Over the weekend I was at my in-laws' place and as usual was watching Discovery Channel and History Channel on cable. On that episode of Mythbusters, they looked into the science of firewalking and it was just amazing!
They concluded that charcoal is a bad conductor of heat and the layer of ash is a very effective insulator! And because even when walking normally, each foot will be in contact with the burning coals for about 0.5 sec at any one time, it is not long enough for the heat to burn the soles!
The most amazing thing was how the scientist proved his point by breaking up a piece of hot coal and placing it on his palm! Then, he put a piece of paper near the glowing inner half and ignited it!
Does that mean that people have been 'purifying' and 'piercing' themselves during Thaipusam for nothing? Hmm...
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