There is a detailed scientific explanation behind the exact mechanism of the Diet Coke and Mentos eruption, but this explanation is exceedingly boring and involves a large number of complicated science words such as “nucleation” and “potassium benzoate.” Far more interesting is the actual act of causing such an eruption, and it is recommended by most major academic institutions that all people attempt to stage and recreate this chemical reaction at some point during their lives.

For those lacking the knowledge of how to do so, or for those too boring to try it on their own, there are dozens of tutorial videos available on the internet, most of which contain some documented example of the phenomenon. The Diet Coke and Mentos eruption was featured in a 2006 episode of the Discovery Channel series Mythbusters, in which the hosts attempted to recreate the eruption under a variety of conditions. They determined that in order for a full reaction to occur, one must specifically use Diet Coke and original flavor Mentos; any other soda combined with any other flavor of Mentos does not produce an eruption of any significant scale.