Safety Match Burns In Super Slow Motion

Ever wondered how a safety match works? They have been a part of our lives for such a long time that it is unlikely we gave the matter much thought but here goes:

Mentioned in 1366 in a note by Cho Keng Lu, he describes “Light bringing slaves” made from small pinewood sticks dipped in sulphur. These later went on to be known as “fire inch sticks” and had thought to been in use in the Chinese Courts since around AD 577.

There are two main types of match: Strike anywhere and safety matches the difference being (as the name suggests) strike anywhere gains the friction from any surface whereas safety matched can only be lit on the strip of card supplied on the side of the box.