The buildings

Molten metal

The orange flow from the South Tower, the glowing rubble and the eroded steel

RECORD / AT A GLANCE

Partly true

Molten metal was seen, both in the South Tower and in the rubble. NIST says the flow from the tower was aluminum from the plane. What was in the rubble was never systematically tested, and FEMA’s examination of two eroded steel members found a sulfur-rich attack it could not explain.

THE EVENTS / THE INVESTIGATION / THE STORY

The chronology.

READ THE FILE

Evidence & assessment.

Open an article for its evidence, labeled AI assessment and numbered sources. Read the complete static edition ↗

WHAT PEOPLE SAY ABOUT THIS FILE

The claims, rated.

2 claims people make about this file, each rated documented, partly true, disputed, unproven or false. Think a rating is wrong? Use Dispute or Support, or join the Discussion.

PARTLY TRUE The towers, WTC 7 & demolition

“Molten metal poured from the South Tower.”

Something glowing did pour out just before 9:52. NIST concluded it was aluminum from the plane mixed with burning debris; it was never sampled.

Who says it: Video; critics.

The evidence in this file ↗ · On the full claims board ↗

PARTLY TRUE The towers, WTC 7 & demolition

“Pools of molten steel in the rubble prove thermite.”

Hot and eroded metal was found and FEMA could not explain sulfur attack on two members. The rubble was never systematically tested.

Who says it: Demolition proponents.

The evidence in this file ↗ · On the full claims board ↗

All 162 rated claims ↗

OPEN THE RECORD

Sources & limits.

Numbered citations in each article identify the relevant sources. These records have different purposes and evidentiary weight.

  1. NIST: Questions and answers about the NIST WTC towers investigation ↗

    NIST’s replies on free fall, molten metal, thermite (“many thousands of pounds”) and explosives.

  2. FEMA 403 Appendix C: Limited metallurgical examination ↗

    The eroded, sulfidated steel from WTC 7 and the towers that remains one of the strangest pieces of physical evidence.

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