From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
[edit] Episode 70 — "Hindenburg Mystery, Crocodile Zig Zags"
[edit] Hindenburg Mystery
| Myth statement |
Status |
Notes |
| The Hindenburg was destroyed by the highly flammable doping compound used to paint it, not the hydrogen used to give it lift. |
Busted |
Using the same compounds used in the Hindenburg's paint, the Mythbusters discovered that they could combine to form highly explosive thermite. However, the actual proportions of components in the paint burned too slowly to match the film footage of the Hindenburg disaster. A scale model of the Hindenburg using the same paint and placed in a hydrogen-rich environment took about a minute to burn and did look very similar to the original events. In the end, they concluded that the Hindenburg's demise could be attributed to both the hydrogen and the paint, and they agreed that the paint by itself was not responsible for the rapid burning of the airship. They also pointed out that if actual thermite covered the Hindenburg, it would make the airship too heavy to fly. |
[edit] Crocodile Zig Zags
| Myth statement |
Status |
Notes |
| A person can outrun a crocodile by running in zig-zags. |
Busted |
The Mythbusters used various methods to try to get both crocodiles and alligators to chase them using lures or openly provoking the animals. However, all of the crocodiles and alligators they experimented with either did not react, followed them slowly, or made a single lunge. Through further study, the Mythbusters concluded that because crocodiles and alligators rely on ambushing their prey, it is unlikely they would engage in a prolonged chase. In addition, the Mythbusters advised viewers that the best way to avoid a crocodile or alligator is to stay away from the water. |
[edit] Episode 71— "Pirate Special"
| Myth statement |
Status |
Notes |
| The splinter fragmentation caused by a cannonball's impact with the wooden hull of a pirate ship can kill more pirates than direct impacts with the cannonball itself. |
Busted |
Using a simple air cannon and four pig corpses, the MythBusters proved that a cannonball could penetrate at least four pigs with a single shot. However, when fired at a wooden wall, the splinters did not have enough power to pierce any of the pigs. In order to fully confirm or bust the myth, the MythBusters used an authentic Civil War era cannon. Through preliminary testing, they proved that the Civil War cannon was significantly more powerful than the air cannon. However, when fired at the wooden wall, none of the splinters managed to penetrate the pigs with enough force to be lethal. Therefore, the MythBusters concluded that getting hit with a cannonball was more deadly than the splinters it creates. |
| Pirates wore eyepatches to preserve night vision in one eye. |
Plausible |
This myth works under the assumption that the eye covered with the eyepatch is already accustomed to low light conditions, while the other eye must take time to accustom. The MythBusters were sent into a pirate-themed obstacle course (which was dark, and Adam and Jamie had not seen the course in light, let alone the layout) with light-accustomed eyes and were told to complete certain objectives. Their movements were hampered by the darkness and it took them five minutes to finish. When they went back in with an eye that was covered for thirty minutes, the MythBusters were able to complete the test in a fraction of the time. As a control test, the MythBusters then went back into the same exact room with light-accustomed eyes and ran into the same difficulty as the first test. The myth was deemed plausible because there is no recorded historical precedent for this myth. |
| A person can safely slow a fall by using a knife to cut a sail. |
Busted |
Through various small scale tests, the MythBusters found that sails were not made in one piece, but in fact had a number of seams where the sail was folded over into several layers, making them harder to cut. Also, the sharpness of the knife plays a major role in the myth. If the knife is too sharp, the pirate falls too fast. If the knife is too dull, it would be unable to cut through the seams. In the full scale test, Tory attempted the myth himself by using a moderately sharp knife on a full-size sail. However, every time he attempted the myth, his knife would hit the seam and pop out of the sail. In the end, the MythBusters concluded that there is no possible way that a pirate's knife would be able to be at the perfect balance between dullness and sharpness to safely cut through a sail. |
| Pirates used rum as a means of cleaning clothes in addition to drinking it. |
Busted |
Using rum, modern detergent, period soap, and even urine (allowed to become stale and transform into ammonia), the MythBusters tested to see if rum could be used to clean up blood, tar, and orange stains on fabric. However, after the tests, the results were the modern detergent and urine doing fairly well, but almost no effect from the period soap and rum. Also, Jamie jokingly points out that pirates would more likely drink the rum rather than use it to clean their clothes. |
[edit] Episode 72 — "Underwater Car"
[edit] Underwater Car
According to the American Automobile Association, an estimated 11,000 vehicles crashed into bodies of water in one year. The MythBusters test various methods of escaping a sinking car.
| Myth statement |
Status |
Notes |
| If a car falls into the water and becomes submerged, the door cannot be opened until the interior is flooded. |
Confirmed |
The pressure differential between outside and inside when the car is submerged is too great for a man to force the door, and the pressure must first be equalized, which means the interior must be flooded first. But it should be noted that Adam was forced to resort to emergency air in his first test. A second test later showed it to be possible to escape the car simply by opening the door, but only by remaining calm and not attempting to open the door until the interior is well and truly flooded, so as to conserve oxygen while holding your breath. |
Having confirmed the myth, Adam and Jamie expanded on the myth to determine in what situations and which methods of escaping the car are feasible.
A person can escape a car that has fallen into the water…
| Myth statement |
Status |
Notes |
| …immediately after hitting the water. |
Confirmed |
There is not enough water pressing on the door to keep it shut. Adam escapes easily. |
| …as soon as the water inside the car is up to one's waist. |
Confirmed |
Adam barely manages to force the door open and is even briefly submerged before he emerges from the car. |
| …as soon as water covers the car window from the outside. |
Busted |
At this point, the pressure difference has become too great. Adam is unable to escape. |
They also proved that breaking the window is a viable way to escape a sinking car. Though breaking the window quickly floods the interior, Adam only has to hold his breath for a few seconds before climbing through the simulated "broken window" and surfacing. A person can open a window in a submerged car by…
| Myth statement |
Status |
Notes |
| …using a manual window crank. |
Busted |
Using a test weight of 350 lbs (equivalent to pressure differential from just two feet of immersion), the pressure of the window glass against the frame is so great that no amount of effort can move the gear. It is more likely that the window handle will be broken. |
| …opening power windows. |
Busted |
Though more powerful, power windows still cannot overcome the pressure differential.
Contrary to popular belief, though, power windows can withstand immersion in fresh water for prolonged periods and still function. |
| …attempting to break the window using a set of keys. |
Busted |
Window glass is tempered and resistant to impact from blunt objects. Keys are ineffective. |
| …attempting to break the window using a cell phone. |
Busted |
A cell phone is ineffective. |
| …attempting to break the window using steel-toed boots. |
Busted |
Boots are ineffective. |
| …attempting to break the window using a window-breaking hammer. |
Confirmed |
The device is designed with a pointed tip designed to shatter tempered glass. The hammer broke the window on the first try. |
| …attempting to break the window using a spring-loaded center punch. |
Confirmed |
The point of the punch can work like the tip of the hammer, and punches are sold for the purpose of breaking window glass. The punch broke the window on the first try. |
[edit] Seven Folds
| Myth statement |
Status |
Notes |
| A piece of paper cannot be folded in perpendicular halves more than seven times, regardless of its size. |
Busted |
It was impossible to fold a piece of letter-sized (8.5" x 11", 216 mm × 279 mm) 20 lb (75 g/m2) copy paper with perpendicular folds more than seven times. The thickness of the paper exponentially grew with each successive fold, and after the seventh fold the paper was just too thick to fold without breaking. The MythBusters then laid out a football field-sized sheet of interconnected paper (170 ft x 220 ft, 51.8 m x 67.1 m), and due to the reduction of its thickness-to-area ratio (and with help from a steam roller and a forklift), were able to perpendicularly fold the paper 11 times. Other methods of folding a piece of paper (such as with alternating folds) proved able to break the fold threshold of 7 for letter-sized paper, and perpendicular folds of more than 7 were theoretical with the standard size, but with thinner paper. |
[edit] Episode 73 — "Speed Cameras"
[edit] Speed Cameras
The MythBusters tested whether a speed camera...
| Myth statement |
Status |
Notes |
| …cannot see through a crystallized plate cover. |
Busted |
In the crystals inside the cover did not reflect enough light to cause overexposure and fool the camera. Also, the legality of such a device was questioned. |
| …cannot see through a lenticular lens plate cover. |
Busted |
While designed to distort the plate from an angle, all or most of the letters of the plate were still identifiable in the tests. Also, the legality of such a device was questioned. |
| …cannot see through plastic wrap |
Busted |
The plastic wrap proved to be ineffective. |
| …cannot see through hair spray. |
Busted |
The hair spray was ineffective. |
| …cannot see through commercial distortion spray. |
Busted |
The commercial spray was ineffective. |
| ...cannot take a picture of a car if it is going fast enough. |
Busted |
Neither an average sedan nor a Lamborghini Murciélago LP640 were able to travel fast enough (at 138 mph, 222 kph) to outrun the camera. It should be noted, however, that the British motoring show Top Gear was able to beat the cameras by speed with a TVR Tuscan S at 170 mph, albeit with a UK-spec Gatso speed camera, which may differ from a camera used in the United States. |
| ...can take a picture of a passing bird. |
Confirmed |
The speed camera managed to catch a pair of trained peregrine falcons passing it at a speed of 40 miles per hour. |
The unofficial (Jamie Hyneman) test...
| Myth statement |
Status |
Notes |
| Switching the license plate while passing the camera. |
Confirmed (unofficial) |
Rigging the license plate to flip before the camera shot allowed an inaccurate display of the real plate. However, this method is illegal and would most likely net a far greater fine than the speeding ticket itself, rendering the point moot. |
[edit] Exploding Nitro Patches
Nitroglycerin is useful in treating heart and blood conditions, but is also an unstable explosive. The MythBusters test the efficacy of labels warning not to use a defibrillator before removing any nitroglycerin patches.
| Myth statement |
Status |
Notes |
| Defibrillators can cause medical nitroglycerin chest patches to explode. |
Busted |
Using a homemade defibrillator, the build team attempted to see whether the electric shock it created was enough to cause the nitroglycerin in the patches to explode. However, the defibrillator failed to detonate the patches, including reproductions of older model aluminum-backed patches, as well pure nitroglycerin dabbed directly to the body. The build team was forced to use custom made, high power explosives in order to blow up the body. |
[edit] Episode 74 — "Dog Myths"
[edit] Old Dogs, New Tricks
Following the old saying, Jamie and Adam see if they can teach an old dog new tricks.
| Myth statement |
Status |
Notes |
| You can't teach old dogs new tricks. |
Busted |
With the help of professional dog trainers, Adam and Jamie were both able to teach two old dogs (Bobo & Cece, a pair of 7 year old brother & sister Alaskan Malamute) sitting, heeling, staying, shaking hands, and lying down. However, Cece was the more obedient of the two dogs as Bobo had trouble staying. |
[edit] Beat the Guard Dog
The Build Team tries to distract and get around a guard dog (in this case, a German Shepard named Eewan) by...
| Myth statement |
Status |
Notes |
| ...distracting it with a steak |
Plausible |
The guard dog was distracted by smelling and eating the steak long enough for the intruder to reach her goal. However, once the dog was finished, it attacked the intruder. |
| ...acting submissive |
Busted |
The intruder crawled on his hands and knees, but the dog attacked without hesitation. |
| ...acting aggressive |
Busted |
The intruder yelled and waved his arms, but the dog attacked without hesitation. |
| ...using the scent of a lactating female dog |
Busted |
The scent was sprayed on the intruder, but the dog attacked without delay |
| ...using the scent of wolf urine |
Plausible |
Intially, the dog did not attack, but instead sniffed the intruder. Eventually, it did attack before the intruder could move very far. Grant theorized that if someone covered themselves in wolf urine, they may survive. |
| ...using the urine of a female dog in heat |
Confirmed |
The scent was put on a cloth and dragged along the ground of the fence. The dog followed and licked the scent while the intruder snuck in, reached the goal, and returned safely. |
| Grant Imahara: ...driving a cat puppet around the yard |
Busted |
While the guard dog was initially distracted; however, because of bad controlling, the decoy and the thief crossed paths and eventually caused the guard dog to turn its attention to the intruder. |
| Tory Belleci: ...crawling along inside a barrel with wheels |
Busted |
The dog first tried digging for the intruder, but eventually figured out how to grab the wheel to tip the barrel up by grabbing one of the wheels for leverage and get at Tory. The experiment was stopped before there was any risk of injury. |
| Kari Byron: ...using a human-sized hamster ball covered in plastic wrap |
Plausible |
Kari was able to roll her way to the goal and back, but she wasn't able to get out of the ball without the dog attacking her. |
Overall, while a few methods managed to work, the guard dogs can be specifically trained to ignore certain distractions. Thus, overall, this myth was considered only plausible.
[edit] Foil the Bloodhound
The Mythbusters see what it takes to shake a scent hound.
A bloodhound can be detered by...
| Myth statement |
Status |
Notes |
| ...zig-zagging and doubling back. |
Busted |
Within minutes, the dog found Adam's scent. |
| ...running through water |
Busted |
The dog found Adam as well, and water can even help the dog find people. |
| …covering the floor with pepper |
Busted |
The dog went to the area covered with pepper for a little while, before going back to Adam. |
| ...cleaning your old clothes and changing into new ones |
Busted |
The dog found Adam, but only after being distracted by the concentrated smell where the clothes were cleaned. |
| …covering yourself with cologne/coffee. |
Busted |
Both the cologne and coffee were ineffective. |
| …making an urban maze with many more smells. |
Plausible |
Unlike the other runs, Morgan the Bloodhound was confused by the other smells around him. His trainer had to take him back to the start and try again. The dog only found Adam after 90 minutes of wandering around. They had taken a different path than Adam. However, there are bloodhounds that are specifically trained to work in urban environments, and the Mythbusters pointed out various recorded instances of scent dogs succesfully tracking targets in dense urban areas. |
[edit] Episode 75 — "Myths Redux"
This is the sixth episode in which earlier myths are retested.
[edit] The Mad Trombonist
| Myth statement |
Status |
Notes |
| A trombonist had put a firecracker into his mute, and at the final note of the 1812 Overture, launched the mute, striking the conductor and knocking him back into the audience. In addition, the bell of the trombone was blown wide open and the slide was launched (From The Mad Trombonist). |
Re-Busted |
The re-test involved placing simulated lips against the trombone's mouthpiece so as to seal that end. This still failed to cause the slide to fly off the instrument. They only achieved the feat by soldering a plug into the mouthpiece, completely sealing it shut. |
[edit] Sniper Scope
| Myth statement |
Status |
Notes |
| A sniper can kill another sniper by shooting straight through the scope. (From Firearms Folklore) |
Plausible |
Using a period-correct Mosin-Nagant PU scope (which has less glass) and a .30-06 armor piercing round, Jamie's shot went completely through the sight and penetrated two inches into the target dummy—deep enough to be a possibly lethal hit. Shots with standard ball ammunition produced less successful results. |
[edit] Finger in a Barrel
| Myth statement |
Status |
Notes |
| A shotgun plugged by a human finger will backfire and explode injuring or killing the shooter instead of the intended victim. (From Finger in a Barrel) |
Re-Busted |
The re-test used a 19th-century double-barreled shotgun made through Damascus welding. The first barrel was damaged by a ballistic gelatin finger, though not as seen in cartoons. A steel finger welded to the end of the second barrel simply made the whole tip of the barrel shoot off. |
| A .30-06 rifle fired while having a boresight still in the barrel will backfire and explode, creating a cartoon-like banana peel effect as shown in submitted photographs. (Spinoff from Finger in a Barrel) |
Plausible |
The Build Team's test used a brand new rifle. The barrel split several inches when fired with a laser boresight in the barrel. The Build Team surmises that the banana-peel effect could be achieved if this were to happen in an older rifle that has endured more wear and tear from firings. |
[edit] Hammer vs. Hammer
| Myth statement |
Status |
Notes |
| If two hammers strike each other, at least one hammer will completely shatter with lethal force. (From Hammer vs. Hammer) |
Re-Busted |
First, the Build Team properly heated two modern hammers to the transition point and quenched them, making them as brittle as possible. The two hammers simply snapped at the necks when struck. Then they tested older steel hammers (predating World War II). Though the heads began to chip when struck, one of them ultimately snapped at the neck as well. |
| If a hammer strikes hard against an anvil, the hammer will completely shatter with lethal force. (From Hammer vs. Hammer) |
Re-Busted |
For this re-test, they used a genuine steel anvil and used a rig that would make the hammer strike against the top of the anvil. The pre-WW2 steel hammer suffered cracks and chips from first a human-strength then a superhuman strike, but it did not shatter. |
[edit] Episode 76 — "Voice Flame Extinguisher"
Jamie and Adam try to put out a fire using only their voices and Kari, Tory and Grant test four classic hypnosis hypotheses.
[edit] Episode 77 — "Birds in a Truck"
[edit] Episode 78 — "Walking on Water"
The Mythbusters test several ninja myths.
[edit] External links
