Space Shuttle thermal protection system tile

Hey, it's Space Shuttle tile time!

After heating a Space Shuttle thermal protection system tile (that is, increasing its thermal energy), it will have an immense amount of internal thermal energy, but is safe to touch (by the edges and corners). What's up with that? (We also get to play hot potato in class by heating up a Space Shuttle tile sample with a blowtorch, and then pass it around. Good times.) (Video link: "Space Shuttle Thermal Tile Demonstration.")