Science...it's not always easy to explain

When Alan Alda was 11 years old, he asked his teacher, "What is a flame?" Alda says his teacher answered: "oxidation" and left it at that. Six decades later, Alda was still wondering so he launched a contest. Scientists were challenged to answer the question in a way that an 11-year-old could understand. The results are in. Ben Ames, Ph.D. candidate in quantum optics at the University of Innsbruck, won top flame video with this entry.

Or if you'd rather listen to the song.....