Subscribe to the OSS Weekly Newsletter!

Register for the OSS 25th Anniversary Event

Candles: What do they emit when lit?

25 Jun 2021

The use of candles dates back as far as 3,000 B.C., when ancient Egyptians used papyrus reeds dipped in animal fat that they then lit to use as torches. Similarly, ancient Romans dipped wicks into...

What is the difference is between regular candles and dripless candles?

29 Mar 2019

Candles are one of the oldest forms of generating light. Any flame, of course, is a source of light so candles emerged from a search for materials that could burn for a long time. Nobody knows who...

The Luminescent Chemistry of Lava Lamps

19 Jul 2018

If you think back to the 60’s and 70’s your memories are probably illuminated by a lamp filled with swirling globs of colourful goop that really didn’t shed much light at all....

Why do they spray wax on apples?

20 Mar 2017

Pick an apple off a tree, buff it a little and it will shine! That’s because the fruit is coated with a layer of natural wax that protects it from drying out and helps to prevent fungi from getting...

What are ear candles?

21 Feb 2017

Ear candles are regularly promoted by alternative health suppliers and have been getting quite the hype from the media even though there is no evidence to suggest they have any real benefit. The...

Back to top