1.5 million diamond nanoparticles created every second a candle flame burns?
Wow…
That’s a lot.
(PhysOrg.com) — The flickering flame of a candle has generated comparisons with the twinkling sparkle of diamonds for centuries, but new research has discovered the likeness owes more to science than the dreams of poets.
Professor Wuzong Zhou, Professor of Chemistry at the University of St Andrews has discovered tiny diamond particles exist in candle flames.
His research has made a scientific leap towards solving a mystery which has befuddled people for thousands of years.
Since the first candle was invented in ancient China more than 2,000 years ago, many have longed to know what hidden secrets its flames contained.
Dr Zhou’s investigation revealed around 1.5 million diamond nanoparticles are created every second in a candle flame as it burns.
The leading academic revealed he uncovered the secret ingredient after a challenge from a fellow scientist in combustion.
Dr Zhou said: “A colleague at another university said to me: “Of course no-one knows what a candle flame is actually made of.
“I told him I believed science could explain everything eventually, so I decided to find out.”
Using a new sampling technique, assisted by his student Mr Zixue Su, he invented himself, he was able to remove particles from the centre of the flame – something never successfully achieved before – and found to his surprise that a candle flame contains all four known forms of carbon.
Dr Zhou said: “This was a surprise because each form is usually created under different conditions.”
At the bottom of the flame, it was already known that hydro-carbon molecules existed which were converted into carbon dioxide by the top of the flame.
But the process in between remained a mystery. [Read More]
And apparently?
They are still flammable…
No matter their state.
Cool.
It is better to light a candle…
Than to curse the darkness.
I think candlelight is the most beautiful light there is and there’s something very spiritual about it. ~Nicole Kidman
I could stare at the candle light forever. It relax me. So the sparkles are made of the same material. Diamonds and the beautiful, spiritual lights. Beautiful, sparkling gifts.
Love the serenity of the video. When I meditate I have image of the lit candle in my mind. Nice post, I like it.
Simple, but fairly nice. I like the information this article had in it, because it goes a long way to show science STILL doesn’t know all there is to know even with something as simple as candlelight. Very cool stuff!