Transforming substances from liquids into gels plays an
important role across many industries, including cosmetics, medicine, and
energy. But the transformation process, called gelation, where manufacturers
add chemical thickeners and either heat or cool the fluids to make them more
viscous or elastic, is expensive and energy demanding. Take shampoo, for example.
Without gelation, the contents of the shampoo bottle would be thin and watery.
Instead of squirting a gooey dollop into the palm of your hand, the shampoo
would rush between your fingers and escape down the drain before you could
slather it on your head.