hits the bottle, the light rays do not just pass straight through. Instead, the water bends (refracts) the light, concentrating a wide beam of sunlight into a tiny, intensely bright focal point. If this focal point lands on a dark, flammable surface inside your vehicle—such as a fabric car seat, a floor mat, or clothing left on the seat—it can generate an extreme amount of localized heat.
The Incubation Period
A parked car on a sunny day is essentially a greenhouse. The windows allow sunlight to enter but trap the
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