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Comment by ChuckMcM | Hacker News Reader

Per the comment there is some speculation on carbide. Something I don't think anyone has done is try to get a spectrum reading off the fireball. Typically various chemicals burn at different wavelengths so perhaps a hint of what was burning might be discernible by analyzing the spectra of the resulting light. What I don't know is how accurately a cell phone camera can reproduce that spectra, or if there is a mapping function from camera to spectra.

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I sincerely cannot wait for those quantum dot spectrometers to arrive inside our cell phones [1].

Edit: these things could've saved lives, specifically the firefighters.

[1]: http://newsoffice.mit.edu/2015/quantum-dot-spectrometer-smar...

Ok, that is really slick. I really really hope this gets incorporated into phones.

I want one!! I've always wanted a spectrometer!

>how accurately a cell phone camera can reproduce that spectra

Not accurately at all. In terms of spectrum analysis, they're essentially as useless as the human eye. You're trying to get information from a detailed continuous function that varies wildly all along visible wavelengths (and beyond), and all you get are three data points. In fact, I've already analyzed the spectrum and I can confirm: Yup, it's red.

I suppose you could try gathering the exact spectral response of each camera having filmed the same thing (something like this [1]) and combine the resulting data to attempt getting a more detailed spectrum, but it would be very difficult and likely to yield disappointingly vague results.

[1]: http://www.gamutvision.com/docs/images/Kodak_KAF-10500-CX_re...

The drone flyovers taken at night hours after the explosion show fires burning with multiple different spectra - white, blue, gold, orange and red fires all burning down below.

A total mess of chemicals.

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