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>> Narrator: IN THIS EPISODE,
STRUCK BY LIGHTNING.
>> WHERE'S YOUR TONGUE?
LET'S SEE IT.
>> Narrator: THE MYTHBUSTERS
TEMPT FATE.
>> THIS WON'T HURT YOU AT ALL.
>> FEELS LIKE I GOT A BARBELL
STUCK IN MY TONGUE.
>> Narrator: WILL BODY JEWELRY
GET YOU STRUCK BY LIGHTNING?
TESTING A MEDIEVAL TREE CANNON.
>> I NEED SOMEBODY WITH A WHIP
AND A DRUM.
>> Narrator: IT'S A BLAST FROM
THE PAST.
AND MAN VERSUS MACHINE...
>> ADAM, THE POLICE OFFICER SAID
YOU NEED TO DRINK MORE.
>> Narrator: ...IN THE BATTLE OF
THE BREATHALYZER.
>> [ LAUGHS ]
>> Narrator: WHO ARE THE
MYTHBUSTERS?
>> AM I MISSING AN EYEBROW?
>> Narrator: ADAM SAVAGE...
>> I ALWAYS ENJOY SEEING ADAM IN
PAIN.
>> OH!
>> Narrator: ...AND
JAMIE HYNEMAN.
>> JAMIE WANTS BIG BOOM.
>> Narrator: BETWEEN THEM, MORE
THAN 30 YEARS' SPECIAL-EFFECTS
EXPERIENCE.
>> FEEL KIND OF SEXY.
>> Narrator: THEY DON'T JUST
TELL THE MYTHS.
>> FAREWELL, CRUEL WORLD.
>> Narrator: THEY PUT THEM TO
THE TEST.
>> WILL SOMEONE PLEASE HELP ME
UP?
>> YES, WE'LL CARRY YOU.
HOLD ON.
>> I GOT STRUCK BY LIGHTNING?
>> YES.
>> HOW DID THAT HAPPEN?
>> DUDE, IT'S NOT.
>> Narrator: IN AUGUST 2003,
MATT THOMPSON WAS HIT BY
LIGHTNING IN THE HILLS OUTSIDE
KEYSTONE, COLORADO.
>> A BOLT OF LIGHTNING TAKEN
STRAIGHT IN THE CHEST.
>> IT JUST CAME OUT OF NOWHERE.
>> THE DIRECT HIT TRAVELED ALL
THE WAY THROUGH MATT'S BODY.
>> I HAD NO CLUE WHAT HAPPENED.
>> Narrator: MATT'S STORY WAS
BIG NEWS.
ON WEBSITES WORLDWIDE, THE ISSUE
WAS RAGING.
>> YOU ALMOST DIED.
>> Narrator: WAS MATT'S METAL
TONGUE STUD THE REASON HE WAS
STRUCK?
>> MY TONGUE RING?
>> YOU MIGHT'VE SWALLOWED IT.
>> WHERE'S YOUR TONGUE?
LET'S SEE IT.
IT'S BROKEN OFF IN THERE, IT
LOOKS LIKE.
>> Narrator: BODY JEWELRY
ATTRACTING LIGHTNING STRIKES?
THIS LOOKS LIKE A JOB FOR THE
MYTHBUSTERS.
>> THE MYTH IS THAT WEARING A
TONGUE STUD INCREASES YOUR
CHANCES OF BEING STRUCK BY
LIGHTNING.
>> WHAT KIND OF COCKAMAMIE
THEORY IS THIS?
>> THIS COCKAMAMIE THEORY
SAYS THAT THE LIGHTNING BOLT IS
BEING ATTRACTED DIRECTLY TO IT.
>> LIKE A LIGHTNING ROD.
>> YEAH, EXACTLY.
>> IT SOUNDS KIND OF SILLY.
>> Narrator: BEING LOADED INTO
AN AMBULANCE WITH A FRIED
TONGUE, YOU CAN BET
MATT THOMPSON DIDN'T THINK IT
WAS A SILLY MYTH.
STILL, THE BOYS ARE SKEPTICAL.
>> IT'S OBVIOUS THAT JEWELRY
DOES AFFECT YOUR BODY IF YOU GET
STRUCK BY LIGHTING, BUT THE
QUESTION STILL REMAINS, DOES
IT INCREASE YOUR CHANCES OF
BEING STRUCK BY LIGHTNING?
>> Narrator: FOR THE TONGUE-STUD
LIGHTING TEST, TWO HEADS MADE
FROM BALLISTICS GEL WILL BE
MOUNTED NEAR A LIGHTNING
GENERATOR.
ONE OF THE HEADS WILL BE PIERCED
WITH METAL STUDS.
ADAM AND JAMIE WANT TO KNOW
WHICH HEAD THE CHARGE JUMPS TO.
>> THAT WILL BE FUN.
>> THAT'S DEFINITELY WHY WE'RE
DOING THIS.
>> Narrator: THE FIRST JOB IS TO
BUILD A RIG THAT WILL ATTRACT
LIGHTNING.
THEY NEED SOMETHING BIG, METAL,
AND ROUND.
>> HERE WE ARE.
>> THAT'S THEM.
>> WHAT, THESE?
>> YEAH.
>> OKAY.
WE'RE USING WOKS BECAUSE THE
ROUND SURFACE OF A WOK IS A
PERFECT THING TO TEST AN
ELECTRICAL FIELD AROUND BECAUSE
IT DOESN'T HAVE ANY POINT THAT
CAN GATHER THE ELECTRICITY TO A
SINGLE POINT.
7, 8.
IT'S LIKE THEY KNEW WE WERE
COMING.
>> IMAGINE THAT.
>> [ CHUCKLES ]
NORMALLY, WE'D PROBABLY PUT THE
HEADS ON A SPIKE, BUT THAT WOULD
NOT GIVE US AN ACCURATE TEST AS
TO THE CONDUCTIVITY OF THE
PIERCING AS IT RELATES TO THE
WHOLE HEAD.
>> [ SIGHS ]
HOW AM I GOING TO GET THOSE
OUT OF THERE?
>> Narrator: BACK AT THE
WORKSHOP, WHILE JAMIE GRAPPLES
WITH REMOVING THE WOK HANDLES,
ADAM IS GOING INTO REPRODUCTION
MODE.
>> I AM GOING TO TAKE THIS
CASTING OF MY HEAD -- AND IT IS
ME, I SWEAR -- AND I'M GOING TO
FILL IT WITH SOME RIGID FOAM SO
I CAN CUT IT IN HALF AND TURN IT
INTO A VACUFORM MOLD TO MAKE
A BUNCH OF BALLISTIC GEL HEADS.
THIS IS WHERE THINGS START
TO HAPPEN KIND OF FAST.
THE POINT AT WHICH IT GETS CLEAR
AGAIN -- THERE, SEE?
NOW IT TURNS DARK.
NOW IT'S JUST ABOUT TO BUBBLE.
THAT'S THE TRICK.
IF WE LOOK IN HERE, WE CAN WATCH
IT.
IT'S GONNA BLOW ALL THE WAY UP.
ISN'T THAT AMAZING?
OH, LOOK AT THIS.
HERE IT COMES.
ALL RIGHT, SO I MIXED TOO MUCH.
>> Narrator: JAMIE, AHEAD OF
SCHEDULE, HAS FOUND TIME FOR
ART.
>> I DON'T KNOW WHAT IT IS, BUT
IT'S PRETTY.
LIKE A BIG STEEL TULIP.
>> Narrator: ADAM, MEANWHILE,
HAS A SOLID BASE FOR HIS MOLD.
>> THERE'S SOMETHING STRANGELY
SATISFYING ABOUT THAT.
>> Narrator: BUT GETTING A
PLASTIC SHELL TO FORM IS PROVING
TO BE A HEADACHE.
>> NO, NO!
COME ON!
AAH!
>> ADAM IS REALLY *** MY
TOOLS.
HE'LL TEND TO PLOW THROUGH
THINGS WITHOUT THINKING.
>> OHH!
OH, GOD.
EVERY TIME.
I HATE THIS FRAME.
IT'S RIPPING MY FINGERS TO
SHREDS.
A LITTLE MORE COMFORT IN YOUR
DESIGN.
THAT'S ALL I WANT.
>> IT'LL TOUGHEN YOUR FINGERS
UP.
IT'S GOOD FOR YOU.
>> [BLEEP] YOU!
MY FINGERS DON'T NEED
TOUGHENING.
LET'S SEE IF IT STILL FITS.
NO, THAT DOESN'T FIT.
MY HEAD HAS GOTTEN FATTER IN THE
INTERVENING YEARS, AS IF NOBODY
KNEW THAT.
[ LAUGHTER ]
ALL RIGHT.
LET'S GO DO ANOTHER NINE.
>> Narrator: JAMIE IS ATTACHING
INVERTED WOKS TO THE TOPS OF
METAL RODS.
A NON-CONDUCTIVE PLEXIGLAS SPIKE
WILL PROTRUDE ABOVE EACH WOK TO
HOLD THE DUMMY'S HEAD.
>> IT HAS TO BE SOMETHING THAT'S
NOT GOING TO ATTRACT
ELECTRICITY ON ITS OWN IN ANY
SPECIFIC WAY.
SO, THIS IS A MOUNT FOR THE
HEAD, AND WHEN THE ELECTRICAL
CURRENT, WHEN THE LIGHTNING BOLT
IS ATTRACTED TO THE HEAD, IT
WILL GO WHEREVER IT WANTS TO GO
ON THE HEAD, NOT BECAUSE OF THE
CONFIGURATION OF THIS.
>> Narrator: ADAM HAS FINALLY
CREATED TEN HEAD MOLDS.
THEY NEED MORE THAN TWO IN CASE
THE HIGH VOLTAGE STRIKE BLOWS
THEM APART.
THEY'LL BE FILLED WITH
BALLISTICS GEL AND WILL MIMIC
THE ELECTRICAL CONDUCTIVITY OF
THE HUMAN HEAD.
SMART WORK, BUT ADAM IS ABOUT TO
DO SOMETHING NOT SO BRIGHT.
TO GET INTO THE SPIRIT OF THIS
MYTH, HE'S VOLUNTEERED TO GET
HIS OWN TONGUE PIERCED.
>> HI, ARE YOU JOEY?
>> YEAH. HI.
>> I'M ADAM.
>> NICE TO MEET YOU, ADAM.
>> JAMIE.
>> HEY, JAMIE. HOW YOU DOING?
>> AND I'M HERE TO GET A TONGUE
PIERCING.
>> LET'S SEE YOUR TONGUE.
YEAH, WE CAN PUT SOME JEWELRY IN
THERE FOR YOU.
>> ALL RIGHT.
HAVE YOU EVER HEARD ANY MYTHS
ABOUT TONGUE PIERCINGS?
>> MM, NO.
I'VE HEARD SOME REALITIES ABOUT
TONGUE PIERCINGS.
I DON'T KNOW ABOUT ANY MYTHS.
WHAT DO YOU HAVE IN MIND?
>> WELL, THERE'S A STORY GOING
AROUND ABOUT A WOMAN IN BRITAIN
WHO APPARENTLY WAS STRUCK BY
LIGHTNING, AND SHE SAID IT WAS
BECAUSE SHE HAD A TONGUE
PIERCINGS.
>> NEVER HEARD THAT ONE.
>> YOU'VE NEVER HEARD THAT ONE?
>> NEVER HEARD THAT ONE.
>> YOU EVER HAD ANY COMPLAINTS
OF ANYONE STRUCK BY LIGHTNING?
>> NONE OF MY CLIENTS HAVE EVER
BEEN STRUCK BY LIGHTNING.
>> [ CHUCKLES ]
>> SO, THESE ARE SOME OF THE
BASIC BEADS THAT I HAVE FOR YOU
TO CHOOSE FROM.
PROBABLY THE MOST COMFORTABLE
SIZE TO START WITH IS THIS ONE
RIGHT HERE.
IF YOU WANT TO GO WITH SOMETHING
A LITTLE FANCIER, IT'S POSSIBLE
TO WEAR GEM STONES FOR IT, AS
WELL.
SO, IF YOU WANT TO GET REALLY
FLASH, YOU CAN WEAR SOMETHING
LIKE THAT.
>> [ CHUCKLES ]
WHAT DO YOU THINK, JAMIE?
SHOULD I GO FLASH OR PLAIN?
>> I THINK YOU SHOULD GO FOR
MAXIMUM CONDUCTIVITY, ACTUALLY.
>> [ SIGHS ]
YEAH, I SUPPOSE YOU'RE RIGHT.
>> DO YOU HAVE ANYTHING SHAPED
LIKE A LITTLE, YOU KNOW,
LIGHTNING ROD OR ANYTHING?
>> NO LIGHTNING RODS AND WE
DON'T HAVE ANY COPPER.
I THINK YOU'RE GONNA HAVE TO GO
WITH THE STAINLESS STEEL.
>> ALL RIGHT.
THE STAINLESS STEEL BALL ABOUT
THAT SIZE WAS EXACTLY WHAT I WAS
THINKING.
>> OKAY.
THAT SHOULD BE GREAT.
SO, WHY DON'T YOU COME ON IN
HERE?
HAVE A SEAT ON THE DINOSAUR
CHAIR THERE.
>> DO I GET A LOLLIPOP WHEN THIS
IS DONE?
>> YOU DO GET A LOLLIPOP WHEN
THIS IS DONE, BUT ONLY IF YOU
EARN IT.
>> Narrator: HE'S JUST SEEN THE
NEEDLE.
FOR ONCE, ADAM'S AT A LOSS FOR
WORDS.
>> ALL RIGHT.
SO, YOU READY?
IT'S VERY, VERY QUICK, AND VERY,
VERY EASY.
YOU CAN SIT YOUR GLASSES RIGHT
THERE.
WHAT I WANT YOU TO DO IS SWALLOW
ONE LAST TIME.
BREATHE EASY.
GIVE ME YOUR TONGUE.
THERE YOU GO.
THIS WON'T HURT YOU AT ALL.
I'M NOT GOING TO PULL ON YOU.
I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE I GOT
YOU RIGHT WHERE I NEED YOU.
THE PIERCING IS REAL QUICK.
I'M JUST GETTING LINED UP.
HERE WE GO.
GIVE ME A BREATH IN AND OUT.
YOU'RE DONE.
THE JEWELRY IS IN.
I'M GOING TO TAKE THE CLAMP OFF
AND SCREW THE BEAD ON THE
BOTTOM.
IT WON'T HURT YOU.
YOU'RE ABSOLUTELY DONE.
LET ME JUST MAKE SURE THE BEADS
ARE TIGHT.
YOU CAN HAVE YOU TONGUE BACK.
THERE YOU GO. YOU'RE DONE.
>> [ LAUGHS ]
>> ALL RIGHT.
WHOO!
THAT WAS NOT SO BAD.
BUT NOW I'M TALKING ALL FUNNY.
[ CHUCKLES ]
FEELS LIKE I GOT A BARBELL
STUCK IN MY TONGUE, MAN.
AHH! AHH!
HOW ABOUT THAT?
SHE SELLS SEASHELLS BY THE
SEASHORE.
[ LAUGHS ]
>> Narrator: IN AUGUST 2003,
MATT THOMPSON WAS STRUCK BY
LIGHTNING IN COLORADO.
>> MY TONGUE RING?
>> Narrator: WAS THE LIGHTNING
ATTRACTED TO HIS METAL TONGUE
PIERCING?
>> OH, IT'S BROKEN OFF IN THERE,
IT LOOKS LIKE.
>> Narrator: TO TEST THE MYTH
THAT BODY JEWELRY INCREASES YOUR
CHANCE OF BEING STRUCK, ADAM AND
JAMIE HAVE ENLISTED THE HELP OF
DELTA STAR WEST.
THEY MANUFACTURE
INDUSTRIAL-GRADE ELECTRICAL
MACHINERY.
>> THEY STILL FEEL NICE AND
COOL.
>> Narrator: ADAM'S FRESHLY MADE
GELATIN HEADS ARE THE FOCAL
POINTS.
>> HE HAS TO SUFFER AS MUCH AS I
HAVE.
>> Narrator: A METAL STUD
EXPERTLY FITTED TO ONE DUMMY'S
LOWER LIP.
>> I SHOULD HAVE BEEN A SURGEON.
ALL RIGHT.
LET'S SEE HOW IT DOES.
>> WE HAVE THIS GIGANTIC BANK OF
CAPACITORS, WHICH CREATES OVER
A MILLION VOLTS AT SOMETHING
LIKE 1,000 AMPS, AND IT'S
SENDING ELECTRICITY ACROSS THIS
WIRE, THROUGH THIS ELECTRODE,
AND THESE HEADS, WHICH ARE
GROUNDED, WILL COMPLETE THE
CIRCUIT.
>> Narrator: ESSENTIALLY,
THEY'RE MAKING MINI LIGHTNING.
AT THE FLICK OF A SWITCH, A
MILLION VOLTS STORED IN A
CAPACITOR WILL DISCHARGE DOWN A
WIRE, JUMPING TO THE GROUND
THROUGH THE TWO HEADS.
>> WE'RE HOPING TO FIND THAT
IT SHOWS A PREFERENCE TO GO TO
ONE HEAD OR THE OTHER.
IF IT SHOWS A PREFERENCE TO GO
TO THE ONE WITH THE BARBELL,
THEN WE'LL KNOW YOU'RE MORE
LIKELY TO GET STRUCK BY
LIGHTNING.
IF IT DOESN'T, IF IT GOES FOR
THIS HEAD, THEN THE MYTH IS
BUSTED.
>> Narrator: REAL LIGHTNING CAN
BE OVER 100 MILLION VOLTS.
IT KILLS ABOUT 100 AMERICANS A
YEAR.
THIS MILLION-VOLT JOLT WOULD
STILL TURN YOU INTO TOAST.
EVERYONE IS KEEPING A SAFE
DISTANCE.
>> WE'RE GOOD.
[ BELL RINGS ]
>> Narrator: THE LIGHTNING WILL
DISCHARGE INTO ONE OF THE HEADS.
IT TAKES JUST A FRACTION OF A
SECOND.
IT'*** THE HEAD ON THE RIGHT.
YOU CAN SEE IT IN FREEZE FRAME.
>> [ LAUGHS ]
>> Narrator: HERE IT IS AGAIN ON
HIGH-SPEED CAMERA.
>> WELL, IT WENT TO THE ONE
WITHOUT THE BARBELL IN IT.
>> IT DID.
WE LEARNED A COUPLE OF REALLY
IMPORTANT THINGS FROM THE FIRST
TEST.
AND THE FIRST THING WAS THAT THE
LIGHTNING BOLT WENT TO THE TOP
OF THE HEAD, AND NO PLACE ELSE
ON THE ELECTRODE, WHICH TELLS US
THAT OUR RIG IS NICELY SET UP.
IT'S PRETTY NEUTRAL, AND WE ARE
GETTING CURRENT TO GO THROUGH
THE HEAD ITSELF AND NOT THROUGH
THE STEEL.
THE SECOND MOST IMPORTANT THING
THAT WE LEARNED ABOUT THIS WAS
THAT THE DISCHARGE ACTUALLY WENT
TO THE HEAD WITHOUT THE
PIERCING.
SO THE MYTH'S NOT LOOKING TOO
GOOD RIGHT NOW.
>> Narrator: BUT THE TESTING HAS
JUST STARTED.
IN THE INTERESTS OF ACCURACY,
THEY MOVE EACH HEAD TO THE
OPPOSITE SPIKE.
>> WE'RE JUST DOING A CONTROL BY
SWAPPING THE HEADS ON THE RIG
AND MAKING SURE THAT THE RIG
DOESN'T PREFER ONE DIRECTION
OR THE OTHER.
[ BELL RINGS ]
>> Narrator: THIS TIME, IT HIT
THE STUD HEAD.
>> YOU KNOW, ONE, I THINK,
REALLY IMPORTANT THING THAT
I JUST SAW WAS, I GUESS I WAS
FOCUSING ON THE RIGHT PLACE AT
THE RIGHT TIME.
I SAW THE LIGHTNING BOLT TRAVEL
DOWN LIKE THIS, AND IT WENT
RIGHT ALONG THIS PATHWAY.
IT DID NOT GO TO THAT.
EVEN IN THE HEAD, IF THIS WAS AN
ATTRACTANT THING FOR THE
LIGHTNING BOLT, IT WOULD HAVE
GONE THERE AND DOWN OR SOMETHING
LIKE THAT.
I CLEARLY SAW IT TAKE A PATHWAY
RIGHT DOWN TO THE TOP OF THIS.
>> WE'RE GOOD TO GO AT ANOTHER
SHOT.
>> Narrator: SO THE LIGHTNING
HIT THE HEAD, BUT NOT THE STUD.
>> SAME THING.
>> YEAH, I SAW THAT, TOO.
>> INTERESTING THAT IT REALLY
DOESN'T DO ANYTHING TO THE
GELATIN THAT WE CAN SEE.
>> TRULY.
>> Narrator: SO THAT'S TWO
STRIKES TO THE PIERCED HEAD, ONE
TO THE CONTROL HEAD.
WILL SWAPPING THEM BACK MAKE A
DIFFERENCE?
[ BELL RINGS ]
IT'S THE PIERCED HEAD AGAIN, BUT
A CONFUSING PATTERN IS EMERGING.
THE CHARGE OFTEN GOES TO THE
PIERCING SIDE, BUT IT NEVER
SEEMS TO TOUCH THE METAL.
THE MYTHBUSTERS WON'T BE
SATISFIED UNTIL THEY CAN SEE THE
LIGHTNING HIT THE STUD DIRECTLY.
>> YOU KNOW, JAMIE, WE'VE NOW
RUN THIS A DOZEN TIMES OR MORE.
THE HEADS ARE WORKING PERFECTLY,
THE RIG IS WORKING GREAT, WE'RE
GETTING CONSISTENT STRIKES
ALWAYS TO THE TOP OF THE HEAD.
NOT ONCE HAS THE LIGHTNING
GONE RIGHT FOR THE STUD.
>> YEAH.
YOU KNOW, I MEAN, ALL WE'VE GOT
LEFT TO DO IS PUT A BUNCH OF
STUDS IN THERE, SOME REALLY BIG
ONES MAYBE.
SEE IF WE CAN GET SOMETHING TO
REACT TO THEM.
>> LIKE NUTS AND BOLTS AND
KNIVES AND FORKS?
>> YEAH.
>> Narrator: ADAM HAS APPARENTLY
READ THE HANNIBAL LECTER STYLE
GUIDE.
>> I THINK THAT'S A PRETTY GOOD
LOOK THERE, JAMIE.
WHAT DO YOU THINK?
>> WELL, MAYBE MORE IS BETTER.
>> LET'S FIRE IT UP.
>> OKAY.
[ BELL RINGS ]
>> IT WENT TO THE HEAD WITH THE
STUDS IN IT.
>> STILL DIDN'T TOUCH THE STUDS.
WENT RIGHT DOWN THROUGH THE
MIDDLE.
>> YEAH.
>> Narrator: MAYBE EVEN MORE
METAL.
OF COURSE, IF YOUR TONGUE
PIERCING IS THIS BIG, LIGHTNING
IS THE LEAST OF YOUR WORRIES.
[ BELL RINGS ]
>> I SAW IT GO INTO THE TOP OF
THE HEAD AND GO OUT TO THE
BOLT AND BACK IN.
>> IT JUST GOES TO SHOW, DON'T
PUT REALLY BIG BOLTS IN YOUR
MOUTH DURING A THUNDERSTORM.
[ LAUGHS ]
>> Narrator: FINALLY, A TEST FOR
THE MOTHER OF ALL STUDS.
>> CHEEK PIERCING THERE.
>> Narrator: IT'S UNLIKELY TO
CATCH ON AT MANY NIGHTCLUBS,
THOUGH IT MIGHT JUST HELP YOU
GET IN THE DOOR.
[ BELL RINGS ]
WILL IT ATTRACT LIGHTNING?
AT LAST, A DIRECT HIT.
>> WELL, THAT KNOCKED THE
DOORKNOB RIGHT OUT OF HIS FACE.
>> Narrator: THE MYTHBUSTERS ARE
UNCONVINCED THAT STUDS ATTRACT
LIGHTNING.
WHILE THE ZAP DID SEEM TO
PREFER THE HEAD WITH THE
PIERCING, A LACK OF CONSISTENT
DIRECT HITS SUGGESTS SOME
OTHER UNKNOWN FACTOR WAS
INVOLVED.
>> WE COULD HAVE DONE THIS
1,000 TIMES AND NOT GOTTEN THAT
SAME RESULT.
LIGHTNING IS JUST REALLY
UNPREDICTABLE.
>> THAT MIGHT BE THE CASE,
JAMIE, BUT WE KNOW THAT METAL
DOES HAVE EFFECT, DEPENDING ON
HOW MUCH OF IT THERE IS AND
WHERE IT IS ON THE BODY.
AND WE DID GET A STRIKE
RIGHT TO THE DOORKNOB.
BUT, COME ON, WHO WEARS A
DOORKNOB?
>> Narrator: THE ONLY THING THIS
MYTH HAS SHOWN THE GUYS FOR SURE
IS THAT ADAM'S WILD DAYS ARE
OVER.
>> OH.
>> [ LAUGHS ]
>> AH!
AH!
HEAVEN.
OH, GOD.
THAT WAS HORRIBLE.
AHH!
THERE WE GO.
MY TONGUE IS FREE.
>> Narrator: THE MYTHBUSTERS GET
MEDIEVAL.
CAN THEY TURN A LOG INTO A
LETHAL WEAPON?
>> FIRE IN THE HOLE.
>> THIS MYTH IS FROM MEDIEVAL
TIMES, ACTUALLY, AND IT INVOLVES
A HUNGARIAN TOWN CALLED PAKS
THAT WAS BEING THREATENED BY
THEIR NEIGHBORS, SO THE ENTIRE
TOWN GOT TOGETHER.
IN ONE NIGHT, THEY APPARENTLY
MADE A CANNON OUT OF A TREE.
>> AND THEY PUT SOME GUNPOWDER
IN THERE, AND THEY SHOOT OFF
THIS CANNON.
>> THE ENTIRE BODY OF THE CANNON
EXPLODED, KILLING HALF OF THE
TOWNSPEOPLE.
>> AND THE MAYOR, IN HIS
INFINITE WISDOM, SAID, "IF WE
HAVE SO MANY DEAD, HOW MANY LEFT
OF THE ENEMY CAN THERE BE?
>> THAT'S THE EARLIEST KNOWN
RECORD OF SPIN, I THINK.
>> Narrator: TO TEST THIS MYTH,
JAMIE AND ADAM WILL TRY TO BUILD
A TREE CANNON AND SEE IF IT
EXPLODES FIRED.
TO DO IT LIKE THE VILLAGERS,
THEY NEED TO DRILL A HOLE INTO A
LOG USING MEDIEVAL-STYLE TOOLS.
THEY'LL HAVE TO FASHION A
CANNONBALL AND MAKE SOME
MEDIEVAL GUNPOWDER.
>> JOHN, HAVE YOU EVER HEARD OF
A TREE CANNON OR A CANNON MADE
OUT OF A TREE?
>> NO, ADAM, I FRANKLY HAVE NOT.
Narrator: IF ANYONE CAN HELP
WITH THIS MYTH, JOHN MORRIS CAN.
HE LIVES SAFE AND VERY SECURE IN
WEST VIRGINIA WITH HIS
COLLECTION OF MORE THAN 100
CANNONS.
WISELY OR NOT, HE'S AGREED TO
SHOW ADAM AND JAMIE THE SAFE WAY
TO FIRE ONE.
>> MY BACK HURTS JUST THINKING
ABOUT IT.
>> WE'LL USE A PREMEASURED
CHARGE OF POWDER IN ALUMINUM
FOIL.
WE'LL MAKE UP A SMALL CARTRIDGE.
>> Narrator: CANNON FIRING 101.
>> ARE WE READY TO LOAD?
>> I THINK WE'RE READY TO LOAD.
ARE YOU READY?
>> I'M READY.
>> Narrator: JOHN'S NEIGHBORS
HAVE LEARNED TO LOVE THE SOUND
OF CANNONS IN THE MORNING.
IT'S ONLY A BLANK, BUT THIS IS
STILL DANGEROUS BUSINESS.
>> FROM NOW ON, IT'S GOING TO BE
LOADED AND NOBODY GETS IN FRONT
OF THE MUZZLE, IS THAT OKAY?
>> MM-HMM.
>> WE'RE GOING TO LOAD.
THEN WE'LL TAKE THE FUSE AND
HOPEFULLY, IT WILL TOUCH THE
POWDER INSIDE.
READY TO PROCEED?
>> YOU BET.
>> FIRE IN THE HOLE.
>> I KNEW THAT WAS GOING TO
HAPPEN.
>> [ CHUCKLES ]
YOU DID?
>> Narrator: THEY HAVE SEEN HOW
IT'S DONE.
NOW IT'S THE GUYS' TURN.
>> IS IT POSSIBLE TO PUT TOO
MUCH POWDER IN A CANNON?
>> CERTAINLY.
>> WHAT WILL HAPPEN?
>> WELL, IT WILL OVERSTRESS THE
CANNON, AND THE CANNON COULD
BLOW UP.
YOU SHOULDN'T BE IN FRONT OF THE
PIECE.
>> Narrator: EXPLODING CANNONS.
FOOD FOR THOUGHT FOR TWO
FIRST-TIME FIRERS.
>> FIRE IN THE HOLE.
>> EXCELLENT.
>> WOW.
>> VERY GOOD.
YOU'RE NOW QUALIFIED.
>> THAT WAS VERY EXCITING.
THANK YOU SO MUCH.
>> YES, SIR.
>> THAT WAS REALLY COOL.
>> Narrator: TREE CANNONS WERE
USED IN 14th-CENTURY ENGLAND AND
JUST 100 YEARS AGO IN EASTERN
EUROPE.
TO MAKE THEIRS, ADAM AND JAMIE
NEED A EUROPEAN HARDWOOD LOG, A
BIG LOG.
>> THIS IS A PIECE OF ENGLISH
ELM HERE THAT WE TOOK OUT.
IT WAS A TREE THAT DIED FROM
DUTCH ELM DISEASE.
THIS WEIGHS SEVERAL HUNDRED
POUNDS -- THIS PIECE HERE.
>> [ GRUNTS ]
>> IF I CAN DO THAT, WE CAN GET
IT ON THE TRUCK.
>> JAMIE, YOU'RE DOING SUCH A
GOOD JOB.
>> GET OUT OF MY WAY.
THIS WAS DONE IN MEDIEVAL
HUNGARY.
THEY DIDN'T HAVE POWER TOOLS,
AND YOU KNOW, THERE WOULD HAVE
BEEN A LOT OF THINGS THAT WOULD
BE DIFFERENT ABOUT WHAT WE'RE
DOING.
>> Narrator: THEY LEARNED HOW
DIFFERENTLY BY EXAMINING
PICTURES OF A 1,000-YEAR-OLD
TOOL BOX FOUND IN SWEDEN.
FOR AUTHENTICITY, THEY WANT TO
MAKE SIMILAR EQUIPMENT.
JAMIE'S STARTING WITH AN AX TO
STRIP THE LOG.
>> GETTING A LITTLE WORKOUT THIS
MORNING.
>> Narrator: ADAM'S HAVING A
WORKOUT OF HIS OWN.
HE'S MAKING A MEDIEVAL SAW OUT
OF A FORKLIFT PALLET.
>> COME ON!
NOW, THERE'S SOME MEDIEVAL
WORKMANSHIP.
>> WELL, I'M GOING TO HEAT THIS
PIECE OF METAL UP UNTIL IT GETS
RED HOT.
HOPEFULLY, I'LL MAKE SOMETHING
THAT RESEMBLES A SPOON DRILL,
WHICH IS ONE OF THE FIRST DRILLS
THAT THEY USED.
>> Narrator: IT'S THE BEST
MEDIEVAL DRILL JAMIE'S MADE ALL
DAY.
NOW THERE'S JUST ONE MORE JOB
BEFORE THEY GET STARTED ON THE
BARREL.
SAN FRANCISCO HAS A COMMUNITY
ART CENTER THAT SPECIALIZES IN
OLD-STYLE FORGING.
INSTRUCTOR CHRIS NIEMER
SPECIALIZES IN KEEPING HIS COOL.
>> CHRIS, WE NEED SOME IRON
BANDS AROUND THIS THING.
>> OKAY.
>> WE'RE MAKING A CANNON.
>> IF YOU DON'T HEAR FROM US
AGAIN, YOU'LL KNOW WHY.
>> YOU'LL KNOW WHAT HAPPENED.
>> Narrator: THE STEEL BANDS
AROUND THE LOG WILL HELP IT
ABSORB THE BLAST.
THEY'LL BE HEATED IN A FURNACE,
THEN HAMMERED INTO PLACE.
>> WHEN WE START WRAPPING THIS,
I THINK I'M GOING TO HAVE ONE OF
YOU TWO WITH A HAMMER TAPPING
BEHIND ME.
TEST RUN NUMBER ONE.
>> Narrator: THEY'VE GOT TO PULL
THE BAND TIGHT WHILE IT'S RED
HOT, THEN RIVET IT IN PLACE.
>> THAT'S THE TICKET.
>> OH, SO CLOSE.
OH, IT'S GOOD.
>> RIVETS.
>> Narrator: THE BAND IS COOLING
AND SHRINKING BEFORE THEY CAN
HAMMER THE RIVETS HOME.
>> SOMEBODY ELSE GRAB THIS ONE
UP HERE.
YOU GOT IT.
>> COME ON.
>> WAIT, WAIT, WAIT.
>> YEAH.
>> OH, IT'S BEAUTIFUL.
>> YEAH. THAT'S IT.
>> THAT'S IT!
>> ALL RIGHT.
>> WE GOT IT.
>> Narrator: QUENCHED WITH
WATER, THE BRAND WILL SHRINK
TIGHTER ONTO THE LOG.
JUST FOUR MORE TO GO.
>> YOU KNOW, IT'S FUNNY HOW YE
OLD TECHNIQUES TAKE YE OLD SWEET
TIME TO GET DONE.
>> Narrator: MEDIEVAL TECHNIQUES
TAKE SOME MASTERY, BUT EACH BAND
IS GOING ON EASIER THAN THE
LAST.
>> THE VIBRATION FEELS REALLY
GOOD.
>> BEAUTIFUL!
>> GOOD JOB, GUYS.
>> VERY NICE.
>> GOOD JOB.
>> EXCELLENT.
>> Narrator: IT'S LOOKING MORE
LIKE A CANNON, BUT THERE'S STILL
NO BARREL.
WILL JAMIE'S MEDIEVAL DRILL DO
THE JOB?
>> THE DRILL IS NICE AND SHARP,
AND I FLATTENED THIS OUT SO I
CAN GRAB THIS LIKE THAT TO CRANK
IT.
>> Narrator: REMEMBER, ACCORDING
TO THE MYTH, THE TRIBE MADE
THEIR CANNON OVERNIGHT, BUT THIS
IS SLOW WORK.
>> WE'RE ABOUT HALF AN INCH IN.
>> I NEED SOMEBODY WITH A WHIP
AND A DRUM.
>> Narrator: THEY'VE GOT TO
DRILL THROUGH ABOUT 5 FEET.
>> YOU KNOW WHAT?
IT'S MOVING MORE, I GUESS.
>> [ SIGHS ]
LET'S SEE.
>> Narrator: MEDIEVAL TOOLS JUST
WEREN'T BUILT WITH MYTHBUSTING
IN MIND.
>> BASED ON WHAT I'M SEEING HERE
NOW, I'M THINKING IT WOULD TAKE
A COUPLE DAYS TO GET THROUGH IT.
THE MYTH SAYS THAT OVERNIGHT
THEY'D BE ABLE TO DRILL A
CANNON.
I WOULD SAY THAT THAT IS
UNLIKELY.
I WOULD SAY THAT THE MYTH IS
BUSTED BECAUSE OF THAT.
>> Narrator: THEY'VE COME TOO
FAR TO STOP NOW.
ADAM AND JAMIE RESOLVE TO TEST
THE REST OF THIS EXPLOSIVE MYTH,
AND THAT MEANS BUILDING THE
CANNON THEIR WAY.
>> I'M NOT DOING ANYTHING THAT
THE PAKS WOULDN'T HAVE DONE IF
THEY HAD HAD A CHAIN SAW.
>> Narrator: WHILE ADAM IS
BOWING TO THE 21st CENTURY,
JAMIE IS STAYING WELL IN THE
MIDDLE AGES.
>> I'M MAKING A CANNONBALL OUT
OF GRANITE.
OR A MESS.
>> Narrator: HE PLANS TO
HAND-CHISEL A PERFECTLY ROUND
CANNONBALL.
IT'S PRECISION VERSUS POWER.
>> YEAH!
[ SIGHS ]
[ LAUGHING ]
WHOO!
>> THAT IS A TREE CANNON.
>> Narrator: JAMIE HASN'T DONE A
BAD JOB HIMSELF.
>> IT'S SO FAR BEYOND ANYBODY'S
EXPERIENCE THAT WE'RE ALL KIND
OF BLOWN AWAY.
>> AND DON'T THINK HE DIDN'T
KNOW IT.
>> Narrator: SO THEY'VE MADE THE
TREE CANNON, MADE THE
CANNONBALL.
NOW THEY NEED TO MAKE MEDIEVAL
GUNPOWDER.
THEY'VE CALLED IN EXPERT
PYROTECHNICIAN JACK MOROCCO TO
HELP.
>> WHAT WE NEED TO DO HERE IS
SOMETHING DIFFERENT IN MIMICKING
A MEDIEVAL GUNPOWDER FORMULA.
>> Narrator: JACK KNOWS WHAT
INGREDIENTS EXISTED AROUND THE
TIME OF THE MYTH, SO THEY CAN
MAKE UP A CRUDE GUNPOWDER.
BUT HOW WELL WILL IT WORK?
FOR SAFETY REASONS, THEY'LL
LIGHT THE FUSE ELECTRONICALLY
FROM A DISTANCE.
>> READY?
>> OH, WOW.
>> NICELY DONE.
>> I THINK THAT'S VERY
RESPECTABLE.
>> OKAY.
>> I THINK THAT WILL DO.
>> I THINK THAT'S GOING TO WORK
QUITE WELL, YES.
>> I PERSONALLY DON'T THINK
WE'LL BE ABLE TO BLOW THIS UP.
I THINK YOU CAN PUT A STICK OF
DYNAMITE IN IT, AND IT STILL
MIGHT NOT BLOW UP.
OF COURSE, WE'RE GOING TO TRY TO
BLOW IT UP.
THAT'S WHAT WE DO.
>> Narrator: ONCE MORE, IN THE
NAME OF MYTHBUSTING, JAMIE AND
ADAM HEAD INTO THE WORLD ARMED,
DANGEROUS, AND SET ON
DESTRUCTION.
>> Narrator: IT'S A NORMAL DAY
OUT FOR THE MYTHBUSTERS.
THEY'RE DRIVING THROUGH
SAN FRANCISCO WITH A MEDIEVAL
TREE CANNON IN THE BACK OF THEIR
PICKUP.
THEIR DESTINATION -- THE
ABANDONED RUNWAY AT THE ALAMEDA
NAVAL BASE.
THE CANNON IS A REPLICA OF ONE
BUILT BY MEDIEVAL HUNGARIAN
VILLAGERS, WHICH MYTH HAS IT,
BLEW UP WHEN FIRED.
WITH EXPERT PYROTECHNICIAN
JACK MOROCCO, THEY'VE MADE A
LOAD OF MEDIEVAL-STYLE
GUNPOWDER.
>> WE DON'T WANT TO DROP THIS,
DO WE?
>> NO, WE DEFINITELY DON'T.
>> YOU READY TO LOAD SOME
POWDER THERE, JAMIE?
>> YEAH, LET'S DO IT.
>> Narrator: THEY'RE STARTING
WITH TWO 3-OUNCE CARTRIDGES OF
GUNPOWDER.
>> ALL RIGHT.
Narrator: THE CARTRIDGES ARE
FORCED TO THE BOTTOM OF THE
BARREL AND A HOLE POKED IN THE
SIDE FOR THE FUSE.
>> AHH.
WE'RE IN THE LOAD.
TENNIS BALL.
>> OKAY.
WELL, DID YOU BRING YOUR TENNIS
RACKET?
>> I COULD STAND OUT THERE WITH
THIS AND TRY TO GET A GOOD HIT
ON IT.
>> Narrator: THE TENNIS BALL
WILL SQUEEZE DOWN ON THE BLAST,
INCREASING THE PRESSURE IN THE
BARREL.
AN ELECTRIC IGNITER IS TAPED
INTO PLACE.
THEY'RE READY TO GO.
>> STANDING BY.
>> Narrator: FOR SAFETY, THE
MYTHBUSTERS ARE BEHIND LEXON
BLAST SCREENS.
>> READY?
>> FIRE IN THE HOLE!
>> THREE, TWO, ONE.
>> SET!
>> OOH.
>> WOW, IT'S STILL GOING.
[ LAUGHS ]
IS THAT A FLAMING TENNIS BALL?
>> I DON'T THINK SO.
>> THAT WAS A GOOD ***.
>> YEAH.
>> DID ANYONE SEE THE BALL?
>> I'M GONNA TAKE THE BICYCLE
OUT THERE.
>> IS THAT WHERE THE PAPER CUP
LANDED?
>> YEP.
>> OH, OKAY.
>> Narrator: IT SEEMS THEIR TREE
CANNON HAS QUITE A SERVE.
>> OH.
[ CHUCKLES ]
A LITTLE SINGED.
>> YOU FOUND IT?
>> WOW.
THAT LOOKS GREAT.
>> IT DOESN'T LOOK VERY MUCH THE
WORSE FOR WEAR.
>> NO, JUST LOST SOME FUZZ.
>> WELL, THE TENNIS BALL WENT A
LITTLE MORE THAN A FOOTBALL
FIELD IN LENGTH, WHICH, FOR A
TENNIS BALL, IS A LOT.
AND I THINK THAT, YOU KNOW, WHEN
WE PUT THE STONE IN THERE, IT'S
REALLY GONNA TAKE OFF.
>> Narrator: NEXT UP, THE REAL
THING.
JAMIE'S HAND-CARVED CANNONBALL.
>> WE'RE DEBATING WHETHER OR NOT
TO PUT A SINGLE OR A DOUBLE
LOAD, EITHER 3 OR 6 OUNCES OF
POWDER BEHIND IT.
>> Narrator: THE EXTRA WEIGHT OF
THE CANNONBALL WILL FURTHER
COMPRESS THE BLAST, INCREASING
THE FORCE UP THE BARREL.
THE GUYS KNOW THE SAFE WAY TO GO
IS A SINGLE 3-OUNCE LOAD.
>> YOU COMFORTABLE WITH 6
OUNCES, JACK?
>> YEAH.
>> ALL RIGHT.
LOADING THE CARTRIDGE.
>> Narrator: IT'S DOUBLE OR
NOTHING.
TWICE THE POWDER, TWICE THE
DANGER.
>> AT THIS POINT, NO ONE CROSSES
THE FRONT.
>> AND BE CAREFUL WITH THAT
BECAUSE THAT'S GOING TO ROLL
DOWN THERE FAIRLY QUICKLY.
IT MIGHT SHOCK IT.
>> Narrator: JAMIE'S GREAT
CREATION IS HEADED FOR A GREAT
ADVENTURE.
>> [ LAUGHS ]
>> SATISFYING -- A LITTLE THUNK.
>> YOU THINK WE'LL BE ABLE TO
FIND IT?
>> YOU KNOW, I'M FEELING PRETTY
CERTAIN IT'S GOING TO LAUNCH
THAT THING A FAIR WAYS, BUT I
DON'T HAVE A CLUE HOW FAR.
ARE WE READY, JACK?
>> FIRE IN THE HOLE.
>> I DON'T HAVE A CLUE WHERE
THAT WENT.
[ CHUCKLES ]
>> I DIDN'T SEE A DARN THING.
DID YOU SEE ANYTHING?
WOW.
>> Narrator: WHAT EVERYONE DID
SEE WAS A REMARKABLY SUCCESSFUL
TREE CANNON.
>> [ LAUGHS ]
>> Narrator: THEY'VE PROVED YOU
CAN MAKE A CANNON OUT OF A TREE.
>> A LONG WAY.
>> REALLY?
>> Narrator: BUT JAMIE'S
CANNONBALL IS LONG GONE.
>> WELL, A LITTLE BUMMED OUT NOT
TO FIND THE BALL, YOU KNOW?
I PUT A LOT OF WORK INTO THAT
THING.
>> IT'S A ROUGH THING TRYING TO
FIND IT.
WE'VE GOT A RUNWAY THAT'S A
MILE AND A QUARTER DEEP.
I DIDN'T THINK WE WERE GOING TO
FIND IT, AND I DON'T THINK IT'S
UNREASONABLE THAT WE DIDN'T FIND
IT.
>> Narrator: THE BALL MIGHT BE
GONE, BUT THE MYTHBUSTING
CONTINUES.
REMEMBER, THE CANNON IN THE
STORY IS SAID TO HAVE EXPLODED.
>> WELL, WE'RE GONNA TAKE ALL
THE POWDER WE HAVE LEFT, WHICH
IS ABOUT 12 OUNCES, 14 OUNCES OF
POWDER LEFT.
WE'RE GONNA DUMP IT ALL IN HERE,
SEE WHAT HAPPENS.
REMEMBER, CHILDREN,
"MYTHBUSTERS" HAS HIRED A
LICENSED PYROTECHNICIAN TO HELP
US BLOW STUFF UP.
YOU SHOULD NEVER TRY ANYTHING
LIKE THIS UNLESS YOU HAVE YOUR
OWN TELEVISION SHOW.
>> I WISH I HAD MY ROCK BACK.
>> [ CHUCKLES ]
>> [ CHUCKLES ]
>> Narrator: THIS IS TWICE THE
AMOUNT OF POWDER THEY'VE TRIED
BEFORE.
THEY'RE JAMMING EVERYTHING THEY
CAN FIND DOWN THE BARREL TO
CLOG IT UP AND INCREASE THE
CHANCE OF EXPLOSION.
>> YOU HAVE ONE OTHER THING YOU
WANT TO ADD TO THIS, JAMIE?
>> I WANT TO SEE THIS THING BLOW
UP, YOU KNOW?
IT KEEPS WORKING.
WHAT ARE YOU GONNA DO?
SO, I'M GONNA JAM A CAN OF SODA
DOWN THIS.
>> Narrator: IT'S A TIGHT FIT --
MAYBE TOO TIGHT.
>> [ CHUCKLES ]
OH, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN.
[ SODA FIZZING ]
>> STANDING BY.
>> THAT'S NOT GOOD.
>> OH, IT SQUIRTED OUT OF THE
HOLE.
>> THE WATER SQUIRTED OUT OF THE
HOLE?
>> UH-HUH.
>> [ CHUCKLES ]
WHOOPS.
>> YOU COULD HAVE DONE SOMETHING
WORSE, BUT I CAN'T, FOR THE LIFE
OF ME, THINK OF WHAT THAT MIGHT
HAVE BEEN.
>> [ GRUNTS ]
>> [ CHUCKLES ]
OKAY, HERE COMES THE GOLF BALL.
OH, THERE'S A LOT OF SODA.
OH.
>> OH!
>> YEAH, IT'S DEFINITELY BEEN
CONTAMINATED BY THE POWDER.
>> Narrator: THEIR CHANCES OF
BLOWING UP THE CANNON SEEM TO
HAVE BEEN WASHED AWAY IN A FLOOD
OF SODA.
BUT THE MYTHBUSTERS WON'T TAKE A
SETBACK LYING DOWN.
UNDETERRED, THEY RERIG, CALLING
IN ANOTHER PYROTECHNICIAN.
HE'S GOT A JUMBO-SIZED BAG OF
GUNPOWDER, AND HE'S NOT AFRAID
TO USE IT.
>> WE PUT 6 OUNCES OF POWDER IN
LAST TIME.
WHAT ARE WE GOING TO PUT IN THIS
TIME?
>> 5 POUNDS.
>> WHOA.
>> YEAH.
[ GRUNTS ]
>> Narrator: 5 POUNDS OF
GUNPOWDER.
ON A DANGER SCALE OF 1 TO 10,
THIS RATES ABOUT 9.
NOW IT'S A 10.
THEY'RE SEALING THE END WITH AN
ALUMINUM PLUG.
>> IF THIS DOESN'T BLOW UP THIS
CANNON, I DON'T KNOW WHAT WILL.
>> THIS IS BASICALLY GOING TO BE
A BOMB, AND THERE'S GOING TO BE
SPLINTERS GOING EVERYWHERE.
SO IT'S NOT A QUESTION JUST OF
HARDHATS.
IT'S A QUESTION OF, YOU HAVE TO
HAVE SOMETHING LIKE A SHIELD OR
AN AUTOMOBILE OR SOMETHING LIKE
THAT BETWEEN YOU AND THE CANNON.
>> I'M GOING TO GET BACK ABOUT
PROBABLY 150 FEET OUT IN THE
FIELD THERE, JUST IN CASE.
>> Narrator: THE REST OF THE
TEAM IS EVEN FURTHER BACK.
THEY'RE HOPING THAT WILL BE FAR
ENOUGH.
>> THREE, TWO, ONE.
>> [ Chuckling ] HOLY...
EVERYBODY ALL RIGHT?
THE HEAVIEST PARTS GO FARTHER
THAN THE FENCE.
>> THERE'S A PIECE OF LOG WAY
BACK THERE.
>> OH, MY GOD!
>> Narrator: IT SEEMS TREE
CANNONS CAN EXPLODE WITH EVEN
MORE FORCE THAN ANYONE IMAGINED.
>> THE CANNON WENT AWAY.
>> THERE'S A LITTLE BLACK ON THE
GROUND AROUND WHERE THE CANNON
WAS, AND THAT'S ALL THAT'S LEFT.
>> I'D SAY IT'S A VERY EFFICIENT
WAY TO SPLIT WOOD.
>> NOW WE DON'T HAVE TO LUG THAT
DAMN THING AROUND ANYMORE.
>> MY GOD.
>> Narrator: ADAM AND JAMIE HAVE
BUSTED A CANNON, BUT PROVED TWO
MYTHS.
>> MAYBE 80 POUNDS OR SOMETHING
LIKE THAT.
>> Narrator: THEY'VE PROVED YOU
CAN MAKE A CANNON OUT OF A TREE,
AND THEY'VE ALSO SHOWN THE
HUNGARIAN TOWNSFOLK COULD HAVE
BEEN WIPED OUT WHEN IT EXPLODED.
SOMETIMES MYTHBUSTING IS
DANGEROUS WORK.
>> [ Chuckling ] HOLY...
>> Narrator: ONE FOR THE ROAD,
AS THEY SAY.
BUT THEY BIT OFF MORE THAN THEY
COULD CHEW.
>> CHEERS.
>> Narrator: CAN THEY BEAT THE
BREATH TEST?
>> THIS IS DEFINITELY GOING TO
BE A STRANGE DAY.
>> HERE WE ARE AT THE
SAN FRANCISCO POLICE DEPARTMENT
CRIME LAB, AND WE'VE GOT THE
BREATH TESTER, AND WE'RE GOING
TO GET DRUNK TODAY, I THINK, AND
SEE WHETHER WE CAN GET AROUND
THE BREATH TEST.
>> THERE'S A LOT OF MYTHS OUT
THERE THAT ARE REALLY KIND OF
STRANGE ABOUT ALL OF THESE
SUBSTANCES YOU CAN USE TO
POTENTIALLY BEAT THE BREATH
TEST.
>> YOU KNOW, ADAM, I DON'T THINK
ANY OF THIS STUFF IS GONNA WORK.
>> I DON'T THINK ANY OF THESE
THINGS ARE GONNA WORK, EITHER,
BUT IT'S UP TO US TO IMBIBE AND
THEN FURTHER IMBIBE ALL OF THESE
THINGS TO SHOW THIS.
>> Narrator: SO, THE IDEA IS TO
GET DRUNK THEN PUT DIFFERENT
PRODUCTS IN THEIR MOUTH TO TRY
TO FOOL THE BREATH-TEST MACHINE
INTO GIVING A LOWER READING.
THE SAN FRANCISCO POLICE
DEPARTMENT GENEROUSLY OFFERED
ITS CRIME LAB FOR THE DAY.
OFFICER BRUCE GENDRON WILL BE
WATCHING OVER ADAM AND JAMIE.
ADAM'S DRINK OF CHOICE IS
SCOTCH NEAT.
JAMIE IS MIXING *** WITH
CRANBERRY JUICE.
>> I DON'T THINK I'VE EVER HAD A
DRINK THIS EARLY IN THE DAY.
[ SPEAKING RUSSIAN ]
>> I'M RIGHT THERE WITH YOU,
BUDDY.
>> Narrator: IN CALIFORNIA,
YOU'RE CONSIDERED LEGALLY
INTOXICATED WITH A BLOOD ALCOHOL
CONCENTRATION OF .08.
SPIRITS ARE ABOUT 40% ALCOHOL.
HOW MANY THE GUYS NEED TO REACH
THE LIMIT DEPENDS LARGELY ON
THEIR WEIGHT AND HOW FAST THEY
DRINK.
>> A LITTLE BIT OF FOOD TO CUT
THE ALCOHOL.
I'M LIT.
IT'S LIKE 1:00 IN THE AFTERNOON
AND I'M LIT.
>> Narrator: FOOD DOES SLOW
ALCOHOL'S ABSORPTION INTO THE
BLOOD STREAM, BUT THEIR LIVERS
CAN ONLY METABOLIZE ONE DRINK AN
HOUR.
AND JUST 5% OF ALCOHOL IS
EXPELLED THROUGH URINE.
PUT SIMPLY, THEIR BODIES CAN'T
KEEP UP.
>> SO, I'VE HAD FOUR DRINKS,
RIGHT?
YES.
THIS IS NUMBER FIVE.
LET'S TRY CONTROL.
>> [ CHUCKLES ]
THERE YOU GO.
>> [ CHUCKLES ]
>> YOU WANT TO TRY ONE?
>> YEAH, LET'S TRY ONE.
>> GO AHEAD.
>> [ BLOWING AIR ]
[ DEVICE BEEPS
>> VERY GOOD.
THAT'S VERY GOOD.
THANK YOU.
HE'S AN .03.
[ LAUGHTER ]
>> THAT'S AN .03?
>> IT'S AN .03.
>> WOW.
[ LAUGHTER ]
I SWEAR I'M A CHEAP DATE.
>> [ LAUGHS ]
>> ADAM, THE POLICE OFFICER SAID
YOU NEED TO DRINK MORE.
>> YOU KNOW, MY DOCTOR WAS ALSO
TELLING ME THAT I'M NOT GETTING
ENOUGH TAR, SO I NEED TO START
SMOKING AGAIN.
MAKE IT A DOUBLE.
>> Narrator: THE GUYS HAVE TO
DRINK UP FOR SCIENCE.
FAR MORE THAN EITHER WOULD
NORMALLY IMBIBE.
>> SO WE'VE HAD 13 DRINKS OVER
THREE HOURS.
I KNOW I'M DRUNK, BUT I CAN'T
EVEN REMOTELY TELL YOU'RE DRUNK.
IT'S KIND OF ANNOYING.
I WANT TO SEE YOU PUT A
LAMPSHADE ON YOUR HEAD OR
SOMETHING.
>> SORRY, BUB.
>> ALL RIGHT, LET'S GO.
I FEEL TOTALLY FINE.
ALLOW ME TO PLACE THIS ON YOUR
BREATH-TESTING MACHINE, AND I'LL
BE HAPPY TO BE TESTED.
>> YOU ARE PRETTY SMELLY.
[ DEVICE BUZZING ]
THAT'S IT.
KEEP IT UP.
LISTEN TO THE MUSIC.
THAT'S WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO DO,
IS KEEP THAT SOUND GOING.
VERY [LAUGHS] VERY GOOD.
[ DEVICE BEEPS ]
THAT'S GOOD.
>> .11.
>> .11.
>> ALL RIGHT, FINALLY, WHOO!
WE'RE AT .11.
WE'RE OVER THE LIMIT.
I'M GUESSING JAMIE GOES TO .09.
I THINK THE EXTREME DIFFERENCE
IN MUSCLE MASS WILL MAKE JAMIE
PROCESS ALCOHOL A LOT MORE
EFFICIENTLY THAN I DO,
APPARENTLY.
>> HE'S DOING FINE.
YOU JUST SIT OVER THERE AND BE
QUIET.
IT'S ROUGH ENOUGH HAVING ONE OF
YOU HERE.
[ DEVICE BUZZING ]
BUT HAVING TWO...
>> OF COURSE I'M CAUSING
TROUBLE.
[ DEVICE BEEPS ]
>> YEP, .09.
>> .09, LEGALLY DRUNK.
>> Narrator: LEGALLY DRUNK AND
ILLEGAL BEHIND THE WHEEL.
STRANGELY ENOUGH, THE FIRST
REFUGE OF A DRIVER PULLED OVER
IN THIS CONDITION SEEMS TO BE
BREATH MINTS.
>> RIGHT AFTER YOU GET STOPPED,
AND WE'RE MAKING IT UP TO THE
VEHICLE, YOU CAN SEE THEM
RUSHING AROUND IN THE CAR,
TRYING TO FIND MINTS OR TRYING
TO FIND ANYTHING TO PUT IN THEIR
MOUTH.
>> IN AMERICA, IF IT LOOKS LIKE
A ROSE AND IT SMELLS LIKE A
ROSE, IT'S A ROSE.
AND IF YOU HAVE YOUR CERTS, AND
YOUR MOUTH IS FRESH AND YOU FEEL
FRESH, PERHAPS YOU AREN'T DRUNK
ANYMORE.
>> Narrator: UNFORTUNATELY, YOU
ARE.
A ROADSIDE SOBRIETY TEST QUICKLY
REVEALS THAT.
>> OKAY. NOW STOP.
I WANT YOU TO TURN AROUND JUST
ON THE BALLS OF YOUR FEET.
WITH YOUR RIGHT INDEX FINGER,
TOUCH YOUR NOSE.
I THINK HE JUST FELL ASLEEP.
>> Narrator: 40% OF AMERICAN
ROAD DEATHS INVOLVE ALCOHOL --
NEARLY 17,000 PEOPLE KILLED EACH
YEAR.
TO PROVE A DRIVER WAS DRUNK,
POLICE USUALLY RELY ON A BREATH
TEST.
>> THIS MAN HAS ALREADY HAD FIVE
SINGLE WHISKEYS, WHICH HE TOOK
SOME LITTLE TIME AGO.
>> Narrator: THE BREATHALYZER
WAS INVENTED BACK IN THE '50s
WHERE DRINKING WHISKEY OFTEN
HAPPENED WHILE WEARING A NICE
SUIT.
>> ALL RIGHT, THAT'S ENOUGH.
HE IS ABOUT .13.
>> Narrator: BREATH TESTS WORK
BECAUSE ALCOHOL IS CARRIED BY
THE BLOOD INTO THE LUNGS AND
EXHALED.
THE AMOUNT OF ALCOHOL ON THE
PERSON'S BREATH IS PROPORTIONAL
TO THE AMOUNT IN THEIR BLOOD
STREAM.
OVER THE LIMIT, THE GUYS WILL
NOW TRY TO BEAT THE BREATH TEST,
USING PRODUCTS THAT URBAN LEGEND
HAS IT WILL CONFUSE THE MACHINE.
>> BOOP.
[ LAUGHS ]
>> Narrator: FIRST UP, THOSE
MINTS.
WILL GETTING RID OF THE SMELL
GET RID OF THE ALCOHOL?
>> OOH.
OOH.
OKAY, THAT'S MINTY.
[ DEVICE BEEPS ]
>> .10.
>> .10.
FAT LOT OF GOOD THAT DID ME.
>> Narrator: HE'S STILL BLOWING
OVER .08.
MAYBE SOMETHING WITH A STRONGER
SMELL.
>> YOUR BEST BET IS PROBABLY TO
HOLD YOUR NOSE, LITERALLY, AND
JUST TAKE A BIG BITE OUT OF THIS
ONION.
>> MY EYES ARE WATERING HERE.
LET'S TRY AND SEE IF YOU WERE
ABLE TO FOOL US.
NICE AND STEADY.
KEEP GOING.
KEEP GOING.
[ DEVICE BEEPS ]
THAT'S GOOD.
JAMIE, THAT WAS A .08.
THE ONION DIDN'T DO ANYTHING.
>> Narrator: SOME BREATH-TESTING
MACHINES ACT LIKE A FUEL CELL.
THE MORE ALCOHOL BLOWN IN, THE
HIGHER THE ELECTRICAL CURRENT
PRODUCED.
THAT COULD WELL HAVE SPARKED THE
MYTH KEEPING A BATTERY IN YOUR
MOUTH WOULD BEAT THE TEST.
>> I GOT TO SUCK ON THE BATTERY
NOW.
>> YOU GET THE BATTERY.
>> I'M LETTING YOU OFF EASY,
BABY.
>> BEING ABLE TO PUT A BATTERY
IN YOUR MOUTH AND KEEPING IT
THERE WITHOUT ME KNOWING THAT
IT'S THERE WOULD BE VERY, VERY
DIFFICULT.
>> I WOULD AGREE WITH HIM.
IT'S DIFFICULT TO TALK WITH A
BATTERY IN MY MOUTH.
>> I WOULD SAY YOU'RE CHARGED.
[ DEVICE BEEPING ]
STILL .10.
>> Narrator: ANOTHER KIND OF
TESTER RELIES ON A CHEMICAL
REACTION.
PERHAPS THROWING A LITTLE EXTRA
COPPER INTO THE MIX WILL FOOL
IT.
>> READY?
NICE, STEADY BLOW.
[ DEVICE BUZZING ]
THAT'S IT.
[ DEVICE BEEPS ]
VERY GOOD.
THANK YOU.
.09.
PENNIES DON'T WORK.
>> [ CHUCKLES ]
>> OH, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN.
>> Narrator: A THIRD KIND OF
MACHINE USES INFRARED LIGHT TO
FIND ALCOHOL MOLECULES.
ADAM IS GOING TO THROW IN SOME
DENTURE CREAM, TOO.
>> OKAY.
[ INHALES DEEPLY ]
>> ADAM, YOU DID A GREAT JOB.
>> OH, THAT WAS NOTHING, BABY.
[ LAUGHS ]
>> .11.
>> SO, DENTURE CREAM, A NO-GO.
>> [ PUFFING ]
>> Narrator: ANOTHER
PSEUDO-SCIENTIFIC MYTHOLOGY
SUGGESTS HYPERVENTILATING MIGHT
CLEANSE THE LUNGS OF ALCOHOL FOR
JUST LONG ENOUGH TO PASS.
>> ALL RIGHT.
.11.
>> Narrator: THAT DOESN'T WORK,
EITHER.
IN FACT, THE MYTHS ARE RUNNING
DRY.
ONE LAST CONTENDER.
MOUTHWASH.
>> ONE WONDERS WHERE YOU DO THIS
IN A CAR WHILE THE POLICE ARE
COMING AROUND TO YOUR WINDOW,
BUT NONETHELESS, WE'LL TRY IT.
>> JUST NICE AND STEADY.
.43.
>> REALLY?
.43.
THAT'S WAY, WAY, WAY, WAY GONE.
>> Narrator: SOMETHING'S CAUSING
A FALSE READING.
A LITTLE HIGHER AT .5 IS LETHAL.
TO IRON OUT GLITCHES LIKE THAT,
POLICE ALWAYS TEST YOU TWICE.
VERY GOOD.
[ DEVICE BEEPS ]
>> [ COUGHING ]
>> .13.
>> SO IT WOULD APPEAR THAT
MOUTHWASH DOESN'T WORK AT ALL.
EVEN IF THEY GOT TWO READINGS
THAT WERE GROSSLY OUT OF SYNC,
ALL THEY DO IS TAKE YOUR BLOOD
TEST AND YOUR BLOOD TEST WOULD
TELL THEM EXACTLY HOW MUCH
ALCOHOL YOU HAVE IN YOUR SYSTEM.
IT WOULD SEEM THAT NOTHING
WORKS.
>> Narrator: ON "MYTHBUSTERS,"
THEY DO WHAT IT TAKES.
13 DRINKS, A MOUTHFUL OF ONION,
AND BATTERIES AND PENNIES AND
DENTURE CREAM, IT APPEARS TO BE
A SOBERING WARNING FOR ANY
POTENTIAL DRUNK DRIVER.
>> USING THE MACHINE, YOU WILL
BE BUSTED.
>> SO, WHAT DO YOU THINK?
IS THIS MYTH BUSTED?
>> I'D SAY IT'S PRETTY FAIRLY
BUSTED.
>> PRETTY FAIRLY?
I WOULD SAY IT'S DEFINITIVELY
BUSTED.
YOU CAN'T BEAT THE BREATH TEST.
>> [ HICCUPS ]
>> [ LAUGHS ]