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March 26, 2008 8:45 AM PDT

Caption text by Elsa Wenzel

An early science lesson for many kids comes when a magnifying glass in the sun sets twigs (or hapless bugs) aflame. Aimed the right way, this 3x4-foot Fresnel lens from a rear projection television can melt a penny into a puddle within several seconds. (In this picture, it's harmlessly trained on company CEO Philip Cable.) The $130 lenses are among the most popular items sold by American Science & Surplus, which tracks 4,000 items in an SQL database.

Regular customers include aficionados of magazines such as Make and ReadyMade, the stars of Mythbusters, and set dressers for movies, TV shows, and stage plays.

Credit: Elsa Wenzel/CNET Networks

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