The counterintuitive demonstration in the video is a beautiful example of the concept of center of gravity. It sure looks like the fork and spoon should immediately teeter off of the glass and crash onto the table. And it’s even more dramatic when half of the matchstick burns away but the contraption still balances on the edge of the glass. But it’s all physics.

In afghanistan, where landmines kill or injure some six people each day, soldiers in very strange-looking boots are often seen prowling about minefields. At first blush it seems naive to even ask the question—can the right footwear offer significant protection?