If you go to a fireworks show this summer, you may not feel the need to cover your ears. Many events now use fireworks that are quieter than ever.
Fireworks are fueled by gunpowder. When the powder is lit, it explodes, burning chemical pellets that release colorful sparks. Quiet fireworks use less gunpowder, so they produce smaller, less noisy explosions.
The ear-splitting noises of typical fireworks can scare animals and damage people’s hearing. Quiet fireworks help solve these problems. But they also have another perk: more color. Smaller explosions burn the color-producing chemicals more slowly, so each burst lights up the sky for a longer time.