Technology Spontaneously Combusts In Sicily

Zacronos writes "According to MSNBC, ever since mid-January, various electronic devices have been spontaneously combusting in the now evacuated town of Canneto di Caronia, Sicily; at this point, the fires are almost daily. The town has been disconnected from the larger electrical grid and was hooked to a generator, but that, too, caught fire. Even unplugged items have succumbed. Nothing seems to have burst into flame except where there is someone present to witness it, but the police no longer suspect a prankster -- after witnessing wires catch fire without cause. Scientists have yet to explain the phenomenon (although unproven theories abound), leading many people to look to supernatural causes."

Comments

Confirmation?

[CdBee]

Can any Sicilian slashdotter confirm this seemingly unlikely story?

Re:Confirmation?

[CdBee]

lol Interesting coverage

The Register's coverage

Re:Confirmation?

[DavidNWelton]

This has been in the news here in Italy on and off for a couple of months. I'd still want to see it with my own eyes though...

Re:Article one week old

[Mostly a lurker]

No, it is not an April Fools joke. For details, see http://www.ebicom.net/~rsf1/canneto.htm that has been covering events for 5 weeks already.

Perhaps volcanic activity is the cause?

[Phoenix-kun]

Here is an interesting and recent article that has some further details on the subject.

Re:Suspicious timing

[platipusrc]

Well, The Register's article is dated February 11, 2004.

Re:Neg

[The Only Druid]

Incorrect. Small enough wires/paths on chips will actually burst into flames if enough current passes through them such as during an EMP. Remember, the passage of current causes heat to be built up from resistance, and when the traces are as thin as they are on a lot of electronics, they can easily pass the explosive heat point of that metal. Example: put some metal in a microwave.

Re:USB Printer Status

[mrphish697]

Looks like they've taken the "on fire" string out. It's still present in 2.4.18-3 in printer.c, but in 2.4.20-8 it's been replaced with "unknown error". Sad to see the lighter hearted stuff go as development continues, but I guess it's part of the "maturing" process.

Re:The Score

[GileadGreene]

Do you actually believe that this "methodology" is capable of producing an all-encompassing theory of everything?

Sure. Why not? The basic algorithm is:

1. Observe something no previously predicted or explained
2. Develop a hypothesis to explain the observations
3. Make predictions based on the hypothesis
4. Develop tests to determine whether the hypothesis is correct or incorrect
5. If the hypothesis is incorrect revise it based on the new observations
6. Rinse and repeat

Please tell me how this algorithm, given enough time, will not succeed in explaining "everything"?

Forgive me if that sounds a little arrogant.

You are forgiven.

Also, what is it that is being explained? Reality, or our perception of reality?

What is reality but what you perceive? If something is completely imperceptible (i.e. makes no observable change in the universe whatsoever) then whether it exists or not is irrelevant - it makes no difference to my life or yours. If it can be perceived, it can be observed. If it can be observed it is amenable to study via the scientific method.