Are We Being Penny Wise and Pound Foolish?
An Explosive Truth
Today, as usual, we woke up in our bed, took our phone which was charging next to our head, and opened our social media feed. We saw a tragic story about an exploding headphone in our social media timeline. The first thing we did after reading it was to scroll past it, put on our wireless headphones, and listened to this nice song. What a splendid morning indeed!
Aegis and the Amulet
Once upon a time, in the land of Elysia, there was an amazing hero named Aegis, famed for his cunning and bravery. No one stood a chance against him; he always emerged victorious in every battle and challenge in his life.
One day, the Oracle at Delphi invited him for a chat and warned him, “Beware, Aegis! Death will find you in the most unexpected ways.” Aegis replied, “It’s all good; I can defy death itself,” and walked off with confidence and pride.
The problem with warnings and cautions is that once you hear them, you see them everywhere. As usual, Aegis started seeing threats everywhere; even mundane events looked like potential dangers.
One evening, as Aegis was feasting with his companions, a humble traveler arrived at his camp asking for shelter and food. Aegis, being kind that day, invited the traveler to dine with him. As they dined, the traveler spoke highly of a powerful amulet that could protect its wearer from any harm.
Intrigued by the stories he heard, Aegis inquired if he could see the amulet. The traveler produced a simple pendant from his pouch, presented it to Aegis, and said,
This amulet will protect you from any danger. All you have to do is wear it everywhere you go.
and gifted it to Aegis and left.
Aegis happily wore the amulet and felt a sense of invulnerability from that day onwards. Months went by, and Aegis started noticing strange occurrences around him. One by one, his companions fell ill or dropped dead.
Worried, Aegis brought the traveler back to his camp. This time, the traveler revealed himself to be the God of Death and laughed, saying,
One cannot defy death, Aegis. It is inevitable. You sought protection, but in your quest for safety, you invited me into your life
And moved on to claim Aegis life…
So Sad!
We are going to stop our imagination here and move on to our main theme
The Curious Cases Of Exploding Electronics
Recently, there have been many incidents in which the electronics we use have been exploding around us. The Federal Aviation Administration has produced amazing data on this for air incidents[1].
Remember, the above chart is ONLY for the aviation industry for the past 28 years. Additionally, the New York Fire Department (FDNY) has warned that exploding lithium batteries are the primary cause of deaths and fires in the city [2].
Why?
For those wondering why these devices explode, the reason comes from the power source of our devices. In the modern world, our rechargeable devices are powered by lithium batteries, which have the capability to explode under the following conditions or reasons,
Natural defects during manufacturing
Physical damage during use
Crushing or dropping devices
Overcharging
Extreme temperatures
Aging
What is Powered By “Lithium Batteries“
Smartphones
Laptops
Tablets
Electric vehicles
Cars / e-scooters / trucks
Air Pods / wireless headphones
Stay Calm , Be Wise
Remember, it is important to stay calm and not become paranoid about this and avoid technology altogether. The key point to remember is that for our betterment and progress, we do need these devices.
However,
HOW AND WHERE WE NEED THEM
is the question we all need to ask ourselves.
Cyber Hygiene
We are going to recommend a list of cyber hygiene practices that could minimize our chances of being in the line of fire:
Purchase original equipment
Do not overcharge
Keep devices in safe places
Do not overuse
Monitor your charging
Stay informed
Most importantly
“DO NOT KEEP/USE THEM CLOSE TO YOUR HEAD or BED”
Parting Thoughts
As usual, since we also need to entertain the philosophical ancestors in our heads, we're going to leave you with this thought as a parting gift
In our relentless pursuit of progress, safety, and longevity, have we unknowingly invited death into our midst?
Sayonara surfers!
References
[1] FAA Lithium Battery Incidents