It's a green one! Now a blue one! That one looks like a flower! That one looks like a waterfall! Watching fireworks is a blast, isn't it? Well, for pyrotechnic chemists, the scientists who design the incredible displays we see on important holidays, every day is the Fourth of July. These chemists work to dream up and design inspiring displays using various flammable materials ("pyro" means fire in Latin). They're also responsible for designing safe ways to store, handle, and most importantly, light the fireworks we see popping in the night sky. So if you love playing with fire (and want to be paid to do it legally), this may be just the job for you to ooh and aah over.
The Details
Fireworks make us smile and help us honor special occasions—and pyrotechnic chemists are the ones that make it all possible.
Colors that you see in fire (red, yellow, orange, and white) are easy to create for fireworks, but the cooler colors are much more complicated (blue is the most difficult).