Last night marked Guy Fawkes Night: the annual occasion where the UK sky is illuminated by a steady stream of fireworks. The history of Firework Night was discussed on Moncrieff yesterday:
Guy Fawkes might be a distinctly British tradition, in sharp contrast to Ireland where the explosives are illegal. However, given the prevalence of loud bangers every Halloween, and the enduring popularity of dedicated firework displays, we certainly remain fascinated with the loud, colourful explosives here.
It goes without saying gunpowder that lends fireworks their explosive force has also been a key ingredient in some of the world's most destructive inventions, and has played a major role in some of history's most violent events. It's also true that fireworks themselves can be very dangerous indeed. It might come as a surprise, then, that gunpowder was actually created in Ancient China by alchemists looking to discover a recipe for immortality.
The TED Education video below is a fascinating exploration of the stories behind those colourful explosions in the sky. As the video title explains, it's a story of deadly irony:
