned wood into a foam that keeps a cooler almost as cold as plastic does, and the part that still fails is not the temperature
Read the full article ↗ECOticias.com