You can now add lemons to the long list of random objects that can be used to start a fire. But unlike just generating friction and heat by rubbing two sticks together, the process of starting a fire using a piece of citrus fruit involves first turning it into a working battery with copper and zinc electrodes.


The odds are slim you’ll randomly find everything you need for this potential life-saving trick if you end up stranded in the woods, but understanding the science behind how it works is still just as useful.

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