23 Aug
2006
23 Aug
'06
8:43 p.m.
On 8/22/06, Don North <ak6dn at mindspring.com> wrote:
I have heard that if you did this with a pickle
(preferably large kosher
dill) that you could turn it in to a light bulb if you controlled the
current (otherwise it becomes an exploding flashbulb). Never tried it,
though. I like pickles too much to blow them up ;-)
I've never blown one up, but I have cinged them well beyond the
point of being even close to edible.
The effect is called Sodium-D Line Emission. There have been a few
papers written on the subject, including one by seven engineers from
DEC, titled "Characterization of Organic Illumination Systems". This
paper should be available on the Compaq website, but it can't seem to
find it right now. (Interestingly, they also studied stir-fried bok
choy and raw mandarin oranges.)
Penn & Teller printed directions for the pickle light in their book
"How To Play With Your Food" (great book, btw), and it really does
work. Pretty neat, gives off an odd yellowish glow.
You can find info on how it all works, and how to make your own at:
http://tinyurl.com/jku95
Best wishes, and always use a gfci or a really big stick.
Shaun
--
"If you live to be a hundred, I want to live to be a hundred minus
one day, so I never have to live without you." -- Winnie The Pooh
http://www.lungs4amber.org