A group of enthusiastic students in Leuven set a world record for the most Mentos and soda fountains launched simultaneously, delighting crowds and celebrating science with an explosive experiment that captured global attention. On April 24, students lined up bottles of Diet Coke and dropped Mentos mints into them all at once, creating a stunning spectacle of soda fountains erupting sky‑high. The coordinated effort produced 1,360 simultaneous geysers, surpassing the previous world record set in the United States and marking a major milestone in mass participatory science fun.
The event took place in the historic city of Leuven, about 30 km east of Brussels, where the students aimed to showcase teamwork and bring a playful twist to physics. Each fountain was driven by the interaction between the Mentos candy and carbonated soda, a reaction that rapidly releases gas and shoots foam upward — phenomena that have fascinated science lovers and viral audiences alike.
While world records for simultaneous Mentos and soda fountains have continued to evolve over time, including larger events in other countries in later years, the Belgian students’ achievement remains a standout early example of large‑scale participation in a joyful, educational spectacle.
