How a thick layer of oil calms waves on a lake January 16, 2017 Cosmos Curated content from the editorial staff at Cosmos Magazine. By Cosmos A single tablespoon of olive oil on a lake seems to smooth out the ripples – how? And what’s it got to do with your smartphone? The video above by What the Physics?! explains all this and more. Originally published by Cosmos as How a thick layer of oil calms waves on a lake