Fireworks over millennia: From battlefields and royal displays to sustainable spectacles

In medieval Europe, people who worked with early cannons and gunpowder were viewed as untrustworthy, boorish outsiders. But just a few centuries later, as they began creating elaborate fireworks displays for royalty, they went from outcasts to artists. From black powder to modern low-smoke pyrotechnics, in this episode of Tiny Matters we look at the chemistry, engineering, and artistry behind one of humanity's favorite forms of celebration. We also learn how scientists are reinventing pyrotechnics with cleaner-burning compounds that deliver brighter colors and fewer emissions. And check out this video from our friends at Headline Science to get a behind the scenes tour of the Science History Institute’s new exhibit: Flash! Bang! Boom! A History of Fireworks.

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A transcript and references for this episode can be found at acs.org/tinymatters.

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