Both the reading and the lecture talk about the possibility of a "burning mirror", which was described by some ancient historians to burn Roman ships. In the article, the author points out three theories, indicating this method is impossible to implement. However, the lecturer disagrees with him, saying these theories are not convincing enough.

To begin with, the author suggests that the ancient Greeks did not hold such advanced technology to make a huge copper mirror that has a very precise parabolic curvature that is required to concentrate sunlight. The lecturer argues that in fact, the parabolic curvature does not have to be on one single copper mirror. She backs it up with the statement which indicates that many pieces of small copper mirrors also can consist of a parabolic curvature and it is not difficult for the ancient Greeks.

Secondly, the author contends that an experiment shows that it takes 10 minutes for concentrated sunlight to set a wooden and moveless object 30 meters away on fire. Apparently, the Roman ships would not be static for that much time. The lecturer states that the result of the experiment is right, but it is actually unnecessary to burn the wood of the boat. Instead, the ancient Greeks can burn one kind of material on the boat called pitch, which can be burned by concentrated sunlight in seconds. Then, the fire can spread to other parts of the boat.

Finally, the author asserts that a burning mirror can be substituted by another existing weapon at that time, the flaming arrows, which is more convenient and effective. The lecturer casts her doubts on it by bringing up the fact that soldiers of ancient Greek were familiar with flaming arrows already. It is impossible that they would do nothing until arrows arriving the boat. But the burning mirror is harder to detect. Therefore, it is a more surprising and effective way to set a fire.