Just in case you missed this when it made the rounds on the interweb last year, here is an interesting article on how to create fire from a chocolate bar and a Coke can. Essentially, you rub the bottom of the can with the chocolate (for 30-60 minutes) to make a mirror-like finish, then use it to focus the sun’s energy and create a fire.
This is perfect for those times when you are stranded in the woods and need a fire and you only have chocolate and a Coke can. I wonder if the people on Survivor know this trick? Oh wait, they don’t have a Coke can or chocolate. Nevermind.
Mythbusters also did a bit on this (they did all sorts of ways to start a fire without matches/lighter). Apparently bad quality chocolate (grainy) works better for shining up the base of the can than smooth chocolate. I wonder if you could make a lens from a piece of clear hard candy like a magnifying glass?
RESPONSE: yeah – I read that Mythbusters did a bit on it after it showed up on the net. Never saw that one though. Clear hard candy as a magnifying glass? I bet that would be HARD to get the candy just right. Might be doable though.
–Brian