A student accidentally happened upon a new type of self-shaping liquid that seems to defy the very laws of physics.

But instead of separating into a clear top and bottom, the mixture formed the shape of a Grecian urn. Even after shaking the vial over and over, it kept returning to this shape. "That's really odd ...

He made his mixture, shook it up – “and, in a complete surprise, the mixture formed this beautiful, pristine urn-shape.” No matter how many times or how hard he shook, the urn shape always returned.

A graduate student accidentally created a blend of oil, water and nickel particles that formed an unexpected shape.