source
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Post by source on Sept 2, 2018 11:33:39 GMT
Alina Bradford writes that most historians think fireworks were invented in China. We do know that somewhere around A.D. 800, Chinese alchemists mixed together saltpeter, sulphur and charcoal to create a crude gunpowder. This wasn't what they were aiming for, though. They were actually looking for a recipe for eternal life, but what they created changed the world. Once they realized what they had made, the Chinese came to believe that these explosions would keep evil spirits away. To create some of the first fireworks, they would pack the new gunpowder into bamboo shoots and throw the shoots into a fire, which created a loud blast. After this, fireworks evolved. Paper tubes replaced bamboo stalks and instead of throwing the tubes in a fire, people added fuses made from tissue paper. By the 10th Century, the Chinese had figured out that they could make bombs with the gunpowder and so they attached firecrackers to arrows that they shot at enemies. Within the next 200 years, fireworks were honed into rockets that could be fired at enemies without the help of an arrow. This technology is still used today in firework shows. Photo credit: Alexey Stiop, Dreamstime.com ![]()  |
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Post by otterman on Dec 1, 2018 21:03:38 GMT
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Post by 🐴ginger on Jan 5, 2019 13:03:44 GMT
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Post by chilli on Jan 13, 2019 8:44:58 GMT
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Post by 🐴ginger on Jan 13, 2019 19:04:55 GMT
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Post by vortex on Jan 17, 2019 20:37:57 GMT
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Post by 🐴ginger on Jan 18, 2019 13:29:44 GMT
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Post by chilli on Feb 13, 2019 14:03:41 GMT
As early as 200 B.C., the Chinese were writing on green bamboo stalks and heating it on coals to dry. Sometimes, if left too long over the heat, the wood expanded and even burst, with a bang of course. According to Scientific American, Chinese scholars noticed that the noises effectively scared off abnormally large mountain men. And thus, the firecracker was born. By some accounts, fireworks were also thought to scare away evil spirits.  |
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Post by spydog on Feb 18, 2019 18:12:39 GMT
Firework color concoctions are comprised of different metal elements. When an element burns, its electrons get excited, and it releases energy in the form of light. Different chemicals burn at different wavelengths of light. Strontium and lithium compounds produce deep reds; copper produces blues; titanium and magnesium burn silver or white; calcium creates an orange color; sodium produces yellow pyrotechnics; and finally, barium burns green. Combining chlorine with barium or copper creates neon green and turquoise flames, respectively. Blue is apparently the most difficult to produce. Pyrotechnic stars comprised of these chemicals are typically propelled into the sky using an aerial shell.
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Post by meteor on Feb 21, 2019 16:35:42 GMT
About 60% of the people living in Tultepec, Mexico, are directly and indirectly involved in the production of fireworks, which probably explains why it’s the place for the ultimate fireworks festival, taking place in March annually – a nine-day fiesta of traditional fireworks displays, with rides, concerts and food.  |
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Post by chilli on Mar 9, 2019 0:17:42 GMT
Fireworks become popular in the United States during the 19th century, initially as a way of celebrating Independence Day on July 4th. The cities of Boston and Philadelphia both included fireworks displays as part of the celebrations of Independence Day in 1777.  |
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