Pyrotechnic chemistry drives the Vatican’s recipes for the black and white smoke used to announce papal election outcomes ...

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

The Vatican’s age-old tradition of using smoke signals to announce the outcome of papal elections has received a modern ...

Rather than soot, the smoke contains microscopic droplets and fine solids that are transparent or white. The result is a ...

In the afternoon, smoke may appear around 1 p.m. Eastern, 7 p.m. Vatican time if no decision is made. If a pope is elected on the first afternoon ballot, look for white smoke shortly after 11:30 a.m., ...

In 2013, the Vatican confirmed that their fumata recipes now consist of a clear black smoke recipe: potassium perchlorate ...

When that happens, white smoke rises from the Sistine Chapel's chimney. If the two-thirds majority is not reached, black smoke is emitted instead, signaling that the conclave will resume with further ...

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

White smoke has emerged from the chimney of the Sistine Chapel Thursday, signaling that the conclave to elect a new pope has ...