This article was taken from the March 2011 issue of Wired magazine. Be the first to read Wired's articles in print before they're posted online, and get your hands on loads of additional content by subscribing online.
One the commonest explosives, gelignite was invented by Alfred Nobel in 1875, and is widely used in mining and demolition. So what if you unexpectedly run into it?
Don't panic
Gelignite is fairly stable: it is mixed with kieselguhr -- a clay-like substance -- and has a gritty texture. It can be dropped, knocked or thrown, and even burnt in small chunks for disposal.
Wear gloves
When asborbed through the skin of the fingers, gelignite can cause headaches, so wear latex gloves. Be careful when storing it too: gelignite becomes less stable over time, and can "weep" with age.
Radio off
Nitroglycerine, the main component, explodes at a velocity of 7,700m/s but only when a small charge is detonated. Some charges, usually aluminium or copper tubes, can be set off by radio transmitters.
Bang!
Now use it to blast rock, concrete or metal, which requires high-velocity detonations. Cordtex -- an explosive packed in a washing-line-like cord -- is often used to trigger "daisychain" charges of explosive.
This article was originally published by WIRED UK
