/oss/taxonomy/term/4236/all en /oss/article/technology-you-asked-general-science/how-do-sparklers-work <p>You stick them into a birthday cake, stand back and revel in the brilliant shower of sparks. What you are witnessing are glowing metal particles, usually aluminum, but iron titanium, zinc or magnesium can also be used. They glow because they are undergoing combustion. In other words, the little metallic particles are burning, undergoing a reaction with oxygen to form metal oxides.</p> Fri, 17 Sep 2021 20:41:28 +0000 Joe Schwarcz PhD 8851 at /oss /oss/article/technology-general-science/electricity-streets-were-filled-gas-lights <p>A long, long time ago, before electricity, fire was the only weapon against darkness. Ancient civilizations made use of torches but by 4500 B.C. oil lamps made out of shells or hollow rocks were in use. Candles were introduced some 1500 years later. Oil lamps burned plant- and animal-derived oils, whilst candles burnt wax and tallow. While the light produced was sufficient to read at night, it was too soft and localized to illuminate any significant space.</p> Tue, 17 Dec 2019 16:39:03 +0000 Morgan Sweeney, OSS Contributor 8052 at /oss /oss/article/history/celebrating-christmas-science <p>The Royal Institution was founded in 1800 by leading British scientists under the guidance of Benjamin Thompson “for diffusing the knowledge and facilitating the general introduction of useful mechanical inventions and improvements, and for teaching by courses of philosophical lectures and experiments the application of sciences to the common purposes of life.” Thompson, perhaps better known as Count Rumford, was by all accounts a ruthless, arrogant, cunning, devious, unprincipled womanizer who was also a philanthropist and a clever scientist.</p> Thu, 12 Dec 2019 20:12:22 +0000 Joe Schwarcz PhD 8049 at /oss