Theory:Pyrokinesis

Main Article Theories about pyrokinesis Main Discussion

The following fan theories are about pyrokinesis.

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Theories

Theory	Citations	Notes
This power involves heating oxygen until it can burn.	None.	- This would not explain why the user is immune to the heat of the flames. - Heating oxygen doesn't create flames, it causes an explosion. Fire works because of other gases released by the fuel reacting with the oxygen and producing heat. - Heating (pure) oxygen will result in an explosion, and will not burn after it. Heating air does not cause an explosion because air is not pure oxygen. - It won't burn because there is no fuel. Combustion needs oxygen, fuel and heat. This theory involves oxygen and heat, but not any fuel. In fact, fire works because of the hydrocarbons in the fuel. + Claire nearly suffocates from a lack of oxygen when Meredith "trains" her.
This power involves control of friction at the atomic level	None	+ Heat is caused by friction at the atomic level, with enough heat generated combustion is possible. + The human body produces methane as a by-product of digestion. Methane is very flammable. This would be a readily available fuel source. - Then it would need a lot of methane for pyrokinesis. Flint has been shown throwing a great amount of flame around the bank. Unless Flint eats extremely excessively, his body won't be able to produce such a large amount of hydrocarbons.
Flint's fire is blue because he makes it much hotter	Blue flames on a Bunsen burner are much hotter than yellow ones	+ Flint seems to be able to control his ability at a higher level than Meredith, so he may know a lot more about its extents.
Pyrokinetics are immune to the side effects of constantly burning a fire (i.e. lack of oxygen or temperature index)	None.	+ In, One of Us, One of Them Meredith constantly burned her flame in an enclosed room and while Claire felt the effects of fire, Meredith did not; she was not sweating, or breathing heavy from the lack of air.
The actual fire is sustained by means of a "psionic" fuel	None	+ In order for combustion to take place, there needs to be oxygen, fuel and heat. This sort of "psionic" fuel could be extremely easy to ignite, with just the least bit of friction, explaining the instant fire. + Heavier concentration could result in a more potent fuel, explaining why some pyrokinetics have blue fire.
Meredith cannot create flame pillars like Flint, she can only throw fire balls	None	+ She has never demonstrated to be able to create flame pillars. - This could be because Flint is more in control of his powers. + Her flame doesn't engulf her whole hand, unlike Flint's. It is only shown at her finger tips or on her palm, this hints that she could throw fire balls. + She has thrown a fire ball
If Peter gets his mimicry back he will absorb pyrokinesis from Meredith.	The writers have stated that Peter's pyrokinesis in the Explosion future absolutely came from Meredith.	+ This could be how his future incarnate gets pyrokinesis. - This future doesn't exist anymore, therefore all of it's possiblities could be erased.