[Jo Smith]

Jo Smith asked the Naked Scientists:
   
My husband claims that when he blows a low raspberry whilst watching TV, the picture goes wavy and looks odd.  He says it's a bit like when computer screens are shown on television, due to the refresh rate.  I have a tongue piercing, and can't seem to blow a low enough raspberry to see this, but is it really happening, or is he just being weird?

Thanks,
Jo

What do you think?

[neilep]

Nope, he's not being weired at all !

It works for me too...I'm not a scientist but I can tell that the vibrations caused by the raspberry making lips are reverberating through my skull along and or onto my eyeballs causing them to jitter rapidly and thus what is viewed is also jumping too !

Try it with just your lips if your pierced tongue won't allow for raspberry blowing fun !

[yor_on]

Does this mean that for that perfect viewing pleasure we all need to pierce our tongues?

[RD]

Similar distortions occur with multiplex displays, (e.g. LED clock)...

Because most multiplexed displays do not present the entire display simultaneously, they are subject to "break up" if the observer's point of regard is in motion. For example, if the observer were to rapidly swing their vision across a multiplexed display, they might see a jumble of individual digits rather than a coherent display. This effect can also sometimes be provoked by chewing hard candy; this causes vibration of the user's eyes, leading to the break-up of the display.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Multiplexer

Using an electric toothbrush can also cause the effect.

[Karen W.]

Nope, he's not being weired at all !

It works for me too...I'm not a scientist but I can tell that the vibrations caused by the raspberry making lips are reverberating through my skull along and or onto my eyeballs causing them to jitter rapidly and thus what is viewed is also jumping too !

Try it with just your lips if your pierced tongue won't allow for raspberry blowing fun !

How does one use both tongue and lips at the same time to blow a raspberry? I can do either or but not both and everything jitters and jumps...Practicing.....

wait.. wait..... wait.....*tries again, repeatedly sticking tongue out further and blowing...* 

YAYYYYYYYYYYY! I did it both indeed work creating same effect! LOL...

[Mr. Scientist]

hahaha

[Mr. Scientist]

funniest thread i've seen today

[FuzzyUK]

My husband claims that when he blows a low raspberry whilst watching TV, the picture goes wavy and looks odd.

From which end does he blow a raspberry? My TV picture goes wavy when I emit shockwaves from both ends.