The cast of the television series MythBusters performs experiments to verify or debunk urban legends, old wives' tales, and the like. This is a list of the various myths tested on the show, as well as the results of the experiments (the myth is busted, plausible, or confirmed).
Episode overview
Episode 70 – "Hindenberg Mystery" Original air date: January 10, 2007
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 Hindenburgs paint, the MythBusters discovered they could combine to form highly incendiary 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, the MythBusters concluded the Hindenburgs 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.
Crocodile Zig Zags Myth statement Status Notes A person can outrun a crocodile by running in zigzags. 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 with which they experimented either did not react, followed them slowly, or made a single lunge. Through further study, the MythBusters concluded, because crocodiles and alligators rely on ambushing their prey, they are unlikely to 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.
Episode 71 – "Pirate Special" Original air date: January 17, 2007
This was a double-length episode.
Cannonball vs. Shrapnel 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 carcasses, the MythBusters proved that a cannonball could penetrate at least four pigs with a single shot. However, when a cannonball was fired at a wooden wall, the splinters did not have enough power to pierce any of the pigs. To fully confirm or bust the myth, the MythBusters used an authentic Civil War-era cannon. Through preliminary testing, they proved the Civil War cannon was significantly more powerful than the air cannon. However, when a cannonball was fired at the wooden wall, none of the splinters managed to penetrate the pigs with enough force to be lethal. Therefore, the MythBusters concluded getting hit with a cannonball was more deadly than the splinters it creates.
Eye Patch Myth statement Status Notes 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 become accustomed. 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, with some time penalties. When they went back in with an eye that had been covered for thirty minutes, the MythBusters were able to complete the test much more quickly and without errors. As a control test, the MythBusters then went back into the same room with light-accustomed eyes and ran into the same difficulty as in the first test. The myth was deemed plausible rather than confirmed because there are no recorded historical accounts of it.
Knife Sail Myth statement Status Notes 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 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.
Rum: Stain Remover? Myth statement Status Notes 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 being best for removing tar, the urine being best for cleaning blood stains, and the rum and period soap having little effect. Also, Jamie jokingly pointed out that pirates would more likely drink the rum than use it to clean their clothes.
Episode 72 – "Underwater Car" Original air date: January 24, 2007
Underwater Car According to the American Automobile Association, an estimated 11,000 vehicles crashed into bodies of water in one year. The MythBusters tested various methods of escaping a sinking car—in this case, a Ford Taurus.
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 the 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. Adam was forced to resort to emergency air in his first test, since he expended a great deal of energy (and oxygen) in attempting to open the door. 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 one's 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 escaped easily. ...as soon as the water inside the car is up to one's waist. Confirmed Adam barely managed to force the door open and was even briefly submerged before he emerged 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 was unable to escape.
Adam and Jamie also proved that breaking the window is a viable way to escape a sinking car, if one has a suitable tool. Though breaking the window quickly floods the interior, Adam has to hold his breath for only a few seconds before climbing through the simulated "broken window" and surfacing. The broken window was simulated by installing a much stronger window motor, as removing broken glass from the swimming pool would have been a problem. 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 (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. The electricity does not short out immediately. ...attempting to break the window by 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 by using a cell phone. Busted A cell phone is ineffective. ...attempting to break the window by using steel-toed boots. Busted Boots are ineffective. ...attempting to break the window by 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 by 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.
7 Paper Fold Myth statement Status Notes A dry piece of paper cannot be folded in perpendicular halves more than seven times, regardless of its size. Partly busted It was impossible to fold a piece of letter-sized (8.5" × 11", 216 mm × 279 mm) 20 lb (75 g/m2) copy paper with perpendicular folds more than seven times. The thickness of the paper grew geometrically with each successive fold, and after the seventh fold, the paper was just too thick to fold without breaking. Breaking the rules of the challenge, Grant showed that by folding a particularly thin sheet of paper in the same direction four times and then four times the other way, it is possible to fold the paper eight times. The Build Team then laid out a football field-sized sheet of interconnected paper (), and due to the reduction of its area-to-thickness ratio (and with help from a steam roller and a forklift), they 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 seven for letter-sized paper, and perpendicular folds of more than seven are theoretically possible with thinner paper.
Episode 73 – "Speed Cameras" Original air date: March 7, 2007
Speed Cameras The MythBusters tested whether a speed camera... Myth statement Status Notes ...cannot see through a crystallized plate cover. Busted 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. Additionally, Adam even joked that if someone were to attempt avoiding a speed camera by using this approach, it would make him even more determined to find that person. ...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 hairspray. Busted The hairspray 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 a Dodge Neon nor a Lamborghini Murciélago was able to travel fast enough (at ) to outrun the camera.