Arson. Destructive and highly dangerous, there are very few crimes that make people angrier in a bushfire season.

But how many bushfires are really started by arsonists? And does the presence of an arsonist negate the effect of climate change? What are arsonists really like?

In this episode, Cosmos journalist Imma Perfetto talks to Dr Paul Read and Richard Woods about how bushfires start, how to figure out if they’re deliberate, and misinformation that flies faster than ember attacks.

This episode was produced by Ellen Phiddian and edited by Andrew Wyrill. Theme music by Will Berryman.

For more science news, visit cosmosmagazine.com and follow us on Instagram @cosmosmagazine

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