Leidenfrost layer

Rating: Null/10 (22 July 2009)

No one really knows what happens when antimatter and matter meet. It is possible that a fizzy interaction layer forms, which limits the annihilation rate. This is similar to putting a drop of water in a pan to see how hot it is - if it is at the right temperature (700 to 800 degrees F) it will dance around. A lower or higher temperature will make the drop evaporate much quicker. A layer of steam insulates the drop from the heat below. This is how people can walk on glowing coals. So while the antimatter is completely consumed, it may not have the big, quick explosion that people assume. The reaction could still be dangerous, though.