Abstract: Grab a hot chocolate and get cosy for a fireside chat about a candle's flame and the embers left behind. Following the lead of Michael Faraday in his 1848 Royal Institution Christmas lectures, I will provide an updated chemical history of a candle - including some experiments for you to try at home. The fun doesn't end there - after a flame is extinguished, there's a wealth of discoveries to be made in the embers. Understanding the structure of these carbon materials begins with Rosalind Franklin, best-known for her work on DNA, and continues with simulations on a supercomputer. While there are still many unanswered questions around flames and carbon materials, these recent insights are enlightening and important for cleaning up our planet.
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