Monday, August 24, 2026
Science

What happens inside a wildfire? A Ph.D. student is finding out

What happens during a wildfire? The short answer is: much more than we know. As wildfires burn through trees, grasses and other vegetation, heat from the flames sets off thousands of chemical reactions at once. Molecules break apart, recombine and transform into new compounds, releasing gases, soot...

What happens inside a wildfire? A Ph.D. student is finding out
Image: Phys.org
What happens during a wildfire? The short answer is: much more than we know. As wildfires burn through trees, grasses and other vegetation, heat from the flames sets off thousands of chemical reactions at once. Molecules break apart, recombine and transform into new compounds, releasing gases, soot and other carbon-rich particles into the air.

Originally published at Phys.org

The Morning Briefing

Subscribe to our Newsletter

Be the first to receive the latest news, market analysis and updates — delivered straight to your inbox.