Earth And Compass

Soap was first made on a large scale in the 19th century. Before then it was an expensive luxury. William Gossage’s soap factory in Widnes opened in 1855.

How does soap work?

Soapy water removes oil, fat or grease from your hands because the soap molecules are built a bit like tadpoles. The ‘tail’ of the soap molecule can link up with the fat, while its ‘head’ is pulled in the opposite direction by the water. So there’s a tug-of-war that the water wins by pulling lumps of fat away from your greasy hand on the ‘tail’ of the soap molecule.

Viruses come in many shapes and sizes. The ‘coronavirus’ contains a tiny ball of coiled up protein, protected by a covering layer of fatty material. When you wash your hands with soap and water, the fatty layer is broken up and the coiled protein unravels. The virus is no longer in working order!

Washing your hands thoroughly with Gossage’s soap would have removed grease - and also the coronavirus.

The magnetic hubs allow various gear ratios to be created by stacking the gear wheels. We are working on a drive wheel and some feature elements as part of a concept prototype.