The microwave plasma mystery

Sometime last year, I got really interested in microwave plasma, which can be made from a lot of things like lit matches, aluminum foil or just some grapes. However, when I went searching for more info about it, I really couldn't find much of anything. There was also no explanation as to why it was yellow every time, regardless of what it was made from. So, I decided to investigate this a little bit and try to get to the bottom of it.

Grape plasma paper: https://www.pnas.org/content/116/10/4...

Video references:
• Applied Science (Ben): bkraz333
• Applied science video on making potassium glass: How to chemically strengthen glass (e...
• RUPhys2012: Microwave Aluminum Foil
• Steve Mould: How to film the inside of a microwave...
• Stupideaproductions: ☢ Microwave Plasma : AWESOME experiment
• Veritasium (new grape video): Microwaving Grapes Makes Plasma
• Veritasium (old grape video): Make Plasma With Grapes In The Microw...
• Walter Mitty: Match in Microwave Creates Plasma

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