Brief
Portland engineer studies why electrocuted pickles glow
Josh Méndez of Portland State University investigates the spark and hydrogen ignition that cause a pickle to light up at one end.
By Felo News Desk · Published
Portland State University electrical engineer Josh Méndez is researching why a pickle skewer glows orange when connected to a power outlet, a classic classroom demo that remains poorly understood, Gizmodo reported on Oct. 1.
What happened
Méndez observed that the brine in pickles conducts electricity because of its salt content. When current passes, the pickle heats, evaporating liquid and forming gas pockets that temporarily block the flow, then collapse as the brine returns toward the electrode.
What the reports add
He outlined two main hypotheses: one attributes the glow to spark discharge across shrinking gas pockets, while the other suggests electrolysis creates hydrogen at the negative electrode that ignites in tiny explosions. Méndez believes both processes occur, with the spark igniting the hydrogen.
What was said
"As that water comes back in toward the electrode a little arc crosses between the liquid and the electrode, just as when you reach for a doorknob and you get a zap," Méndez told Gizmodo. He added, "There is hydrogen involved, but it’s actually not heat that’s igniting it—it’s the spark."
Key facts
- Josh Méndez is an electrical engineer at Portland State University. (gizmodo.com)
- Pickles conduct electricity due to their salt‑water brine. (gizmodo.com)
- Two theories explain the glow: spark discharge and hydrogen ignition. (gizmodo.com)
- Méndez suggests the spark ignites hydrogen produced by electrolysis. (gizmodo.com)
Sources
- [1] gizmodo.com — originally reported as “Why Pickles Light Up When You Electrocute Them”
