The Vatican’s cardinals gather in conclave today to begin electing the successor to the late Pope Francis—which means the ...

For black smoke, the Vatican uses a mixture of potassium perchlorate, anthracene, and sulphur. The white smoke used to signal ...

This week, 133 cardinals have gathered in the Vatican to elect a new leader of the Catholic church. During their ...

Here's how the conclave creates black and white smoke and why the Catholic Church began using them to signal whether a new pope has been elected.

Adding more potassium to your diet could be an easier, more effective way to lower blood pressure than cutting salt alone, ...

The white smoke was produced using potassium chlorate, lactose and chloroform resin. The once-mysterious recipe for the smoke was unveiled in 2013, The New York Times reported then.

Tradition holds that black smoke indicates the cardinals have not yet agreed on a new leader, while white smoke signals that ...

Discover why boosting your potassium intake may be more effective for lowering blood pressure than simply cutting salt, plus ...

White smoke - produced by the ballots mixed with potassium chlorate, lactose and chloroform ... leading to the main seating area for those using a wheelchair. To prevent the secret deliberations ...

When Catholic cardinals vote in the conclave, they then burn their ballots, sending up black smoke to signal no decision or white smoke to show they have chosen a new pope.

A change in popes — through death or resignation — is a complicated process, with centuries-old rituals involving the transition in leadership for both the spiritual head of ...