Awesome Soda

Let’s get ready to rumble! It’s another battle for soda supremacy between Coca-Cola and Pepsi. Only this time, it’s not about the taste. The loser of this fight will be determined by which can takes the biggest beating from the other guy’s hammer. This game is sort of like Rock ‘Em Sock ‘Em Robots, but with more risk of breaking bones. Oh, and speaking of Coke vs. Pepsi…

Artist Scott Sloan previously wowed us with his 1:6-scale mini pinball machines. Now, he’s showing off a miniature vending machine that actually dispenses tiny soda cans. It’s based on a classic 1970s Dixie Narco soda machine and works just like the real thing, complete with a coin mechanism. We love the funny Q*Bert sounds it makes.

Mixing Diet Coke and Mentos can have explosive results. JLaservideo wanted to see if he could harness that fizzy energy on a larger scale to lift himself off the ground. After watching others fail miserably or cheat with other ingredients, he did some experimentation and engineered a homebrew jet pack that runs on the stuff.

What does the Green Goblin have in common with a can of Sprite? Their vibrant green color, of course. Minimaus Crafts is back with another fantastic soda can sculpture – bringing Spider-Man’s arch-frenemy to life from precisely cut and folded pieces of aluminum harvested from Sprite, Royal Grape, Royal Orange, Coke, and Pepsi cans.

Dr. Pepper is one of our favorite soft drinks. With its unique mix of zesty spices, it has drawn many imitators. But just how close are drinks like Mr. Pibb to the original Doc Pep? John Green conducted a taste test to see if he could tell the difference. He only tested five drinks – there are so many more Doctors to choose from.

Soda Springs, Idaho, is home to a unique geyser that sprays carbonated water into the air. While the sparkling spring water is naturally-occurring, the water spout itself is the result of a man-made mistake. Tom Scott visited the geyser for an explanation of how it came to be and how they tweaked it to fire every hour on the hour.

New Wave Toys’ 1/6th-scale Coca-Cola Classic and New Coke vending machines are accurate down to the last detail, including working coin slots that trigger the release of tiny soda cans with the push of a light-up button. Inside you’ll find a working mini-fridge that chills two 12oz. cans or one 355ml bottle of Coke.

Cardinal Spirits adds a blend of bourbon and cream soda to its line of yummy canned cocktails. The 12oz. cans blend straight bourbon whiskey with a fizzy soda flavored with Madagascar vanilla beans. Its 8.5% ABV offers a nice kick without the burn. Check Cardinal’s Spirit Finder for your local retailer.

United Sodas of America offers a 12-pack of their soft drinks that looks like a Pantone color swatch book. Each of their delicious sodas is made with natural flavors, organically-sweetened, and has only 30 calories. With flavors like orange nectarine, pear elderflower, and toasted coconut, this ain’t your daddy’s soda pop.

Fans of the sweet and spicy soft drink can get their flavor of choice in a new form factor – carnival food. This pinkish-hued cotton candy packs all 23 secret flavors that make up the zesty soda pop, packed into a 100% spun sugar treat. Wouldn’t you like to be a Pepper too?

We’ve seen lots of LEGO vending machines, but never one that can dispense liquids. ElectryDragonite used a pair of Mindstorms NXT servo motors to create a hydraulic pump that to send soda through the machine and into a glass once the customer pays up.

We already know that sugary sodas aren’t very good for our teeth or our bellies – even in moderation. ASAPScience looks at the rather absurd idea of what would happen to our brains and bodies if that’s all we drank.

A deliciously zesty and lightly sweet accompaniment to vodka, whiskey, or rye, Rocky’s Ginger Beer is handcrafted with pure sugar, is caffeine-free, and has no artificial colors. If you don’t feel like boozing, it’s light and refreshing straight from a chilled bottle.

Soda fans, take your addiction to the shower with these shampoos from Digitalsoaps. Most of them have the appropriate scent of the soda you love, and some have even been spiked with caffeine.

Two of our favorite things – cured pork and fizzy water – in one tasty (?) concoction. The Jones Bacon Soda Holiday Pack includes two bottles of bacon soda plus other bacon-infused items.

Who says that soda cans need to be cylindrical? We love this faceted can concept from designer Dzmitry Samal, which not only look cool, they keep sideways cans from rolling off your desktop.