Ever wondered how to start a fire when you have no lighter or matches? If you’ve got an old phone with a removable battery and some foil or steel wool… you're in luck.

A battery has a positive and a negative terminal. When you connect them directly using something that conducts electricity—like aluminum foil or steel wool—you create a short circuit.

This short circuit makes electricity flow rapidly through the conductor, causing it to heat up extremely fast. .

Remove the battery from your phone (usually only older phones allow this).

Find the terminals — the gold strips at the bottom of the battery. Outer ones are usually + and -.

Roll a strip of foil, foil gum wrapper, or steel wool into a thin piece, about 3–5 inches long.

Make sure your tinder is ready — use dry leaves, bark, or cotton balls. The fire won’t last long, so be quick.

Touch both ends of the foil or wool to the + and - terminals at the same time. Hold it carefully.

You’ll see a spark or flame! Immediately use it to ignite your tinder.