Warning: Atmosphere Could Burst into Flames
Originally published in August 1846
On supporting science journalism
If you're enjoying this article, consider supporting our award-winning journalism by subscribing. By purchasing a subscription you are helping to ensure the future of impactful stories about the discoveries and ideas shaping our world today.
“It is well known that there is a constant emission of hydrogen from the decomposition of various substances; and that this gas, being buoyant, has a tendency to rise to the surface of the atmosphere. According to one view, there is therefore no doubt that immense quantities of this inflammable substance abound in the upper regions, and that a spark of electric fire would envelope the world in flames. The only circumstance preventing such conflagration is that the region of excitable electricity is several miles below that of the inflammable air.”
—Scientific American, August 1846
More gems from Scientific American’s first 175 years can be found on our anniversary archive page.
Subscribe to Support Independent Journalism
Great science journalism requires human expertise, time, effort and creativity. And it costs money. That’s why I and the journalists here at Scientific American hope you’ll join our community.
When you subscribe, you are supporting staff and freelance journalists who are passionate about telling science stories that are true, important and compelling. Our editors and reporters are often experts in their fields, which means they understand the nuances of big discoveries and can untangle the breakthroughs from the hype. With a subscription, you are also supporting rigorous fact-checking to ensure the words we publish are precise and accurate. And you’re supporting original illustrations, graphics and photos that bring you closer to an advanced laboratory, an ice sheet in Antarctica or a space mission in orbit. You’re helping us craft other types of high-quality journalism as well: Our newsletters are carefully written, edited and curated by staffers you have or will come to know and love. Our Science Quickly podcast is based on original reporting, collaboration with editors and scientists and exacting production.
Subscriptions keep this engine running so we can continue to deliver thoughtful, rigorous and independent science journalism to you. In an era of viral misinformation, this work is crucial. If you value what we do, I hope you’ll consider joining us as a subscriber
