The microwave plasma mystery

Sometime last year, I got really interested in microwave plasma, which can be made from a lot of things like lit matches, aluminum foil or just some grapes. However, when I went searching for more info about it, I really couldn't find much of anything. There was also no explanation as to why it was yellow every time, regardless of what it was made from.

So, I decided to investigate this a little bit and try to get to the bottom of it.

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Grape plasma paper: https://www.pnas.org/content/116/10/4000/tab-figures-data

Video references:
Applied Science (Ben): https://www.youtube.com/user/bkraz333
Applied science video on making potassium glass: https://youtu.be/y02AXdec1sE
RUPhys2012: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lhpndQJkNk0
Steve Mould: https://youtu.be/8bXhsUs-ohw
Stupideaproductions: https://youtu.be/G7lfzA7WzVI
Veritasium (new grape video): https://youtu.be/wCrtk-pyP0I
Veritasium (old grape video): https://youtu.be/RwTjsRt0Fzo
Walter Mitty: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lys1pcZbPM0

Nile talks about lab safety: https://youtu.be/ftACSEJ6DZA

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Music in credits (Walker by SORRYSINES): https://soundcloud.com/sorrysines/walker

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