There are many social, intellectual and financial reasons why the internet is a brilliant invention, but the world wide web should also be congratulated for saving the childish among us from ourselves. Ever wondered what would happen if you poured liquid nitrogen into a swimming pool? Ever wondered what would happen if you put your mobile phone in the microwave? No need to risk your health or hard-earned assets in the name of adolescent curiosity - some other sucker has executed the experiment and posted the results on the net.

So, meet Mr Nitrogen. The game lad carries a small bowl of liquid nitrogen to a large pool and drops it in. Then a game friend of the game lad jumps in. You can view the foggy results at tinyurl.com/hlrww. Three million people already have.

Nuking a mobile phone is a startlingly popular pastime, but results vary. At the ever-popular (with Webwatcher at least) tinyurl.com/5mh87v, you get flames and an element of melting. But at tinyurl.com/5oo6eh the events are more catastrophic. Think Gremlins and you are almost there.

It doesn't sound anywhere near as dangerous, but combining Diet Coke and Mentos results in a dramatic sight. See amazing examples of this silly science at tinyurl.com/zwvoz.

The theme “what happens when” can reveal real talent, too. For example, what happens when you follow the professional freestyle skateboarder Rodney Mullen with a camera? Well, he nonchalantly skateboards standing on one arm, does a handstand on a moving board and generally defies gravity. Find out more at tinyurl.com/6x7b8q.

What happens when graphic artists get bored? At tinyurl.com/5wecxr, mice turn into Kiwi fruit, lambs into cauliflower and sportsmen swim along country roads.

But none of the above examples come close to matching the talent of Muhammad “The Cat” Ali. Just look at what happens when you put an energetic moggy in front of the TV while a boxing match is on: tinyurl.com/58bu6w.

Editor's choice

• The 100 Best Films of the Decade
• 70 facts you didn't know about Marvel
• The 50 Biggest Movies Of 2010