Scientists understand the world but cannot explain it

American actor Alan Alda, famous for his numerous film and television works, threw a challenge at the latest issue of the journal Science. It is a competition in which scientists must answer a simple question: what is a flame?

The idea for the contest came from Alda's own experience, who at the age of 11 asked her science teacher the same question, getting a very uninteresting and entertaining explanation: "it's oxidation." In the actor's opinion, scientists need to learn to explain science in a way that everyone can understand.

“Would you be willing to write your own explanation of what a flame is, in a way that any 11-year-old can understand, even find fun?” Challenges Alda.

Those interested in participating in the contest have one month to submit the response, which can be delivered in text, video or graphic form. The works will be judged by 11-year-olds, and the winner will win a ticket to the famous World Science Festival this year in New York.

However, the real winners are all children - whether they are 11 years old or not - who will be able to get much more fun answers to their endless questions, and perhaps even find science much more interesting.