Matchstick Flame Without a Shadow and 10 More Shadows That Will Make You Look Twice

Photo credit: Empw via Bored Panda

Ever wonder why a matchstick flame doesn’t cast a shadow? If so, it’s because a shadow is created when light is blocked, and a flame, like on a match, is a gaseous chemical reaction. If there’s enough carbon-soot produced, then it would block some of the light. A flame is not reflecting the surrounding light since it’s producing its own light as a result of the combustion reaction, thus it’s actually an optical illusion to think the flame is solid enough to block light and cast a shadow. Continue reading for more strange unexpected shadows.