A study that found that titanium golf clubs can cause sparks when striking rocks gained media traction this week, as firefighters long suspected the clubs could be a cause of some fires in California. James Earthman, chemical engineering and materials science professor, demonstrates the finding in a slow-motion video.
Last week, C&RB reported that Scientists at UC Irvine say they’ve proven that titanium-coated clubs can cause course-side vegetation to burst into flames, a story that gained widespread media coverage.
“What this proved was that you could produce sparks with these golf clubs that contain titanium, and they will persist in burning for well over a second,” said James Earthman, a chemical engineering and materials science professor and an author of the golf club study. “And that gives the spark plenty of time.”
Earthman demonstrated the findings in the slow-motion video below:
Bonus: Making the rounds on Twitter is a picture of Bill Murray at the Murray Brothers Caddyshack Charity Golf Tournament at River Bend Golf Links in Jacksonville, Fla., wearing Pabst Blue Ribbon pants.
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