What is a Lava Lamp?
A traditional lava lamp consists of a conical metal base housing a 40 watt lightbulb, and a teardrop-shaped glass container which fits snugly over the base and bulb. Inside this glass container is a combination of colored water or alcohol and a gooey substance consisting mostly of paraffin wax, carbon tetrachloride and mineral oil. As the lightbulb warms the bottom of the glass container, the dyed goo slowly rises through the liquid in a manner which suggests a lava flow. A lava lamp is much more decorative than functional. The 40 watt lightbulb illuminates the lava goo and the liquid, but not much else. One might consider a lava lamp to be a stylish nightlight, but long-term use is not recommended. As the lava lamp grows warmer, the individual bits of lava goo tend to become frenetic droplets instead of a pleasing slow-motion display. Some sources claim that the first commercial lava lamp was patented in England in 1963, although the chemical goo formula was noticeably ‘wetter,’ as it
