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A simple science experiment where water is poured into a paper cup, which is heated by a Bunsen burner or other flame.
While the heat of the flame heats the water, the water acts to cool the cup to below its ignition temperature.
The heat energy from the flame is absorbed by the water as latent heat which boils the water, keeping it at a constant temperature, Only when all the water is boiled does the cup burn.
As there is potential to burn down a kitchen / house / neighborhood / city block / national forest, only do this under supervised conditions.
<ref> Science World, Vancouver BC: Boiling Water In A Paper Cup</ref>
This is unlikely to work in a Styrofoam (polystyrenefoam) cup as the Styrofoam is too good a heat insulator.
The foam will melt from the heat of the flame before it can conduct heat to the water, creating a hole in the cup and a wet arm on the experimeter.
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