The Fiery Conclusion of NASA’s Saffire Experiment Ignites New Possibilities
The Saffire experiment series, led by NASA’s Glenn Research Center, concluded with its final mission, Saffire-VI. It investigated fire behavior in space to improve safety…
Fire News
Fire is a rapid oxidation process that releases heat, light, and various reaction products. This exothermic chemical process of combustion involves fuel, heat, and an oxidizing agent (usually oxygen in the air). Fires can be both beneficial and destructive. They play a critical role in nature by helping to renew forests and grasslands, and they have been essential to human civilization, enabling cooking, heating, and the advancement of various technologies. However, uncontrolled fires can cause widespread damage to environments, destroy property, and pose serious threats to human and animal life. Fire management and safety protocols are crucial in preventing and mitigating the impact of fires in both natural and human-made settings.
Scientists Unveil the Physics Behind 300-Year-Old Firefighting Methods
Stabilizing the flow of water in pumping systems marked a significant breakthrough in the 18th century. Today, the technology behind water pressure is widespread, benefiting…
Rivaling Hiroshima: The Earthquake-Fueled Firestorm of Tokyo, 1923
The 1923 Kantō earthquake in Tokyo led to fires responsible for 90% of the 105,000 casualties. This tragedy, detailed in a new paper in the…
First-of-Its-Kind Global Smoke Pollution Study Uncovers Alarming Results
Study reveals that 2 billion individuals experienced at least one day of potentially health-impacting wildfire smoke. The world’s first study examining the rise in pollution…
A New Way To Control Fire – Scientists Develop Novel Nanoscale Material
High-temperature flames are essential for producing numerous materials. However, controlling a fire and its interaction with the intended material can be challenging. Scientists have now…
Persistent Problem Solved: Previously Unrecognized Sedimentary Archive in Sand Dunes Could Expand Fire Histories Globally
A previously unrecognized sedimentary archive in sand dunes has the potential to unlock a repository of fire records, an advancement that could broaden our understanding…
A Surprising Finding Indicates That 800,000-Year-Old Hominins Utilized Fire
The researchers find one of the earliest pieces of evidence supporting the usage of fire using cutting-edge AI methods. There’s a saying that where there’s…
Volunteer Firefighters Have Higher Levels of “Forever Chemicals” in Their Bodies
Levels of potentially health-threatening PFAS chemicals rise with years of service. Volunteer firefighters — who comprise more than 65% of the U.S. fire service —…
ACME Project: The Space Station’s Quest for the Secrets of Fire
Fire was not only important to human life in antiquity but still remains integral to our modern lives. It heats our homes and water, cooks…
Understanding Fire: Saffire-V Ignites New Discoveries in Space
A sample of polymethyl methacrylate, also known as Plexiglas, was burned in the Saffire-V experiment. Ribs were manufactured into the material to see how the…
New Flame Retardants Present Serious Risks – Toxic Chemicals in Electronics, Car Seats
Replacement flame retardants present serious risks, caution scientists. New flame retardants escaping from our TVs, other electrical and electronic products, and children’s car seats are…
Wrapping Buildings in Fire Blankets Can Protect Them From Wildfires
Existing blanket technology can protect an isolated building from a short wildfire attack, but technological advancements are needed for severe situations. Wrapping a building in…
New ScienceCast Video – Jellyfish Flames on the ISS
A new four minute ScienceCast video looks at the lifelike behavior and underlying physics of flames on the International Space Station. ScienceCasts: Jellyfish Flame on…
New NASA Video Explores Strange Flames on the ISS
A new four minute video from Science at NASA explores the surprising behavior of “cool flames” on the International Space Station, revealing a cool-burning form…
Million-Year-Old Ash in South African Cave Yields Evidence of Cooking
Ash was discovered in a South African cave, and this indicates that humans were cooking with fire one million years ago. This is the earliest…
DARPA Researchers Use Electricity to Suppress Fire
DARPA’s research team at Harvard University is focusing on electricity as a means to fight fire. By using a flame-suppression system based on destabilization of…
Scottish Wind Turbine Explodes
As you can see in the above image, a wind turbine in Ardrossan, North Ayrshire, Scotland exploded on December 8th, when the area was battered…
Kirtland’s Warblers Like To Live In Forests After A Fire
Kirtland’s warblers (named after Jared P. Kirtland) are an endangered species of birds that, like so many humans, spend summer in North America and winter…