Surface tension draws bubbles into spheres, but the balance of forces holding the sphere together is delicate.

 

When pierced by a projectile, sometimes soap films can heal themselves, but often the film ruptures.

 

Once a hole forms in the bubble, the film’s integrity is lost.

 

Instead of holding the bubble together, surface tension pulls the soap film apart in a spray of thread-like ligaments that break into droplets.

 

In the blink of an eye, the bubble is gone.