Richard Feynman Fire
Why Hacker News recommends it
HN repeatedly cites it as an elegant, eye-opening explanation of fire and photosynthesis and as an example of Feynman's infectious love of knowledge.
What it is
A short clip from a Richard Feynman interview in which he explains fire, describing how burning wood releases sunlight stored by the tree, which built itself mostly from air. It showcases his curiosity and plain-spoken explanations.
Recommended by 8 HN commenters across 8 different months, 2010 to 2023.
What Hacker News said
Strong rec drats · 2010-07 · on “The truth about cold water”
I don't want to offend anyone but that article was extremely boring (I did end up reading it). I suppose I'd seen the Richard Feynman video on fire and trees quite recently beforehand and was in an intolerant mood. But it's impossible to stay in any kind of negative mood if you watch Feynman, his love of knowledge is just infectious. [this video]
Strong rec halfnelson · 2012-06 · on “Kids should be building rockets and robots, not taking standardized tests”
If anyone wants to know the answer to that question, Richard Feynman explains it wonderfully: (He starts talking about trees at 2:00, but his explanation of fire is equally elegant!) [this video] My first instinct was to say that a tree's mass comes from dead stars. Imagining how it got from those stars to the air that eventually becomes the tree would keep you busy for a while :D
Strong rec haxiomic · 2015-08 · on “GravityLight: Generate light with gravity”
Checkout this explanation of fire by Richard Feynman - its a really eye opening perspective [this video] He explains the light of a fire is just the light of the Sun, it's just been stored in the wood
Strong rec jrscelza · 2020-07 · on “Richard Feynman cut straight to the heart of complex ideas”
[this video] Feynman explains fire. I’m a big fan and believe his crude straight to the point style, coupled with an incredible ability to storytell is what made him special. I think it’s pure, genuine, curiosity and the intellectual capacity to understand the complexities.
Recommends okamiueru · 2012-03 · on “What is a flame -- how would you describe it to an 11 year old?”
I'd really like to hear Richard Feynman's answer. I'm sure if an 11 year old had asked the question, instead of a journalist, it would be the perfect answer. (I'm referring to an interview series with him: [this video] ) Makes me sad to think I will never meet this man, nor ever be as awesome.
Recommends janvdberg · 2017-01 · on “What’s a fire, and why does it burn?”
I thought this would be a link to a Richard Feynman video where he 'explains' fire. But it isn't, so here you go: [this video]
Recommends js2 · 2021-04 · on “Where does a candle go when it burns?”
> Wax is made of hydrogen and carbon. Too bad he doesn't explain where the energy in the wax came from like Feynman does when explaining fire: [this video] Paraffin wax is derived from petroleum, so like the wood in Feynman's explanation, the energy is from the sun via ancient photosynthesis.
Recommends jiggawatts · 2022-03 · on “What’s a fire and why does it burn? (2016)”
Compare a bunch of chemical formulas and equations in this blog with Richard Feynman's explanation of fire: [this video]