Brazilian model Izabel Goulart for the screening of the film “Sink Or Swim (Le Grand Bain)” at the 71st Cannes Film Festival, France on May 13, 2018. (Photo by Stephane Mahe/Reuters)

Ulia Matos takes part in a school of theatre, makeup and hair styling graduation contest in Havana, November 16, 2015. (Photo by Reuters/Stringer)

American singer Tinashe attends the 2023 MTV Video Music Awards at the Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey, U.S., September 12, 2023. (Photo by Andrew Kelly/Reuters)

Musician “Girli” poses for a portrait during London Fashion Week in London, Britain February 21, 2017. (Photo by Neil Hall/Reuters)

If we were to burn NH4Cr2O7 with HgSCN in the Dark Ages in Europe and show it to anyone, it is us who would be burning next on a fiery cross of Inquisition. And it’s no wonder, since this experiment produces a truly marvelous result. At first, as you ignite the mixture of NH4Cr2O7 and HgSCN, all you can see is that it is slowly burning with a reddish flame. After a while, however, a crater is formed in the middle of the burning pile, and then, suddenly, tentacle-like appendages start sprouting from the burning mixture. And you can almost hear the scream of the mad occultist – “Come forth, Kraken! Come forth!” But of course, this is simply a chemical reaction that is called the "Pharoah's Serpent". It was also often sold in firework stores until people realized that it was toxic.

Portuguese model Sara Sampaio attends the screening of “Elvis” during the 75th annual Cannes film festival at Palais des Festivals on May 25, 2022 in Cannes, France. (Photo by Stephane Cardinale – Corbis/Corbis via Getty Images)