Not-so-bright sparks

摘要

One of the greatest achievements of humankind has been the Jiarnessing of electricity. Where would the modern world be without it? But perhaps it is its very fundamental contribution to life today that makes some people - maybe those who flunked physics at school - a little cavalier with its application. Back in July, the Durango Herald in Colorado reported on the case of a 19-year-old man who was in a "fair" condition in hospital after blowing up his trailer — possibly the least surprising element of the story being that he lived in a trailer park. It w,as quite a blast, too; a fire inspector living 400 metres away said the explosion shook her house, and sent a big plume of smoke into the air.