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The modest gherkin
compelling in your salt beef bagel
meat platter or fondue
also harbours potential for death and wonder
As a conductor of electricity it emits a sodium glow
This is due to their vinegar content
which contains acetic acid and sodium chloride
Gherkins are best because of their high water content and translucence
the ultimate food based bulbs
It’s important to wire them in parallel, so as not to decrease the voltage
The electricity excites the sodium ions in the salt
Falling back to ground state, they omit light at a frequency called Sodium D-line
the same light you see in Sodium lamps in parking lots
But lighting pickle bulbs requires enormous power
A small gherkin draws 300 watts
The equivalent of twelve 25-watt light bulbs
A large gherkin draws 500 watts
The equivalent of ten 50-watt bulbs
50 table fans
or 500 clock radios
So sixty pickles wired together uses enough power to illuminate a city block
The chandelier draws the equivalent of two electric chairs
This much power in the pickle comes with severe danger—
utmost precautions must be taken
The humble gherkin, nature’s finest fruit bulb
wired in parallel to evoke a sense of wonder
The gherkin chandelier: magnificence in the mundane