Checked reel · 14 Oct 2026
Physicists literally call this the "Cheerios effect", and the video breaks down the fluid dynamics accurately. It comes down to a mix of surface tension, buoyancy, and the meniscus effect. Milk naturally creeps up the side of a bowl, creating a slight upward curve. Because cereal is buoyant, it floats up toward the highest point on that liquid surface, which pulls it toward the outer edge. The exact same thing happens between individual pieces. A floating piece warps the liquid surface around it, creating a tiny slope that nearby pieces slide up to clump together.
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