As we bid farewell to the festive season and New Year celebrations, many of us have undoubtedly indulged in a few bottles of bubbly.
But, have you ever wondered what really happens when you pop open a bottle of this fizzy delight?
Researchers at an Austrian university have observed the science behind the uncorking of a champagne bottle.
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Long story short, it comes in the form of a supersonic shock wave.
How cool is that?
Lukas Wagner, the study leader and doctoral student at Vienna University of Technology's Institute of Fluid Mechanics, used computer simulations to investigate the 'complex supersonic phenomena' that occurs when a champagne bottle is opened.
You might have noticed that fizzy wine bottles have a thicker bottle than regular wine bottles and this is because they are designed to withstand immense internal pressure.
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This pressure builds up due to carbon dioxide bubbles formed during fermentation.
When the bottle is opened, the cork is powerfully ejected releasing this pressurised gas.
Wagner and his team found that the shock wave blasts the carbon dioxide gas inside the bottle at an insane speed of up to 400 metres per second at -130°C (-202°F) - which is way colder than the North Pole!
As this speed exceeds 340 metres per second, scientists have classed the speed as supersonic - faster than the speed of sound.
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That's not to say the cork pops out of the bottle at this speed. In fact, Wagner and his team found that the cork flies out at around 20 metres per second.
However, it's still best to keep the bottle aimed away from people if you're popping open the party.
But, what makes the iconic 'pop' sound?
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Well, what you're actually hearing is the combination of two science-y things.
First, the cork expands abruptly as soon as it leaves the bottle which creates a pressure wave. Then, a shock wave is generated by the supersonic jet of gas.
This interaction is similar to the sonic boom noise that comes from supersonic aircraft known as 'Mach disk' - a result of sudden pressure changes in gas flow.
Some experts believe the physics behind champagne popping could provide scientific insights for other applications.
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In particular, one physicist at the University of Rennes, Robert Georges, described each champagne bottle as a 'mini-laboratory' that could help explain the phenomenon in other applications such as ballistic missiles and space rockets.
So, next time you're popping open the bubbly, appreciate the sonic science that turns it into a festive party trick.