Saturday Morning Science Experiment: Secretaries vs. Magnesium

Magnesium is an element common in our bodies, the Earth's crust and the Universe at large. The weird thing: While shavings—or small pieces—of magnesium are highly flammable, a big chunk of the stuff very much is not. This "Mad Men"-era video pairs a group of secretaries with a variety of industrial torches in order to demonstrate why it's so difficult to get bulk magnesium to burn.

"The only way to get to the bottom of the problem is to set maggie on fire and watch her burn."

Previously: