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Mar 13, 2013

Ante-papal smoke signals

Posted in Science at 5:44 pm by David Bradley

Papal statue plays air guitarPhilip Ball, writing on the BBC Future site discusses the carcinogens and poisons pumped into the Roman air every time the cardinals vote on a new Pope…

But, he also reckons the The Vatican is missing a trick by being unimaginatively monochrome.

“Why stop at a mere two-colour signalling system? The lurid rainbow smokes used in aerial displays like those of the Red Arrows are simply tinted with bright pigments and dyes such as indigo and rhodamine. Couldn’t we have beige smoke to denote a coffee break, amber to signal an impending decision, and burgundy to show that they’re celebrating it afterwards?”

BBC – Future.

By the way, why is their a papal statue in The Vatican playing air guitar on the roof?

2 Responses to “Ante-papal smoke signals”

  1. David Bradley says:
    March 13, 2013 at 6:50 pm

    They decided. Whatever.

  2. David Bradley says:
    March 13, 2013 at 5:50 pm

    Brown smoke – BS?

    Rainbow smoke – too many hail Mary Janes?

    Pink smoke – well…I’ll leave that one for you…