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    $\begingroup$ Here's a very interesting demonstration of this very phenomenon, including the weird effects of artifically stabilizing that equilibrium: youtube.com/watch?v=gMAKamGIiMc $\endgroup$
    – João Mendes
    Commented May 28, 2021 at 15:09
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    $\begingroup$ @JoãoMendes yes, studying the paper about that video is exactly where I first learned about the Rayleigh Taylor instability. What a bizarre phenomenon! See: physics.stackexchange.com/questions/580651/… $\endgroup$
    – Dale
    Commented May 28, 2021 at 15:16
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    $\begingroup$ "Surface tension can actually stabilize very small deviations in some fluid interfaces." Readily seen when the entire setup is much smaller, such as in a drinking straw with the top opening sealed with a finger. $\endgroup$
    – Arthur
    Commented May 28, 2021 at 19:30
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    $\begingroup$ I've recently 3D-printed an animal-watering station for my garden, using a soda-bottle as the reservoir. I was amazed at how large I had to make the opening of the nozzle to stop surface tension winning (about 20mm, if anyone is wondering) $\endgroup$
    – SiHa
    Commented May 31, 2021 at 10:18