Is custard really explosive? Jonny Phillips discovers the shocking truth that\u2014in certain circumstances\u2014custard powder can indeed be explosive, and he experiments to prove the point.
", "is_us_only": "false", "title": "I Didn't Know That: Exploding Custard", "url": "http://video.nationalgeographic.com/video/science/weird-science-sci/idkt-exploding-custard/", "country_code_deny_list": [], "allowUserEmbed": "True", "related": { "link": [ { "url": "http://science.nationalgeographic.com/science/", "name": "More About Science" } ] }, "credit": "National Geographic", "smil": "http://video.nationalgeographic.com/video/player/data/xml/idkt-exploding-custard.smil", "country_code_allow_list": [], "HTML5src": "/video/player/media-mp4/idkt-exploding-custard/mp4/variant-playlist.m3u8", "still": "http://video.nationalgeographic.com/exposure/core_media/ngphoto/image/63585_0_616x346.jpg", "transcript": "JONNY PHILLIPS:
Custard.\u00a0 It conjures up images of works canteens, hospitals, school dinners and kids parties.\u00a0 It's definitely one of those foods that you either love or hate, but it's pretty harmless nonetheless.\u00a0 Or is it?\u00a0 Could custard have a more explosive side? Is custard a bomb waiting to go off?
[LAUGHS] You didn't really think that was gonna blow up did you?\u00a0 Fear not, there's absolutely no need to defuse that trifle in your fridge. But what if we apply a bit of science?\u00a0 What if we use custard powder instead?
Right, lets get rid of this first.\u00a0 Okay, now I've got this tin, into which I shall place this candle.
Then I get some custard powder and I'm gonna sprinkle it around the candle like that, make sure there's plenty in there.
Okay,\u00a0 Then I get this rubber hose and poke it into this hole, which I made earlier.\u00a0 Okay now I'm gonna light the candle. Put the lid on and retire to a safe distance. Now please do not try this at home. Now all I've got to do is blow.
So what just happened? When I blew into the tin, I introduced oxygen - one of the essential ingredients for fire - and at the same time, I turned the pile of custard powder into an airborne dust cloud which created the explosion. But here's the thing, there isn't anything explosive in custard powder, just the act of turning it into a dust cloud and igniting it in a small space made it explosive.
Custard powder was invented in 1837 by pharmacist Alfred Bird.\u00a0 His wife was allergic to traditional egg custard so he came up with a cornflour based substitute.\u00a0 But it wasn't until his friends sampled it that he realized its commercial potential and the now famous Birds Custard was born.\u00a0 And in 1902 this place, the Custard Factory in Digbeth, Birmingham, was established to produce it.
Even back then they knew about the potential danger of custard powder, so instead of the usual open plan layout, the factory consisted of a series of rooms separated by thick walls and corridors sectioned off by these huge steel blast stores, so that any explosion would be contained.
So next time you see that long forgotten tin of custard powder at the back of the kitchen cupboard, just remember what its capable of.
But, don't try this with your custard powder at home
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