Sistine Chimmey Watch LIVE: Watch the Papal Vote Results Online

Culture

Is there white smoke? Not yet. The Guardian has posted a new online tool to track the Sistine Chapel's chimney, and learn whether the smoke coming from it is white or black. According to tradition, the fumata nera ("black smoke," in Italian) is the announcement that the election wasn't decisive — by means of burning the ballots together with straw or chemicals to produce black smoke. Conversely, a fumata bianca (or "white smoke") announces the conclave is over because a Pope was elected.