27 votes

This 200-year-old lighter ignites without a spark

3 comments

  1. Englerdy
    Link
    I feel fortunate to study near some really smart people who have patiently answered my questions about how fuel cells work when ever they come up. However, no matter how well I understand the math...

    I feel fortunate to study near some really smart people who have patiently answered my questions about how fuel cells work when ever they come up. However, no matter how well I understand the math and science underlying how they work, they never cease to feel like absolute magic. It's crazy this kind of reaction can happen spontaneously and pretty tragic we haven't found more abundant catalysts than platinum to make this work. Super cool to see a completely different application for platinum catalysis.

    8 votes
  2. Captain_Wacky
    Link
    Never knew that material was platinum wool of all things. Very curious material.

    Never knew that material was platinum wool of all things. Very curious material.

    4 votes