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Here's What Happens When You Give Geeks Gel & A Blow Torch (VIDEO)

WATCH: Lighting Each Other On Fire Because... It's Science!
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Editor, A Plus

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There's really only one reason you should ever light another person on fire, and that's if you're a scientist who has a burning curiosity--and ready access to professional-grade firefighting and safety gear. If you happen to have a video camera on hand, that's a bonus.

This week on the Youtube channel Hard Science, the team lathered each other up with some fire-retardant gel, grabbed super-flammable magnesium, and set their arms ablaze with a blow torch. Just check it out in the video above.

How does it all work?

"The polymer that we're working with can soak up hundreds of times its weight in water," the team explains in the video. "Water has a really high heat capacity, which means it can absorb a lot of heat, so when you have all these layers of water... it forms this protective layer over the surface and makes it fireproof."

We echo Hard Science's warning that this experiment can be VERY dangerous and can cause serious burns -- DO NOT attempt it yourself!

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Before You Go

Amazing Food Science Experiments
Naked Eggs(01 of15)
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What does an egg look like without its shell? Way cooler than you probably would have imagined.Find out how to make these at We Made That.
Bread In A Bag(02 of15)
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Not everyone has a breadmaker, but pretty much everyone loves bread. Fill an afternoon, teach your kids about baking and get yourself a loaf of bread (or two) with this activity.Learn how to do this project at Jadaroo.
Meat Science(03 of15)
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A slab of raw meat and your kids may not sound like the best combination, but this experiment allows them to see how meat tenderizes and cooks. Cool for everyone involved!Check out the instructions at Education.com.
Shamrock Crystals(04 of15)
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St. Patrick's Day is coming up, so why not use that opportunity to make cool shapes with crystals? They'll double as festive decor.Learn how to make these at Housing A Forest.
Toffee Science(05 of15)
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This may look like your average piece of toffee covered in a variety of candy canes and candy bars, but what you can't tell from this picture is that it'll get your kid completely absorbed in chemistry.Learn how to make this at Education.com.
Magic Potion(06 of15)
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Food colouring plays a large role in many kids' experiments, but putting it good use by creating an actual magic potion? That's something they'll never forget.Find out how to make this at Minieco.
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This is cooking science, straight up. How does food change when you cook it? Why? And most importantly, what does it taste like? We love that this uses everyday ingredients and the potential to start dinner.Learn all about the changes (and get a printable) at A Mom With A Lesson Plan.
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Milk and food colouring play very nicely together, but this project took it one step further and change from art into science (see what we did there?). Learn how your kids can create this at Mess For Less.
Candy Cane Science(10 of15)
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Have a few candy canes left over from Christmas season? If you can't imagine making another batch of peppermint brownies, then make some magic with baking soda and those red and white stripes.Find out how to pull this off at Growing A Jeweled Rose.
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We have one word for this: stunning. Even if you're sick of looking at ice — heck, especially if you're sick of looking at ice — this project will make you want to freeze everything in sight.Learn how to make this at Artful Parent.
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Like the bread in a bag but for dessert, making ice cream in a bag adds some elements of molecular gastronomy — if you're inclined toward teaching your kids about food trends as well.Find out how to do this at I Can Teach My Child.
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Does anyone ever actually eat rock candy? Regardless, it will fill up an afternoon and in a pinch, make for a pretty centrepiece on the dining room table. Be sure to have a variety of food colouring available.Find out how to make this at Kitchen Pantry Scientist.
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Lava Cups(15 of15)
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Who hasn't spent at least 20 minutes of their life staring at a mesmerizing lava lamp? With this project, your kids make their own — and discover how density works in the process.Find out how to do this at Mrs. V At Home.
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