So what is this? Well, at work I often drink a hot tea made with celery seed extract. I like the taste of celery, and it has some possible health benefits. It’s like making matcha; you just put some tea powder in the empty cup and pour in hot water, then stir.

Not long ago, I noticed that when the temperature was just right (usually because of some mix of hot and cold water from the water bottle dispenser), some of the tea powder rose to the surface and started swirling around the cup. Every now and then, an interesting pattern would start forming in the cup. I decided to get the phone camera ready for this, and over a few days I captured some of the patterns that sometimes evolve.

They can be quite interesting, and the swirling sometimes looks a bit like a galaxy forming from the dust of the Big Bang in the early universe. Or maybe a hurricane. But the temps and conditions have to be just right. Even when the celery tea particles float to the surface, interesting patterns do not necessarily result. Which reminds me of the multiverse theory, that only one of many baby universes have the right combination of physical factors and constants and energy levels that allow the formation of structure and chemistry. The majority are “dud” universes, expanses where nothing happens.

Well, here are some “tea cup universes” where interesting structure does evolve, at least for a minute or two. Enjoy the power of cosmic creation!