ThinkerCon Chemical Fireworks Show 2018

Leave a comment about your thoughts on the event!
The Chemical Fireworks show at ThinkerCon was a fun, chill event we decided to use as a nice way to end the event.
/ thinkercon
/ thinkercon

[@physicsgirl]

So. Much. Fun. FIRE SHOT TEN!

[@Deadcat_.]

@smarter every day 2 Destin dude you should add some channels to your channels! SED for one but those you highlight here too.

[@LetsBuildOne]

I can confirm, blue is SUPER hard. Sulphur works but is too feint and sulphur dioxide is toxic. Copper chloride (II) works, but I had to mix it with hydrochloric acid to get it to burn blue instead of green. From what I remember, it's a small amount of copper chloride to a relatively large amount of hydrochloric acid, I used Methanol as the carrier as it burns with a relatively invisible blue flame. Videos on my channel if you want to see. It was for an RGB flamethrower that I strapped to my face.

[@deanstewart27]

Haha Destin: "I love the science guys, but I've got my fingers on triggers here"..

[@Nighthawkinlight]

Ah I should have made it out for this. Could have helped with this one.

[@ojtheaviator1795]

That would have been awesome! I wanted to make it too!

[@Whytho2000]

Dang it that would have been cool!

[@hotdrippyglass]

Next time.

[@invertedflow]

Thanks for organizing this Destin. It was such an amazing night! =) And huge thanks to also everyone involved!

[@tommihommi1]

only a couple weeks until we can finally legally shoot fireworks without paperwork in Germany again, the best 48 hours of the year

[@elimg.3684]

Is it 48 hours for you guys? Here in the Netherlands it's only legal from 31 december 18:00 to 1 januari 03:00

[@GhG76562]

@@elimg.3684 Do you guys live in an orwellian novel?

[@elimg.3684]

@@GhG76562 What do you mean?

[@Schmidtelpunkt]

Well, it is fun from 12 to 1. The whole day before every city feels like Sarajewo in the 90s, especially as every idiot can get fireworks. And every idiot does.

[@randommcranderson5155]

Watching this with f.lux on without realizing it, wondering why all the colors are wrong...im dumb.

[@LexanPanda]

Ah, but you did end up realizing it! And on an unrelated note... thanks for the warning.

[@solopine9624]

What's f.lux

[@randommcranderson5155]

@@solopine9624 It's a program that allows you to adjust the color temperature response of your monitor. When using a computer late at night you can remove most of the blue light. It's much more adjustable than the windows night light feature as well.

[@solopine9624]

@@randommcranderson5155 gotcha, thanks 👍

[@DarkJMKnight]

At 3:44 is that Tom Scott?

[@JoseAlbarracin10]

I thought the same thing.

[@DarkParadeHF]

he should be in the area around the time this was being filmed. so totally possible

[@JoseAlbarracin10]

@@DarkParadeHF Yes. He was there that day.

[@MrPhoenixpro]

i believe he went to the US specifically for ThinkerCon. but since I cant see if he is wearing a red shirt I cant say for sure.

[@nighthawkfpv9682]

Hey Destin. You should do fireworks in slo mo. And maybe an indepth explanation on how fireworks work.

[@jflight1691]

Listened to the idea on No Dumb Questions, glad to see it worked out so well!

[@chandlerholmes1363]

I might have snuck out to the prop moon landing in the back to watch the fireworks.

[@lightdreamer_]

I love all the science that goes into that. It's a fine mix of explosions, chemicals, glorious timing and an absolute art. I've always watched fireworks with amazement and I do try to spot the blue ones. Also, you know they're really amazing when they also have cyan and those smiley face fireworks (they don't always work but they're cool). My childhood was filled with watching the Loto-Quebec Pyromusical competition. An international contest of the very best pyrotechnicians of many countries. China and Italy are amazing, but often, they mix firms to present the overture show. Last year it was an italian firm and the canadian firm BMG. An hommage to quebec music through decades. The closure fireworks of the Trois-Rivières Formula 1 Grand Prix had the same theme, but international. I think the firm was BMG or just a notch cheaper. Okay, I will stop rambling for now, but if you want more nerdy firework talk, hit me up on twitter (@lightdreamer_) or on discord (LightDreamer#1113). I will answer more on discord honestly

[@ITpanda]

Why would you fast forward through that beautiful display

[@EricaCalman]

Thanks Destin! This is truly beautiful! Gotta have a transition in the blue that's active at those temps, hard to find, and needs to be hot compared to other colors.

[@adamleniar]

Why you keep interrupting her? I would definitely watch 2h video whit 10minutes about every chemical.

[@Whytho2000]

Mark Rober was there too!!!!!

[@fasfan]

My dad used to shoot fireworks fro Zambelli International back in the 70s and 80s. I used to help as a kid. So much fun. I miss it. This was back before all the electronic ignitions. We set them off manually.

[@celtgunn9775]

So beautiful to see all of the fireworks at the end. Thank you both for explaining and sharing this.

[@candykanefpv]

Aren't all fireworks chemical fireworks?

[@RJSOW]

@@matas324 There are no dumb questions man.

[@songclips.korean]

@@matas324 not a smart answer..

[@tommihommi1]

chemical as in educating about chemistry. Although there's a sad trend of replacing firework shows with light shows

[@planetrob555]

@@RJSOW Yeah, reddit...

[@miladski1183]

codys lab should have been there he know everything chemistry

[@JakeStz]

Glad you uploaded this, I was wondering how it went

[@littleman451]

I loved the entire conversation. Well done. Please keep doing what your doing.

[@rayweaver2069]

I was so hoping Destin would make a video about this, since they teased it in NDQ.

[@phelpstylerb]

Do you know which firing system you used? And were you able to drop and wire up the shells?

[@marylagua5079]

Exceptional fireworks 💥

[@jchandler]

That looks like y’all had a bunch of fun!

[@justinmaynard890]

I’m still waiting on the yard physics videos. Have to wait till spring I guess

[@techiefIve]

Is that an ElectroBOOM I see at 10:18 ?

[@CnomestaX]

Yes it is, at least I believe so.

[@Meg_A_Byte]

And Simone Geirtz bit later?

[@JoseAlbarracin10]

Yes, and yes.

[@dangleason9023]

10:03 this morris code is going pretty fast. But I think it says "Smarter Every Day is awesome and we need even MORE videos." (Yes, there are all caps in morris code, look it up!)

[@nebruin777]

Came to this show, it was awesome, y'all did a great job. Hope you do again next year.

[@despaahana]

That was great? What was the chemical for indigo? Has someone made a video about all the shapes and other sciencey things of fireworks?

[@futureteacherinspace5268]

Love this! Way better than my "sunroof" video!

[@Ralphgtx280]

Strontium carbonate isnt particularly commonly used in good pyrotechnics, Calcium chloride is virtually never used as its extremely hydroscopic and absorbs water like crazy the stars wouldn't burn and the burst charge likely wouldn't either.

[@Ralphgtx280]

Sodium nitrate is rarely used as well for the same reason as the calcium chloride , That yellow looked more like a dirty barium yellow , if you mix in enough contaminants and keep the chlorine level low you get a yellow color.

[@Ralphgtx280]

Barium chloride isnt used because it absorbs water again. Barium nitrate is preferred , some metallic stars use some barium sulfate as at high temperatures it can oxidize metallic fuels but at these temperatures the color is washed out. Barium chlorate used to find use but no longer.

[@Ralphgtx280]

these days copper oxide is used in blue stars , traditionally paris green ( pigment used in old school aqua/green wall paper) known as copper acetoasenate because blue is very susceptible to contaminants , lactose is a preferred fuel as it can maintain combustion at less ideal stoicometry and temperatures though metalic fueled blues are often used to match brightness sacrificing purity of color.

[@Ralphgtx280]

the crackle/ dragon eggs was traditionally done with red lead oxide this is not used anymore now they use bismuth compounds typically bismuth trioxide. There are not layers involved neither are there in whistle mixes. Dragon eggs work by 2 reactions one where part of the mixture burns giving off little to no light and sound often fuled by an organic fuel ( commonly charcoal) once this is out of the way and sufficently heats the remainder a thermite type reaction occurs where the bismuth oxidises the metalic fuel which is typically a magnesium aluminium alloy. It is suspected that much of the magnesium burns in the initial dark/quite phase.

[@mgabrysSF]

Blue is also hard because it's unstable AF. Being a chlorate. Today, shells (typically) use more stable perchlorates instead.

[@korishan]

This is really interesting, and informational. I like this one. The 'only' thing that should of been different, they should of had the spot lights turned off. Several of the blues/indigo couldn't be seen as clearly because they were being washed out a bit with the spot lights.

[@JackHartwig]

I live in Huntsville... how did I not know this was going on.

[@kipcushen8952]

Jack Hartwig same

[@raptor50trex]

When they said white chrysanthemum I got excited I was expecting a titanium salute

[@ravenmiller6376]

At what altitudes is it most known for fire works to go off at? whats the average altitude?

[@benjaminazmon]

Gosh that was a great night. Thanks again for having us.

[@antontxu]

do you know you can collect some of the powder balls that didn't burn?

[@dan110024]

The beginning was so confusing. Where's that voice coming from? Why does it sound familiar?? Why are my podcasts playing??? Ohhhhh.....

[@EvanMoon]

Enjoy life Destin and as he said “ blow things up”

[@Tfin]

Then the cringe at "ah no, just fireworks kinda blow things up." Don't worry, you don't need to call the police or run away. It's just pretty lights and some noise.

[@josephforthofer]

I was waiting for this!!!! Definitely did not disappoint! Awesome awesome awesome!

[@planetrob555]

Shame the colors didn't really represent in the video. Cool content though!!

[@zvpunry1971]

I live close to a city that has a big festival with a Ferris wheel and a roller coaster and all that stuff. And at the end of that festival there is a big firework. And one important part of that firework is that the organizers of it switch off all the lights. When the Ferris wheel goes dark, everyone knows it is firework time.

[@stellarpod]

Hah! Thanks for the technical info. But, honestly, there is nothing as disappointingly aggravating as a slow proceeding fireworks show. At least you somewhat made up for it at the end. Steve

[@Varksterable]

Agree. There are many comments about 'let Physics Girl talk more' or 'we want more of the science behind it' - all completely failing to realise that there are people out there actually waiting for bangs and explosions and colours. Maybe there should have been a slightly faster display (with pre-prepared commentary), followed by a longer and more in-depth dissection of what was actually happening in the final video? But that's a lot more more work, and I'm pretty sure that by this point the guys/girl involved were already pretty much running on fumes as it is; so good to see at least something posted. Just consider this as a suggestion for the future, maybe? (TBH any amount of fireworks going off with an actual rocket in frame is enough to make me smile. :)

[@andreedwards1594]

I always learn something from this channel... Great content

[@avoidth3boyd]

Wait, was that Mark Rober helping you push a button @5 mins?

[@cr0ss0ut]

Hi Destin! I'm a chemist with a physics Minor, I am also a ex-Professional Fireworks Manufacturer and am still a Hobby pyrotechnician / builder. Feel free to ask me any questions and i will be happy to talk about all of this with more in depth detail (and correct information). If you are ever interested, I would love to have you join us in attending Western Pyrotechnics Association's Winter blast or Do-It event where you can join us in legal manufacturer of fireworks!

[@brewbearbrewer9510]

Were your voices audible during the event, explaining each blast? Cause that would be a cool learning experience for Thinkercon. But i imagine that just singular blasts until the finale may have been a little boring lol. But hey their explosions, they can only be so boring.

[@PalkaDots]

Gnarly!!

[@wi11y1960]

Destin? You need to go to a PGI event (pyrotechnics guild international). Usually 3 days of fireworks and plenty of people to explain what you dont understand. Yet it is my guess you were shooting mostly 3" shells, some 6", with a few 8" shells for the stuff that was really up there.

[@rabbitslayer42]

Um, what other kind of fireworks are there?

[@Convolutedtear]

I wanted to hear more about bismuth, I love it so much

[@iwontliveinfear]

It was so awesome top have attended this event. Destin needs to hire an event planner and organiser for the next one so he has time for meet and greets.

[@ianjohnson182]

cool stuff. Next level is lighting them with a road flare! That's a fun ATF certification to have!

[@JolonDann]

Captain Disillusion at 4:00, 4:44 and 10:16

[@Whytho2000]

That's his assistant...

[@SeanFalloy]

Next year I am coming

[@DarkParadeHF]

that was more exciting than our 4th of July event we have where i live

[@lightdreamer_]

I'm such a HUGE NERD for pyrotechnics! Maybe I should study that....

[@sufyanjaunbocus5600]

last year my uncle lit the fire works upside down and it all exploded at once. thankfully there were no injuries though

[@ElRealista7]

Electro boom at the end

[@bosontrip1466]

That Zelda reference was glorious!

[@miladski1183]

did i see mark robber

[@huckbishop1957]

is there or was there a video attendance option for thinkercon?

[@winstonramsdale]

love your content

[@LukeKroeker]

Super cool!

[@skarrambo1]

Quite surprised that Destin wasn't aware of those flowers, and thereafter the corresponding shapes of the fireworks! I mean, it's not his job to know everything, but I thought Chrysanthemums and Peonies were pretty commonplace

[@SmarterEveryDay2]

Pee- Oh- Knee ?

[@skarrambo1]

@@SmarterEveryDay2 I'll credit you there, I remember only reading the word for years and then said it the same way the first time! So glad Thinkercon was a success, I'd love it to happen in the UK!

[@simonewilliamson6766]

I love fireworks! I can just hear the electrons cry WEEEE!!! on their way back down to the ground state. But really, who sped up the video?? I feel cheated...

[@lightdreamer_]

OMG, same

[@simonewilliamson6766]

@@lightdreamer_ RIGHT!! He totally needs to do another video without the vocals and only the fireworks. Maybe then we can forgive him.

[@thetinkerer5763]

I love the videos

[@Wordsnwood]

That was such a nice weekend. Really enjoyed it. Would go again if I could do it all over! ;-)

[@Kurukx]

Magical... I still remember when I was a kid and my dad could bring home fireworks for us to go to a field to shoot.All illegal now. Sorry millenials but it was so magical as a kid doing this stuff.

[@elimg.3684]

We still have it in the Netherlands. It has been a tradition for a long time, but it might stop in the next few years unfortunately.

[@marylagua5079]

🔥🔥🔥👍

[@thatradioguy6839]

is that Tom Scott at 3:50?

[@HunSlash]

when i was an irresponsible teenage hobbist, we used nitrates instead of chlorides to color our homemade fireworks. that time i knew the difference, now i dont:) whats the difference between them?

[@danieljensen2626]

There's actually no indigo in the rainbow, although I don't remember why... Also lol at Destin getting impatient and interrupting Diana. Should have just let her keep explaining while you fired them.

[@budmeister]

Indigo is a very deep blue color.

[@Xperian13]

Came for the fireworks (and disappointed) but stayed for science behind it.

[@pietervanhooydonck5903]

Nice timelapse of the moon ;) (skip through fast)

[@nick4819]

Nothing yells more america than fireworks, rock music, and a Saturn V.

[@elimg.3684]

Fireworks aren't really an american thing though.

[@duck1ente]

Americans culture appropriated fireworks from China, very racist (sarcasm)

[@martijn9568]

You forgot a P-47 Thunderbold

[@nick4819]

It was more of a combination of the 3....fine.....nothing yells more mericuh than dropping atomic bombs....you people just couldn't be satisfied...

[@nosy-cat]

I wish you let physics girl talk more.

[@pamfaggart]

👏👏👏👏👏👏👏

[@Svish_]

"Do it again so we can see whether we hear the cracles" - *talks extra much and loudly over the crackling* 🙄

[@Maxid1]

OOooooooooooooooh! AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAaaaaaaaaaaah!

[@retepaskab]

TLDR 9:26

[@MrSkookumchuck]

You may have ruined fireworks for people around me forever. 😆

[@maracachucho8701]

GET THE WATER

[@BenBike]

Bootleg fireworks

[@abhishekshinde4207]

so much of pollution :(

[@budmeister]

shut up