Without gravity, scientists can get weak flames to burn longer and thus yield data of use to the auto industry. ABC News reports that astronauts aboard the Space shuttle Columbia created tiny, weak balls of flame in an experiment that could lead to car engines that can burn fuel more efficiently and produce less pollution. Hydrogen and methane fuel were ignited inside a sealed chamber, setting records for the weakest flame and leanest mixture ever burned in space or on Earth. The flames, about three-eighths of an inch in diameter, were too weak to be seen by the naked eye and had to be magnified through a video camera. On Wednesday, the astronauts created a flame producing just half a watt of thermal power (a birthday candle produces 50 watts). Then on Thursday, a flame was created from an 8 percent mixture of fuel and air–car engines need 70 percent. One flame ball burned for about 20 minutes aboard Columbia, which is believed to be a record.