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We humbly refer you to the brainiacs at How Stuff Works, who tackle that very question in this column. Mood rings don't monitor your mood so much as your body temperature (though the two are often related). The active ingredients in mood rings are thermotropic liquid crystals. These crystals are commonly used in laptop screens and are extremely temperature-sensitive. That's why your computer screen can act strangely on a cold day. But let's get back to the rings, shall we? The molecules in the liquid crystals realign themselves very quickly depending on the temperature, causing them to absorb different spectrums of visible light. So depending on whether you're
burning with desire, cold with envy, or lukewarm with inner peace, the ring will change color. If you're interested in trying one out for yourself, you'll find plenty of online vendors. For some immediate gratification, pay a visit to A.J. Cockrell's virtual mood ring. Groovy.
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