Why Won't This Balloon Pop?

Why won’t this balloon pop, even when you press straight down on it?  In this quick science demo, Museum Educator Kate explores the power of simple machines—specifically the screw. By applying force directly, there isn’t enough pressure to pop the balloon. But when we introduce a screw, the distance over which the force is applied increases thanks to its threads, allowing us to gradually build enough force to push the platform down and finally pop the balloon.

This is a great example of how mechanical advantage works in real life, showing how increasing distance can compensate for a lack of direct force.