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>> Narrator: ON THIS EPISODE OF
"MYTHBUSTERS"...
>> LET'S GO.
>> Narrator: ...ADAM AND JAMIE
LIGHT UP A FESTIVE MYTH THAT'S
TREE-MENDOUS!
>> ALL I KNOW IS THIS IS GONNA
MAKE SOME LITTLE CHILD REALLY
HAPPY.
>> Narrator: CAN LIGHTS ON A
TREE CAUSE IT TO BURST INTO
FLAME?
>> IT LOOKS SO CHEERY NOW.
>> Narrator: THEN KARI, GRANT,
AND TORY MAKE LIGHT WORK OF A
HEAVY CONCEPT...
>> WHEN DOES THE TIME-SPACE
FABRIC START TO WEAVE AROUND
THIS?
>> Narrator: ...WHEN THEY
INVESTIGATE THE POSSIBILITY THAT
YOU CAN FLICK A SWITCH AND TURN
OFF GRAVITY.
>> IT WORKS!
>> [ LAUGHS ]
>> Narrator: AND IF THAT WASN'T
ENOUGH, KARI TAKES ONE FOR THE
TEAM...
>> I DIDN'T KNOW WHAT I WAS
GETTING MYSELF INTO HERE.
>> Narrator: ...TO FIND OUT IF
*** CAN CURE THE STING OF A
JELLYFISH.
>> NOW WE CAN START THE
TREATMENT.
>> OKAY.
>> Narrator: WHO ARE THE
MYTHBUSTERS?
ADAM SAVAGE...
>> I'M MAKING A ROCKET OUT OF
MEAT!
>> Narrator: ...AND
JAMIE HYNEMAN.
>> I'M SO EXCITED!
>> Narrator: BETWEEN THEM, MORE
THAN 30 YEARS OF SPECIAL-EFFECTS
EXPERIENCE.
>> THAT'S WHAT I'M TALKING
ABOUT!
>> Narrator: JOINING THEM,
KARI BYRON...
>> I'M A PIÑATA!
>> Narrator: ...GRANT IMAHARA...
>> DON'T SAY ANYTHING.
>> Narrator: ...AND
TORY BELLECI.
>> OH, YEAH, TOTALLY.
>> Narrator: THEY DON'T JUST
TELL THE MYTHS...
THEY PUT THEM TO THE TEST.
>> WHAT DO YOU GOT?
>> WELL, THIS ONE HAS BEEN
FLOODING MY INBOX.
IT IS A VERY POPULAR SEASONAL
MYTH, BUT I CAN'T WAIT UNTIL
CHRISTMAS TO TEST IT.
>> OKAY. WELL, WHAT IS IT?
>> WELL, DURING CHRISTMAS
SEASON, YOU HAVE YOUR TREE
FESTOONED WITH LIGHTS.
THE MYTH IS, IF YOU LEAVE THAT
TREE ON OVERNIGHT, THE LIGHTS
COULD CAUSE THE TREE TO HEAT UP,
BURST INTO FLAMES, BURN YOUR
HOUSE TO THE GROUND.
>> CHRISTMAS-TREE FIRES DO
HAPPEN EVERY YEAR.
>> RIGHT. BUT IS IT BECAUSE OF
THE HEAT FROM THE LIGHTS OR FROM
SOME OTHER REASON?
>> SO WE NEED TO DIAL IN ON
EXACTLY WHAT'S GOING ON THERE.
>> PRECISELY.
>> Narrator: IT'S THE EPITOME OF
THE FESTIVE SEASON -- A TREE
DRESSED WITH COLORED LIGHTS,
BUT IS IT DRESSED TO KILL?
TREE FIRES ARE NO LAUGHING
MATTER.
BUT IS THIS NIGHTMARE BEFORE
CHRISTMAS REALLY CAUSED BY
SIMPLY LEAVING THE TREE LIGHTS
ON?
WELL, THE MYTHBUSTERS ARE
GETTING FIRED UP TO FIND THAT
ANSWER.
>> WHAT'S THE PLAN ON THIS ONE?
>> WELL, WE GET A REGULAR TREE
AND A NORMAL AMOUNT OF LIGHTS,
PUT IT ON IT, AND FIRE IT
UP, SEE WHAT HAPPENS.
>> IT OCCURS TO ME THAT WE
SHOULD TEST SEVERAL DIFFERENT
TYPES OF LIGHTS, 'CAUSE IF
THERE'S ONE THAT GETS HOTTER
THAN THE OTHERS, THAT SHOULD BE
OUR TEST PLATFORM.
>> OKAY. AND THEN IF NONE OF THE
NORMAL QUANTITIES OF LIGHTS OF
WHATEVER TYPE SET THAT TREE ON
FIRE, THEN WE NEED TO REALLY
RAMP IT UP AND PUT A BUNCH OF
THEM ON THERE.
>> RIGHT. BUT IF YOUR RIDICULOUS
NUMBER OF LIGHTS FAILS TO IGNITE
THAT TREE, WE'RE GONNA HAVE TO
RESORT TO SOMETHING OTHER
THAN THE HEAT OF THE LIGHTS.
>> YOU MEAN, LIKE A SHORT.
>> EXACTLY.
>> Narrator: BUT BEFORE ALL
THAT, THE FIRST STEP IN TURNING
THE SPOTLIGHT ON THIS MYTH IS TO
TO GET SOME LIGHTS.
AND THE BOYS KNOW JUST THE
PLACE.
>> WE'VE COME TO A PLACE CALLED
FANTASTICO IN DOWNTOWN
SAN FRANCISCO.
AND WHEN YOU WANT REALLY WEIRD,
ESOTERIC, STRANGE THINGS AND YOU
WANT A LOT OF THEM AND YOU WANT
THEM CHEAP, THIS IS WHERE I HAVE
BEEN COMING FOR WELL OVER A
DECADE.
>> Narrator: LET'S SEE IF STORE
MANAGER, MIKE, CAN SHED SOME
"LIGHT" ON THE STORY.
>> NOW, THE QUESTION FOR US IS,
ARE THE CASES OF THE TREES BEING
SET ON FIRE A FUNCTION OF THE
LIGHTS THEMSELVES OR THE
OPERATOR PUTTING UP TOO MANY AT
ONCE?
>> THESE LIGHTS NOWADAYS HAVE A
SAFETY FUSE IN THE PLUG.
IN THE OLD DAYS, YOU KNOW, ON
THE BOX, IT WOULD SAY, "DON'T
PUT MORE THAN THREE SETS."
AND A GUY WOULD HAVE 20 SETS
STRUNG OUT, SO IT WOULD OVERLOAD
YOUR CIRCUIT AND CAUSE THE HOUSE
TO BURN.
BUT NOW THESE ACTUALLY HAVE A
SAFETY FUSE IN THE SOCKET.
>> Narrator: THERE'S A MULTITUDE
OF LIGHTS TO CHOOSE FROM.
THE CHILE PEPPER AND LOBSTER
ONES ARE TEMPTING.
>> NOW, WHY WOULD YOU WANT TO
PUT LOBSTERS ON YOUR TREE?
>> Narrator: BUT THE GUYS STICK
WITH TRADITION.
>> THESE ARE THE SCREW-IN ONES.
IT'S LIKE MY GRANDMOTHER
USED TO HAVE.
THESE ARE THE LITTLE, TINY,
BLINKY ONES.
>> Narrator: ADAM AND JAMIE BUY
DOZENS OF BOXES OF THE TWO
MOST COMMONLY USED INDOOR TREE
LIGHTS -- C7s AND C9s.
BUT BULBS AREN'T THEIR ONLY
PURCHASE.
>> I'M GONNA GO HOME, AND
TONIGHT, AFTER MY WIFE GOES TO
BED, I'M GONNA PUT THIS IN THE
YARD.
[ CHUCKLES ]
I'M GONNA FREAK HER OUT.
SHE'S GONNA BE, "WOW!
WHAT IS THAT?!"
>> Narrator: FROM THIS ALADDIN'S
CAVE, IT'S BACK TO JAMIE'S TO
GET THIS MYTH UP AND RUNNING.
>> THESE TWO TYPES BOTH HAVE A
3-AMP FUSE IN THEM.
THIS ONE HAS A 5-AMP FUSE.
EVEN JUST HOLDING MY HANDS OVER
HERE, I CAN FEEL A LOT MORE HEAT
COMING OFF THIS ONE, SO THAT ONE
RIGHT THERE IS THE ONE TO KEEP
AN EYE ON.
>> Narrator: TO TEST JUST HOW
SIZZLING EACH VARIETY CAN GET,
BEFORE LOADING UP A TREE,
ADAM FIRST MAKES HOTBOXES.
>> LOOK AT THAT.
SO I'M GONNA TAKE ONE OF EACH OF
OUR SAMPLE STRANDS AND PUT THEM
IN THESE METAL CONTAINERS WITH
FOIL OVER THE TOP, LEAVE THEM
OVERNIGHT, COME BACK AND
MEASURE THEM IN THE MORNING AND
SEE WHAT THE ACTUAL TEMPERATURE
I GET TO.
IS THAT TEMPERATURE HOT ENOUGH
TO SET FIRE TO ANYTHING?
WELL, THERE YOU HAVE IT.
FOR A LITTLE PINK FOIL AND SOME
REGULAR, OLD CHRISTMAS LIGHTS
AND SOME TRIAL THINGS FROM THE
HARDWARE STORE, YOU GIVE THEM
THE BEST CHRISTMAS PRESENT OF
ALL -- SCIENCE.
>> Narrator: WITH THE BOXES
WARMING UP, THE GUYS PLANT A
PINE FOREST FOR THEIR NEXT TEST.
THE QUESTION IS, WILL THE HEAT
FROM THE BULBS IGNITE A FOREST
FIRE?
>> THE SECOND TEST IS GOING TO
BE TO WRAP THE MAXIMUM AMOUNT
THAT THE MANUFACTURER WILL ALLOW
AROUND SOME TREES.
AND THE MAXIMUM ALLOWABLE AMOUNT
IS DICTATED BY THE FUSES THAT
ARE BUILT RIGHT INTO THESE
LIGHTS.
THEY HAVE A FUSE.
SO IF YOU HOOK UP FOUR STRANDS,
IT WILL LIGHT JUST FINE.
I THINK, BETWEEN FOUR AND FIVE
STRANDS, THOSE FUSES WILL START
TO FAIL.
SO WE'RE GONNA GET TO THAT
POINT, WRAP THEM AROUND SOME
TREES, AND LEAVE THOSE
OVERNIGHT.
>> Narrator: IT'S ONE BIG, HAPPY
FAMILY AS MYTHTERN JESS JOINS
JAMIE AND ADAM TO TRIM THE
TREES.
>> THIS IS KIND OF AN EXCESSIVE
AMOUNT OF LIGHTS FOR ONE TREE.
>> ALL RIGHT.
CHRISTMAS SPIRIT IN 3, 2, 1, GO!
[ LAUGHS ]
I FEEL, LIKE, IN SUCH A GOOD
MOOD FOR SOME REASON.
>> Narrator: AW. DOESN'T IT JUST
WARM YOUR HEART?
TO RE-CREATE A TYPICAL IN-HOME
SITUATION, THE LIGHTS ARE GOING
TO BE LEFT ON ALL NIGHT.
AND IT'S JESS' JOB TO WATCH OVER
THEM.
>> SOME OF THESE MIGHT ACTUALLY
BLOW AFTER A SHORT PERIOD OF
TIME.
AND IN THAT CASE, YOU'D REMOVE
JUST ONE STRAND AND LET THE
OTHER REMAINING STRANDS GLOW ALL
NIGHT.
AND WE'LL BE BACK TOMORROW
MORNING TO FIND OUT WHAT
HAPPENED.
>> Narrator: HERE'S HOPING THAT,
FOR JESS' NIGHT, ALL IS CALM AND
ALL IS BRIGHT.
>> SEE YOU TOMORROW MORNING.
>> ALL RIGHT, THANKS, GUYS.
>> SURE.
THANK YOU.
>> SEE YOU TOMORROW.
I'LL BE HERE.
>> [ YAWNS ]
>> Narrator: IN THE PAST, THE
MYTHBUSTERS HAVE TESTED AND
BUSTED CRAZY CONCEPTS SUCH AS
PYRAMID POWER...
>> I'M READING YOUR THOUGHTS
RIGHT NOW.
>> Narrator: ...FREE ENERGY...
>> YOU MIGHT AS WELL JUST GO GET
A BATTERY!
>> Narrator: ...AND MIND
CONTROL.
>> NOW I'M READY TO MAKE HIM
TAKE HIS BERET OFF.
>> Narrator: BUT KARI, GRANT,
AND TORY ARE DETERMINED TO GET
THIS FRONTIER TECHNOLOGY OFF THE
GROUND.
>> OKAY, GUYS.
WE'VE GOT THE NEXT BIG MYTH.
HAVE YOU EVER THOUGHT IT WOULD
BE COOL TO CONTROL GRAVITY?
>> WHOO! GREAT.
ANOTHER ONE OF THESE.
>> OKAY, LOOK.
THERE'S A LOT OF CREDIBLE
RESEARCH GOING ON ALL AROUND THE
WORLD.
THERE'S A RUSSIAN SCIENTIST
DOING A LOT OF COOL STUFF WITH
SUPERCONDUCTORS.
NASA, THE EUROPEAN SPACE AGENCY
ARE ALL INTERESTED.
>> YEAH, THAT JUST PRETTY MUCH
PROVES THAT THERE'S NUTJOBS AND
FRUITCAKES ALL THE WAY TO THE
TOP.
>> Narrator: ANTIGRAVITY IS THE
MYTHICAL HOLY GRAIL OF SCIENCE.
BUT CAN IT ACTUALLY BE DONE?
CAN YOU FLICK A SWITCH AND TURN
OFF GRAVITY?
IS ANTIGRAVITY SCIENCE OR
SCIENCE FICTION?
IT'S THESE QUESTIONS OUR
INTREPID TRIO WILL TRY TO
ANSWER.
AND GUESS WHERE THEY'RE GOING TO
START?
>> AS WITH ALL THESE FRENCH
TECHNOLOGIES, WE HAVE THE MAGIC
OF THE INTERNET TO HELP US FIND
INFORMATION.
THE PATENT OFFICE HAS ISSUED
NUMEROUS ANTIGRAVITY PATENTS.
THEY DON'T HAVE TO TEST IF THEY
WORK, BUT THEY DO HAVE TO ISSUE
THE PATENT.
>> OKAY. SOME OF THESE HAVE
NOTHING TO DO WITH ANY SORT OF
TERRESTRIAL TECHNOLOGY, AND MOST
OF THESE HAVE NOTHING TO DO WITH
ANY SORT OF REALITY.
>> THEN WHY DON'T WE GET A
CROSS-SECTION AND THEN, I GUESS,
START TESTING THESE?
>> Narrator: BEFORE THE TESTING
BEGINS, LET'S TALK ABOUT
GRAVITY, A FORCE THAT TORY IS
FAMILIAR WITH.
BUT IN CASE YOU'RE NOT, LET'S
GET BACK TO BASICS AND A CLEVER
FELLA CALLED NEWTON.
>> I'M OKAY.
>> Narrator: IN 1687, SIR ISAAC
EXPLAINED THAT GRAVITY IS THE
TENDENCY OF OBJECTS WITH MASS TO
ACCELERATE TOWARD EACH OTHER.
AND BECAUSE THAT REALLY BIG
THING BENEATH OUR FEET, PLANET
EARTH, HAS SOME SERIOUS PULLING
POWER, WHAT GOES UP MUST COME
DOWN.
BUT THE CONCEPT OF ANTIGRAVITY
DOESN'T JUST MEAN AVOIDING THE
DOWNS.
>> SO, AN AIRPLANE OR A
HELICOPTER OR ANYTHING WITH
WINGS IS NOT AN EXAMPLE OF
GRAVITY MODIFICATION.
YES, THEY GENERATE LIFT, WHICH
IS IN OPPOSITION TO GRAVITY, BUT
THEY ARE NOT MODIFYING THE
GRAVITATIONAL FIELD.
>> Narrator: SO THE TEAM IS
GOING TO BE TESTING DEVICES THAT
CLAIM TO ALTER GRAVITY.
SOUNDS SIMPLE.
WHERE DO WE START?
>> THE "ANTIGRAVITY" DEVICE THAT
I'M WORKING ON IS BASICALLY --
IT'S JUST SORT OF A FLOATING,
SPINNING TOP.
>> Narrator: OKAY, BUT HOW DOES
A SPINNING TOP MAKE GRAVITY
DISAPPEAR?
>> I DON'T KNOW, BUT I THINK IT
TAKES BATTERIES.
>> Narrator: WELL, ACCORDING TO
THE INSTRUCTIONS, THE TRICK IS
TO GET THE TOP SPINNING ABOVE
THE BASE PLATE, WHICH SHOULD
HOLD IT IN AN ANTIGRAVITY
FIELD.
>> THIS IS HOW IT SAYS TO START
OUT.
IT ALSO SAYS FOR AGES 8 AND UP.
>> Narrator: A QUICK READ OF THE
MANUAL AND A CHANGE OF VENUE
LATER AND IT LOOKS LIKE KARI HAS
TURNED OFF GRAVITY.
>> Yeah!
>> Narrator: THE FUTURE IS HERE.
'TWAS THE NIGHT OF THE FAIRY
LIGHTS TEST, AND ALL THROUGH M5,
NOT A CREATURE WAS STIRRING, NOT
EVEN A --
>> AAAH!
>> Narrator: TO TEST A SEASONAL
STORY, JAMIE AND ADAM STRUNG
THREE STRINGS OF LIGHTS ON SOME
TREES AND LEFT THEM ON ALL NIGHT
TO SEE IF THE HEAT GENERATED
WOULD CAUSE THE TREES TO IGNITE.
MYTHTERN JESS WAS LEFT TO STAND
GUARD.
>> ♪ GOOD MORNING ♪
>> MORNING, GUYS.
>> HOW DID YOU DO?
>> UM, IT WAS PRETTY UNEVENTFUL.
NO FIRES.
>> Narrator: THERE WERE NO
FLAMES, BUT IT WASN'T EXACTLY A
SILENT NIGHT.
>> NOTHING MORE THAN THIS SHOP
IS PRETTY SCARY AT NIGHT.
THERE'S A LOT OF WEIRD NOISES
THAT GO ON.
>> HAVE YOU EVER SPENT THE NIGHT
IN YOUR OWN SHOP?
>> NO.
>> Narrator: ADAM CHECKS THE
TEMPERATURE OF THE LIGHTS IN
THE HOT BOXES.
THE 3-AMP C7s SHOW NO SIGNS
OF DAMAGE.
BUT AT 350 DEGREES, THE 5-AMP
C9s HAVE STARTED TO MELT.
>> WHY, IT'S A CHRISTMAS-TREE
LIGHTCICLE.
THE C9s GOT HOT ENOUGH TO START
MELTING THE PLASTIC AND RUBBER
ENCASING THE BULBS AND THE
WIRES, AND THAT IS TOTALLY
SIGNIFICANT TO OUR TESTING
HERE BECAUSE THAT COULD LEAD TO
A WIRE SHORT, AND WIRE SHORT
VERY EASILY MEANS FIRE.
SO, NORMAL AMOUNT OF LIGHTS ON A
NORMAL TREE -- WE GOT NOTHING.
>> LET'S RAMP IT UP.
>> I AGREE.
I THINK THIS TIME WE SHOULD GO
FOR 500 OF THE C9 BULBS.
>> AND WHILE WE'RE AT IT, WHY
DON'T WE GET A THERMAL-IMAGING
CAMERA AND SEE WHAT THE HEAT
DISTRIBUTION LOOKS LIKE.
>> I TOTALLY AGREE.
THAT IS AN EXCELLENT IDEA.
>> Narrator: UNLIKE LAST TIME,
FOR THIS UPPING-THE-ANTE
TEST, JAMIE AND ADAM ARE NOT
FOLLOWING THE INSTRUCTIONS ON
THE BACK OF THE BOX.
>> I WANT TO BYPASS THE SAFETY
MEASURES IMPLEMENTED ON THE
C9 LIGHTS AND PUT AS MANY OF
THEM AS A PERSON COULD PUT ON A
NORMAL HOUSEHOLD CIRCUIT.
>> YOU FORGOT ONE THING.
>> ALL RIGHT. YEAH.
GET MY GAME FACE ON.
LET'S GO.
>> LET'S GO.
>> Narrator: GETTING INTO THE
FESTIVE SPIRIT, THEY LOAD UP THE
TREE WITH 500 LIGHTS.
>> THIS TEST IS TO SEE WHETHER
A RIDICULOUS AMOUNT OF LIGHTS
PUT ON A TREE IS GONNA SET IT ON
FIRE.
>> [ CHUCKLES ]
ALL RIGHT.
YEAH, ACTUALLY, I THINK WE CAN
STOP THERE.
[ LAUGHING ]
>> Narrator: THAT'S THE LIGHTS,
HERE'S THE THERMAL CAMERA, AND
THE ACTION IS ABOUT TO HEAT UP.
>> THIS IS GONNA MAKE THIS SO
MUCH FUN.
[ LAUGHING ]
DUDE, THAT IS TOO FUNNY.
LIKE SOME DEMENTED ELF.
>> Narrator: ADAM, THE
HEAT-SEEKING CAMERAMAN, IS
READY.
SO YOU MIGHT WANT TO PUT ON YOUR
SHADES FOR THIS ONE.
>> ALL RIGHT, IN 3, 2, 1...
HEY, EVERYTHING WENT ON!
I CAN DEFINITELY FEEL THE HEAT
COMING OFF OF HERE.
NOW WE WAIT.
IT'S JUST GONNA BE A WHILE.
>> Narrator: SO THEY WAIT.
BUT IT'S NOT LONG BEFORE...
NOTHING HAPPENS.
>> WHAT WE'RE GONNA BE LOOKING
FOR HERE IS EITHER THE TREE
AUTO-IGNITING BECAUSE OF THE
GENERAL LEVEL OF HEAT BEING
CREATED OR SOME SORT OF A SHORT.
>> Narrator: SEVERAL HOURS AND A
SNACK OR TWO LATER AND EVEN WITH
A CRAZY NUMBER OF LIGHTS,
THERE'S NO SIGN OF A FIRE.
>> IT'S BEEN THREE HOURS AND
WE'RE STILL PRETTY MUCH LEVELED
OFF, AREN'T WE?
>> I'M GETTING UP CLOSE TO 225,
THEREABOUTS.
IT'S GOTTEN A LITTLE HIGHER.
I AM NOTICING IT'S GETTING
EXTREMELY DRY RIGHT IN THE
MIDDLE, AROUND THE LIGHTS.
>> THESE NEEDLES ARE JUST, LIKE,
THEY FALL OFF THE BRANCHES OVER
HERE.
>> THIS IS LIKE AN OVEN.
>> Narrator: FIVE MORE HOURS ON,
THE TREE IS BAKED IN THE
MIDDLE BUT NOT FLAMBéED.
>> I DON'T KNOW, ADAM.
I THINK WE NEED ANOTHER 5,000
OR 6,000 LIGHTS.
>> [ LAUGHS ]
>> Narrator: ANOTHER 5,000
LIGHTS MAY BE EXACTLY WHAT'S
NEEDED, BECAUSE 500 ARE DOING
DIDDLY.
>> I DON'T SEE NO FIRE.
>> I'M NOT EVEN SEEING ANY REAL
MELTING GOING ON.
WE TOOK 500 LIGHTS AND LET THEM
SIT ON THIS TREE FOR EIGHT SOLID
HOURS.
AND ALTHOUGH IT GOT HOT, YOU'LL
NOTICE THE TREE IS NOT A CHARRED
HUSK OF A TREE.
WE DID NOT GET FIRE.
>> Narrator: GRAVITY -- IT'S ONE
OF THE FOUR FUNDAMENTAL FORCES
OF NATURE.
SO IS IT POSSIBLE TO JUST TURN
IT OFF?
GRANT, TORY, AND KARI ARE
SURFING THE NET AND TESTING A
NUMBER OF DEVICES TO FIND OUT.
KARI HAS A SPINNING TOP THAT
APPEARS TO BE DEFYING GRAVITY,
BUT, REALLY, IT'S JUST BEING
HELD UP WITH A MAGNETIC FIELD.
>> THE STABILITY IS CREATED BY
THE SPINNING.
SO IF IT'S NOT SPINNING FAST
ENOUGH, IT WILES OUT AND RUNS
AWAY.
>> Narrator: FUN BUT HARDLY
ANTIGRAVITY.
MAYBE GRANT HAS SOMETHING
BETTER.
>> WELL, THE FIRST THING THAT WE
HAVE FOUND IS THE ANTIGRAVITY
LIFTER KIT.
AND THIS IS BASICALLY A
TRIANGULAR DEVICE THAT MAKES USE
OF AN ELECTROMAGNETIC FIELD
WITHOUT ANY MOVING PARTS TO
PRODUCE SOME SORT OF LIFT.
AS FANCIFUL AS THIS MAY SOUND,
THERE'S ACTUALLY SOME SUPPORT
BEHIND THE IDEA.
THERE'S INTEREST FROM NASA.
THERE'S A LOT OF DOCUMENTATION
ON THE INTERNET.
BUT WE HAVE YET TO FIND OUT
WHETHER THIS IS ACTUALLY GRAVITY
MODIFICATION, BY OUR DEFINITION.
>> Narrator: THE THEORY, KNOWN
AS THE BIEFELD-BROWN EFFECT, IS
THAT, BY FORCING 30,000 VOLTS
THROUGH THIS WIRE, A NEW
GRAVITATIONAL FIELD IS
ESTABLISHED, AND THE LIFTER IS
FREED FROM CONVENTIONAL GRAVITY.
BUT DESPITE BEING A BRIGHT
SPARK, GRANT AND HIS NEW DEVICE
ARE GROUNDED.
[ DEVICE BUZZING ]
[ BUZZING STOPS ]
>> [ LAUGHING ]
DOES IT SAY ANYTHING ABOUT
BUZZING?
>> Narrator: COULD THIS BUILD BE
A BUST FOR BIG-BRAINED GRANT?
SEVERAL HOURS LATER, TORY AND
KARI CHECK IN FOR A PROGRESS
REPORT.
>> THE ANTIGRAVITY MACHINE IS A
LITTLE ANTICLIMACTIC.
>> HEY, JUST YOU WAIT.
WHEN THIS THING'S HOVERING OFF
THE TABLE, YOU'RE GONNA BE
EATING THOSE WORDS.
>> Narrator: BUT PROGRESS IS IN
SHORT SUPPLY.
>> I DON'T KNOW WHAT THIS IS
SUPPOSED TO DO, BUT SO FAR IT
LOOKS PRETTY COOL.
[ ELECTRICITY CRACKLING ]
[BLEEP] FIRE.
>> Narrator: GRANT, IN AN
ADMISSION OF DEFEAT, CALLS THE
MANUFACTURER FOR SOME ADVICE.
>> IT'S JUMPING ACROSS P-1 TO
WHERE R7C CONNECTS.
>> Narrator: AND JUST A FEW
MODIFICATIONS LATER, THE TEAM IS
FINALLY READY FOR LIFTOFF.
[ BOTH SCREAM ]
>> [ LAUGHING ]
>> BECAUSE IT'S HIGH-VOLTAGE!
IT STARTED FLYING TOWARDS ME!
WHY WOULD YOU SHUT IT OFF WHEN
IT FLIES TOWARDS US?
>> Narrator: IT'S A
"MYTHBUSTERS" FIRST -- AN
INTERNET-BOUGHT DEVICE THAT
ACTUALLY WORKS.
YOU COULD SAY THE TEAM IS
SHOCKED.
>> TORY AND I ENTERED THIS
LITTLE EXPERIMENT WITH EXTREME
DOUBT IN OUR HEARTS, BUT GRANT
SOMEHOW PULLED IT OFF.
THIS THING ACTUALLY GOT
AIRBORNE.
IT ELECTROCUTED ALL OF US
STANDING NEXT TO IT, BUT IT GOT
INTO THE AIR.
I'M SO IMPRESSED.
>> Narrator: EVEN JAMIE IS
IMPRESSED.
>> IT'S NEAT THAT IT ACTUALLY
WORKED.
MOST OF THESE THINGS THAT WE RUN
ACROSS ARE JUST TOTAL NONSENSE.
BUT THAT'S REAL.
IT'S DEFINITELY GETTING UP OFF
THE TABLE, AND THERE'S NO FANS,
THERE'S NO ROCKETS, THERE'S NO
MAGNETS.
THERE'S NOTHING BUT ELECTRICITY
GOING INTO IT.
>> Narrator: AND ADAM -- WELL,
HE'S LOOKING FOR THE STRINGS.
>> [ LAUGHS ]
>> HE CAN'T BELIEVE IT.
HE THINKS IT'S A TRICK.
>> IT AIN'T A TRICK, MAN.
>> MY DOG DOES THAT WHEN HE SEES
HIMSELF IN MIRROR, TOO.
IT'S ONE OF THE COOLER THINGS
I'VE SEEN ON THIS SHOW.
I WAS NOT EXPECTING, WHEN YOU
GUYS STARTED OUT ON THIS, TO SEE
ANYTHING BUT ELECTRONICS THAT
DIDN'T DO ANYTHING.
>> WELL, THAT WOULD BE PAR FOR
THE COURSE.
>> YEAH, YEAH, YEAH, YEAH.
YOU JUST BUMPED IT ABOVE FREE
ENERGY AND ICE BULLET AND A HOST
OF OTHER --
>> PYRAMID POWER.
>> YEAH.
>> Narrator: SO PATS ON THE BACK
ALL AROUND.
BUT HAS THE MYTH OF ANTIGRAVITY
BEEN CONFIRMED, OR IS THERE
SOMETHING ELSE GOING ON?
OUR TEAM OF SUPERSLEUTHS GET
TESTING TO FIND OUT.
>> WHOA.
>> WHOA, IT JUST TOTALLY
DESTROYED THE METER.
>> WHACKING IT OUT.
>> OKAY. SO WE KNOW THERE'S A
LARGE ELECTRICAL FIELD AROUND
THIS, WHICH, JUST BY THE NATURE
OF THE DEVICE, WE KIND OF
FIGURED.
BUT THAT DOESN'T MEAN THAT
THAT'S NECESSARILY ANTIGRAVITY.
SO NEXT WE SHOULD DO THRUST AND
THAT WILL TELL US WHETHER IT'S
ACTUALLY SOME MECHANICAL FORM OF
LIFTING.
>> Narrator: AND IT'S BAD NEWS
FOR ANTIGRAVITY BELIEVERS
BECAUSE THERE IS SOME AIR
MOVEMENT.
>> WE ARE GETTING 1.6 MILE PER
HOUR OF WIND.
SO THERE IS THRUST.
>> THAT IS A THRUST EFFECT, NOT
A GRAVITY-MODIFICATION EFFECT.
SO IT'S LIKE A FIXED-WING
AIRCRAFT PUSHING AIR OUT OF THE
WAY TO OVERCOME GRAVITY.
>> Narrator: SO 30,000 VOLTS IS
FORCED DOWN THE WIRE, AND THAT
IONIZES THE AIR AROUND IT.
THESE IONS ARE ATTRACTED TO THE
FOIL BELOW, AND THE FLOW OF AIR
THRUSTS THE LIFTER OFF THE
GROUND.
AND IF GRANT IS RIGHT, IT WON'T
WORK IN A VACUUM.
>> MY SUSPICION ABOUT WHAT IS
GOING ON HERE IS THAT THE LARGE
DC VOLTAGE IS IONIZING THE AIR
AROUND THE LIFTER, AND IT'S
CREATING A FLOW OF IONS, WHICH
IS BRINGING AIR ALONG WITH IT,
CREATING THRUST.
WHAT YOU CAN DO TO PROVE THIS OR
DISPROVE IT IS TO REMOVE ALL OF
THE AIR.
IF THAT'S THE CASE, THEN THERE
SHOULD BE NO THRUST.
>> Narrator: AND SURE ENOUGH,
WHEN THEY PERFORM THE TEST IN A
VACUUM, THE LIFTER IS GROUNDED.
>> AND IT'S NOT FLYING.
>> IT'S NOT FLYING.
>> IT WORKED BEFOREHAND.
PUT IT IN THE VACUUM, NO FLIGHT.
NO FLIGHT, NO AIR, NO THRUST, NO
ANTIGRAVITY.
>> CAN'T SAY IT ANY BETTER THAN
THAT.
>> Narrator: CAN LEAVING TREE
LIGHTS ON OVERNIGHT CAUSE A
CHRISTMAS CATASTROPHE?
WELL, NOT IF THE MYTHBUSTERS ARE
ANYTHING TO GO BY.
THEY PUT 500 LIGHTS ON A REGULAR
TREE, BUT THERE WAS NO FIRE IN
THE HOLE.
>> YEAH, I'M STARTING TO THINK
WE'RE GOING ABOUT THIS ALL
WRONG, THAT WHAT WE REALLY
SHOULD BE LOOKING FOR IS AN
ELECTRICAL SPARK.
>> WELL, ALL THE LIGHTS ARE
FUSE-PROTECTED, THOUGH.
THEY'RE NOT GONNA GENERATE A
SPARK.
>> THAT'S TRUE ABOUT THE LIGHTS,
BUT YOU COULD STILL PLUG TOO
MANY LIGHTS INTO A STANDARD
HOUSE OUTLET BY USING THOSE
THREE-OUTLET ADAPTERS.
IF YOU TREE ENOUGH OF THOSE ON
EACH OTHER, YOU COULD OVERLOAD
THE HOUSE CIRCUIT.
I THINK I COULD DO A BENCH TEST
THAT WILL DEMONSTRATE WHETHER OR
NOT WE CAN GET A SPARK FROM THAT
KIND OF ARRANGEMENT.
>> OKAY.
>> [ LAUGHING ]
>> Narrator: OKAY. LET'S GET
COOKING WITH ADAM.
>> NOW, THE CRITICAL INGREDIENTS
IN CREATING A SPARK FIRE FROM
CHRISTMAS LIGHTS ARE MY OLD
FAVORITES -- THE OLD, GRANDMA,
8-FOOT EXTENSION CORD, 18-GAUGE,
A NICE CLAMP-ON AMMETER FOR
MONITORING THE AMOUNT OF POWER
BEING CONSUMED BY THE
CHRISTMAS LIGHTS.
AND...
[ CLATTERING ]
...MORE CHRISTMAS LIGHTS THAN
YOU COULD POSSIBLY IMAGINE.
OKAY, MAYBE SLIGHTLY LESS.
>> Narrator: THE PREPARATION IS
SO EASY -- JUST TAKE SOME PLAIN
CUBE SOCKETS AND PUT THEM ONE ON
TOP OF THE OTHER.
>> DOES THIS LOOK FAMILIAR?
IF IT DOES, I'M NOT COMING OVER
TO YOUR HOUSE FOR CHRISTMAS.
>> Narrator: PLUG THEM INTO AN
OLD-STYLE EXTENSION CORD...
>> MODERN EXTENSION CORDS ARE
A LITTLE THICKER, BUT THIS IS
VERY LIKELY TO BE FOUND IN JUST
ABOUT ANY HOUSE.
>> Narrator: ...AND A GENEROUS
AMOUNT OF TREE LIGHTS...
>> WITH 10 STRANDS, I AM NOW
EXCEEDING THE UNDERWRITER'S
LABORATORY'S RECOMMENDATIONS BY
50%.
>> Narrator: ...AND BAKE FOR
ABOUT 15 MINUTES.
>> 286 DEGREES.
CRAZY!
COME ON. I WANT SOME FAILURE.
>> Narrator: IT'S PROBABLY BEST
THAT YOU DON'T TRY THIS AT HOME.
>> I'M RUNNING DOUBLE THE RATED
POWER THROUGH IT.
>> THAT RIGHT THERE IS KIND OF
SCARY.
>> ISN'T IT?
IF YOU PUT TOO MUCH INTO AN
EXTENSION CORD JUST PLUGGED INTO
YOUR HOUSE...
[ POP ]
WHOA!
HO HO HO HO HO!
>> THAT'S WHAT I WAS TALKING
ABOUT.
>> THAT'S WHAT'S GONNA HAPPEN.
[ LAUGHING ]
THE INSULATION ON THE WIRING
MELTED, AND THAT MADE TWO OF THE
WIRES TOUCH TOGETHER, AND THAT
CAUSED ARCING ACROSS THOSE WIRES
AND A LARGE SPARK.
>> Narrator: UNFORTUNATELY, IN
YOUR HOME, THIS IS A RECIPE FOR
DISASTER.
>> WE'RE DEMONSTRATING A TOTALLY
VIABLE METHOD FOR TOO MANY
LIGHTS CAUSING A FAILURE AND
THAT FAILURE CAUSING A SPARK.
PEOPLE GET REALLY, REALLY
ENTHUSIASTIC ABOUT THEIR
CHRISTMAS DECORATIONS, AND I'LL
WAGER THAT A FEW OF YOU HAVE
DONE THIS.
NOW DO YOU SEE THE DANGER?
>> Narrator: LIKE COMMUTING BY
JET PACK AND MIRACLE TIME-SAVING
KITCHENS, THE CONTROL OF GRAVITY
IS A MYTHICAL TECHNOLOGY THAT
HAS BEEN PROMISED BUT NOT
DELIVERED.
OR HAS IT?
[ BOTH SCREAM ]
[ LAUGHTER ]
BECAUSE IT'S HIGH-VOLTAGE!
IT STARTED FLYING TOWARDS ME!
OKAY, GUYS, THE LIFTER --
SUPER-COOL, BUT NO GRAVITY
MODIFICATION.
I THINK IT'S SOME SORT OF
THRUST.
>> THIS WHOLE GRAVITY THING IS
REALLY TRICKY.
MAYBE WE SHOULD BRING IN SOME
EXPERTS.
>> THERE'S GOT TO BE SOME SORT
OF INSTRUMENTATION THAT MEASURES
GRAVITY ACCURATELY.
I BET IF WE LOOKED HARD ENOUGH,
WE COULD FIND SOMETHING.
>> WELL, LET'S GET BOTH BECAUSE
WE NEVER KNOW HOW TO USE THE
INSTRUMENTS.
>> Narrator: ACTUALLY, THEY GET
THREE MEN AND A MACHINE.
MICRO-G LaCOSTE PHYSICISTS TIM
AND DEREK BRING A BOX FULL OF
ULTRASENSITIVE GRAVITY METER...
AND THERE'S DR. BOB JACOBSEN,
WHO'S A PROFESSOR OF PHYSICS,
SO PAY ATTENTION AT THE BACK
THERE.
>> LET'S GET DOWN TO BASICS.
WHAT'S THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN
ANTIGRAVITY AND GRAVITY
MODIFICATION?
>> 747s FLY BY COUNTERING
GRAVITY WITH ANOTHER FORCE.
YOU CAN FIGHT GRAVITY BY HAVING
SOME OTHER FORCE THAT ACTS
AGAINST IT.
ANTIGRAVITY IS CANCELING IT.
IT'S MAKING IT GO AWAY SO THAT
IT DOESN'T ACT ON A PARTICULAR
OBJECT.
INSTEAD OF LIFTING SOMETHING,
YOU MAKE ITS WEIGHT DISAPPEAR SO
THAT IT JUST FLOATS.
>> BOB, WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT
THE TESTS THAT WE'RE RUNNING
HERE?
>> I THINK THAT'S EXACTLY THE
RIGHT APPROACH.
IF THERE ARE PHENOMENA HERE, THE
TESTS WILL FIND THEM, AND
THEY'LL IDENTIFY WHICH ONES ARE
REAL AND WHICH ONES ARE NOT.
>> Narrator: SO, THAT'S THE
THEORY.
AND FOR CONFIRMATION THAT THE
ANTIGRAVITY DEVICES DON'T
ACTUALLY CANCEL GRAVITY, IT'S
TIME TO FIRE UP THE GRAVITY
METER.
>> WHEN DOES THE VORTEX OPEN UP
AND THE TIME-SPACE FABRIC START
TO WEAVE AROUND THIS?
>> IN ABOUT 23 MINUTES.
>> NICE.
LISTENING TO THIS, I IMAGINE,
LIKE...
[ MAKING WHOOSHING SOUNDS ]
...AND THEN EVERYTHING IN THE
SHOP STARTS VIBRATING.
>> HE WATCHES A LOT OF SCI-FI.
>> THIS IS LIKE THE CLOSEST
THING TO SCI-FI THAT WE CAN
EXPERIENCE ON A DAILY BASIS.
>> EXCELLENT.
>> Narrator: OKAY.
GRANT HAS SUCCESSFULLY RELEASED
HIS INNER GEEK.
SO WHY DON'T WE FIND OUT HOW
THE GRAVITY METER WORKS?
>> THIS IS A VACUUM.
NO AIR. NOTHING IN THERE.
THAT'S WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO GET
RIGHT NOW.
THIS IS HELPING ESTABLISH THAT.
THERE'S A LITTLE MIRROR IN HERE,
A MOTOR THAT LIFTS THAT MIRROR
TO THE TOP AND RELEASES IT.
IT FREE FALLS.
THERE'S NOTHING TO SLOW IT DOWN,
SO IT FALLS PURELY UNDER
GRAVITY.
THIS BLACK BOX HERE HAS A LASER
COMING INTO IT.
JUST LIKE A COP'S RADAR GUN.
IT BOUNCES THE LASER OFF THIS
FALLING MIRROR AND TRACKS IT
EXTREMELY PRECISELY.
AND THEN THERE'S A BUNCH OF
ELECTRONICS WE'LL HOOK UP THAT
READ OUT THE TRACKING
INFORMATION TO THAT LAPTOP, AND
IT'LL TELL US WHAT THE
ACCELERATION OF GRAVITY IS.
>> Narrator: WHICH SOUNDS IDEAL
FOR THE MYTH.
IF THERE IS ANY CHANGE IN
GRAVITY, THIS AWESOME PIECE OF
EQUIPMENT WILL DETECT IT RIGHT
DOWN TO ONE PART PER BILLION.
>> WHAT WAS YOUR ANALOGY FOR
PART PER BILLION?
>> I CAME UP WITH, IF YOU TOOK
STANDARD TYPING PAPER, STACKED
IT UP 300,000 FEET, WHICH IS
ROUGHLY -- I THINK I CAME UP
WITH A THOUSAND EIFFEL TOWERS
OR A HUNDRED MOUNT EVERESTS.
GOT A STACK OF PAPER THAT BIG
AND PULLED OUT ONE SHEET, WE
WOULD GET THAT SAME KIND OF
PRECISION.
WE COULD ACTUALLY SEE ONE SHEET
OUT OF A BILLION.
>> SO EVEN IF IT ISN'T PERFECT
ANTIGRAVITY, EVEN IF IT JUST --
>> A BILLIONTH OF NORMAL
GRAVITY.
>> ONE BILLIONTH OF GRAVITY --
IF IT CAN CHANGE IT, WE WOULD
SEE THAT.
>> Narrator: TO PERFECT THE
VACUUM THAT'S SO CRUCIAL TO ITS
ACCURACY, IT HAS TO WARM UP
OVERNIGHT.
AND WHEN THEY COME BACK IN THE
MORNING, THE GUYS GET AN IDEA OF
JUST HOW IMPRESSIVE IT REALLY
IS.
>> SO DURING THE NIGHT, DID YOU
RECORD ANYTHING OUT OF THE
NORMAL?
>> YEAH.
I WOULD SAY THAT -- IT COULD
JUST BE THE AREA HERE, BUT THE
DATA WERE PRETTY NOISY.
IT'S POSSIBLE THAT WE HAD LITTLE
MICRO-EARTHQUAKES.
>> APPARENTLY, THERE WAS AN
EARTHQUAKE THIS MORNING, AND I
THINK THAT CORRELATES TO SOME
OF THE NOISE WE SAW THIS
MORNING.
>> Narrator: THE METER NOT ONLY
MAPPED THE EFFECT OF LOCAL
EARTHQUAKE ACTIVITY ON GRAVITY,
IT DETECTED TIDAL FLUCTUATIONS
CAUSED BY THE PASSAGE OF THE
MOON.
>> SO YOUR INSTRUMENTS ARE
SENSITIVE ENOUGH TO MEASURE THE
MOON PASSING OVERHEAD, BUT WHAT
ABOUT SOME SORT OF REAL-WORLD
EXAMPLE?
>> AT THE UNIVERSITY OF
COLORADO,
WHERE THIS MACHINE WAS DEVELOPED
WITH PROFESSOR JAMES FALLER, WE
WOULD SEE SOMETHING WEIRD
EVERY WEEKEND.
THE GRAVITY WOULD CHANGE EVERY
WEEKEND, AND WE STRUGGLED TO
FIGURE OUT WHAT THAT WAS.
AND WE EVENTUALLY FOUND OUT THAT
IT WAS -- THE FOOTBALL STADIUM
WAS FILLING UP WITH STUDENTS,
AND THAT WOULD MAKE THE GRAVITY,
IN THAT CASE, GO DOWN, BECAUSE
THE STUDENTS WERE ABOVE US AND
WE WERE IN THE BASEMENT.
AND WHEN THEY LEFT, THE GRAVITY
WOULD GO BACK UP, AND THAT WOULD
HAPPEN -- A LITTLE BUMP RIGHT
THERE IN THE FOOTBALL GAME.
>> THAT IS SO CRAZY.
>> Narrator: SO IT SHOULD BE
ABLE TO DETECT AN ACTUAL
ANTIGRAVITY FIELD.
>> OKAY, THERE IS NO EFFECT ON
THE GRAVITY METER.
>> HEY, BOB!
YOU'VE WITNESSED THE TOP
LEVITATE.
BUT WE HAVE RECORDED ABSOLUTELY
NO MODIFICATION IN GRAVITY.
>> THAT'S BECAUSE THE GRAVITY
DETECTOR IS NOT SENSITIVE TO
MAGNETISM, AND IT'S MAGNETISM
THAT'S HOLDING UP YOUR TOP.
>> Narrator: THAT'S ONE DEVICE
DOWN.
UP NEXT FOR JUDGMENT DAY IS THE
LIFTER.
KARI, GRANT, AND TORY, AND A
TRIO OF TOP PHYSICISTS HAVE
BUSTED THE SPINNING TOP AS AN
ANTIGRAVITY DEVICE.
>> OKAY. THERE IS NO EFFECT ON
THE GRAVITY METER.
>> Narrator: NOW IT'S TIME TO
GET THE FINAL WORD ON THE
LIFTER.
[ LAUGHTER ]
>> OKAY. NOW, YOU CAN SMELL THE
OZONE AND YOU CAN FEEL --
YEAH, DON'T GET TOO CLOSE.
BUT YOU CAN FEEL THE WIND COMING
OFF.
SO IT'S DEFINITELY THRUST.
>> Narrator: THAT'S THE THEORY,
BUT WITH THE LIFTER LEVITATING
RIGHT BELOW THE METER, THE
GRAVITY GRAPH IS UNMOVED.
>> THE NUMBER THIS MORNING WAS
979982924.
>> YES.
>> 979982912.
>> SO IT'S 12 PARTS PER BILLION.
THAT'S WITHIN THE NOISE OF US
ALL WALKING AROUND.
THAT'S PRETTY NORMAL NOISE
LEVEL.
>> DO ANY OF OUR RESIDENT
PHYSICISTS HAVE ANY THEORIES ON
WHAT'S ACTUALLY HAPPENING HERE,
IF IT'S NOT MODIFYING GRAVITY?
>> IT'S DOING THE SAME THING A
WING DOES.
IT'S THROWING AIR DOWN.
>> SO, HOW IS IT THROWING AIR
DOWN?
>> IT'S PROBABLY IONIZING IT AT
THE WIRE, SO IT'S GOT AN
ELECTRICAL CHARGE IN IT, AND
THEN ATTRACTING IT DOWN TOWARD
THAT BIG ALUMINUM-FOIL PLATE.
AND ONCE IT'S MOVING, IT
CONTINUES ON PAST IT.
>> Narrator: SO, BASICALLY,
THE LIFTER IS GROUNDED.
>> THAT GRAVITOMETER WAS
AMAZING.
>> IT WAS PRETTY MIND-BLOWING
HOW ACCURATE THAT DEVICE WAS.
>> IT BUSTED THE LIFTER, BUT
WHERE DO WE GO FROM HERE?
>> I DO HAVE ONE MORE DEVICE
THAT I FOUND, BUT YOU CAN'T
REALLY TEST IT WITH TRADITIONAL
SCIENCE.
IT'S THE HAMEL GENERATOR, AND
APPARENTLY, THIS GUY WAS
ABDUCTED BY ALIENS, THEY SHOWED
HIM AROUND THEIR SHIP, AND FROM
SEEING THAT, HE CAME UP WITH THE
DESIGNS FOR THIS GENERATOR.
>> WELL, IF ANYBODY'S ALREADY
SOLVED ANTIGRAVITY, IT'S
DEFINITELY THE ALIENS.
>> Narrator: OKAY.
WELL, THE MYTHBUSTERS HAVE
TESTED CRAZY CLAIMS BEFORE.
>> MERRY CHRISTMAS TO US ALL.
>> MERRY CHRISTMAS TO US ALL.
>> Narrator: AND THEY'VE COME
ACROSS STRANGER INGREDIENT
LISTS IN THEIR TIME.
>> THREE JADE BALLS.
>> A ROLL OF ALUMINUM AND A
THOUSAND MAGNETS.
>> Narrator: BUT WHY ARE THEY
TAKING THIS ONE SERIOUSLY?
>> THE REASON WHY WE'RE TAKING
THIS SERIOUSLY IS BECAUSE HE HAS
VERY SPECIFIC DESIGNS.
>> Narrator: DESIGNS ARE GOOD.
SO HOW DOES THIS ALIEN
TECHNOLOGY WORK?
SUPPOSEDLY, THE PERFECTLY
BALANCED CONES WOBBLE WITHIN THE
CONSTRAINTS OF A MAGNETIC FIELD.
AND IT'S THIS DYNAMIC
EQUILIBRIUM THAT GENERATES AN
ELECTRO-GRAVITATIONAL FIELD, AND
THAT CAUSES THE ALIEN SHIP TO
LOSE ITS CONNECTION WITH
GRAVITY.
>> I REALLY WISH THE ALIENS WERE
HERE TO SHOW ME HOW TO BUILD
THIS THING.
>> Narrator: WITH ALIENS IN
SHORT SUPPLY, GRANT AND KARI
WILL HAVE TO DO.
AND GRANT GETS THE
ALL-IMPORTANT BEARINGS RIGGED AT
PRACTICALLY LIGHT SPEED.
>> THIS IS THE BEARING, AND IT'S
SUPPOSED TO WOBBLE, AND IT'S A
LITTLE SOMETHING LIKE THIS.
THAT'S NOT BAD, ACTUALLY.
>> Narrator: AND WHILE KARI
LINES THE RIM OF THREE BIKE
WHEELS WITH THE MAGNETS, TORY
HAS MADE THREE CONES FROM THE
ROLL OF ALUMINUM.
>> HAI! DSH!
[ BOTH GRUNTING ]
>> AAH!
>> Narrator: ONCE TORY AND GRANT
FINISH FIGHTING WITH FOIL, THEY
FINISH THE ASSEMBLY.
>> WHOA!
>> IT WORKS.
>> [ LAUGHING ]
LOOK AT THAT!
>> AWESOME.
>> IT'S JUST SITTING THERE.
THE CONE IS JUST PERFECTLY
CENTERED INSIDE THE RING, AND
IT'S JUST HOVERING THERE.
>> YEAH.
>> ALL OF THE MAGNETS ON THE
OUTSIDE AND PERFECTLY REPELLING
THE MAGNETS ON THE INSIDE CONE,
CREATING A LITTLE GAP BETWEEN
IT, AS IF IT'S JUST KIND OF
FLOATING THERE IN INNER SPACE.
>> Narrator: IT'S LOOKING GOOD.
THE MAGNETS AND CONES ARE
PERFECTLY BALANCED, BUT IT'S
WHEN THE THIRD CONE GOES IN THAT
THINGS WILL GET INTERESTING.
THE GENERATOR SHOULD TAKE OFF
AND START FLOATING IN AN
ANTIGRAVITY FIELD.
>> SEE? NOW IT'S GONE.
SEE THAT?
SEE IT OSCILLATING?
>> Narrator: OSCILLATING, YES,
LEVITATING, NO.
BUT JUST TO BE SURE, THE GUYS
PREPARE FOR THE ULTIMATE TEST.
>> IT'S BEEN STARTED.
>> WE STARTED THE GENERATOR!
>> LET'S GET OUT.
>> Narrator: REMEMBER, THE
SUPER-SENSITIVE GRAVITY METER
CAN DETECT EVEN THE TINIEST
FLUCTUATION IN LOCAL GRAVITY.
OUR WORLD-CLASS PHYSICISTS STAND
BY, ANTICIPATING A MAJOR
SCIENTIFIC BREAKTHROUGH, BUT,
REALLY, NO ONE IS SURPRISED WHEN
THE HAMEL GENERATOR FLATLINES.
>> ARE YOU SURE YOU'RE NOT
TAMPERING WITH THESE RESULTS
BECAUSE YOU DON'T WANT THERE TO
BE ANTIGRAVITY OUT THERE BECAUSE
IT IS ALL A CONSPIRACY AND YOU
ARE PART OF THE MAN?
>> NO COMMENT.
[ LAUGHTER ]
>> NO, ACTUALLY -- WE WOULD
ACTUALLY LIKE TO SEE IT.
I WOULD LOVE TO SEE ANTIGRAVITY.
I REALLY WOULD, HONESTLY.
THAT WOULD BE THE MOST EXCITING
RESULT OF ALL.
I THINK PHYSICS ADVANCES THE
MOST WHEN WE FIND THINGS WE
DON'T UNDERSTAND.
SO THE BEST POSSIBLE RESULT IS A
VERIFIABLE, REPEATABLE
EXPERIMENT THAT WE CAN'T
UNDERSTAND.
>> AND CUT!
>> [ LAUGHS ]
>> DID YOU SEE THAT HOLE IN THE
CEILING WHERE IT TOOK OFF?
>> NO.
>> ME NEITHER.
>> YOU WOULD HAVE BEEN BETTER
BUILDING SOMETHING DESIGNED BY
MARK HAMEL.
>> WELL, THE HAMEL ASIDE, HOW
DID ALL OUR OTHER DEVICES DO?
>> OKAY, THE LIFTER -- VERY COOL
PIECE OF TECHNOLOGY.
IT WORKS GREAT, BUT IN THE END,
IT'S NOT ANTIGRAVITY.
IT'S ALL THRUST.
>> SO ANTIGRAVITY IS BUSTED.
>> YEAH, IT'S BUSTED.
>> I DON'T KNOW IF WE CAN BUST
ANTIGRAVITY.
WE CAN BUST OUR DEVICES.
>> ALL RIGHT, REVISED.
ANTIGRAVITY BUSTED FOR NOW.
>> Narrator: AND NOW FOR
SOMETHING COMPLETELY
DIFFERENT...
***.
MOST PEOPLE CHOOSE TO DRINK IT,
BUT OUR TEAM OF ALCOHOL
AFICIONADOS HAVE BUSTED IT AS A
BEE KILLER AND POISON OAK CURER.
THEY HAVE ALSO USED IT TO KILL
OFF BAD BREATH AND CHEESY FEET.
[ LAUGHTER ]
BUT THAT'S NOT ENOUGH FOR KARI
AND TORY.
THIS TIME, SOMETHING FISHY IS
GOING ON.
>> WE'RE HERE AT MONTEREY BAY
AQUARIUM.
WE'RE GONNA PICK UP A
JELLYFISH AND FIND OUT IF YOU
CAN USE *** TO TREAT A
JELLYFISH STING.
>> Narrator: IT'S AN OLD FISH
WIVES' TALE, AND IF IT'S JELLIES
YOU'RE AFTER, YOU CAN'T DO
BETTER THAN THIS AQUARIUM, WHICH
HAS ONE OF THE FINEST
COLLECTIONS IN THE COUNTRY.
THEY DON'T KNOW IT, BUT ONE OF
THESE MEDUSI IS ABOUT TO BECOME
A MYTHBUSTER.
SO IT'S OFF INTO THE AQUARIUM'S
BELLY TO FIND A JELLY.
>> WHAT TYPE OF JELLYFISH IS
THIS?
>> THESE ARE PACIFIC SEA
NETTLES, CHRYSOARA FUSCESNES --
ONE OF THE BIG LOCAL JELLIES
YOU'LL FIND OUT IN THE PACIFIC
NORTHEAST OCEAN.
>> IS THIS A REALLY GOOD TYPE OF
JELLYFISH TO USE FOR THIS TEST?
>> THESE ARE VERY GOOD
REPRESENTATIVE STINGERS, AND
THESE ARE JELLIES THAT PEOPLE
WILL COMMONLY ENCOUNTER OUT ON
THE BEACH IF THEY WERE SWIMMING.
SO THIS IS AN APPROPRIATE ANIMAL
TO TEST
>> I DON'T KNOW WHAT I WAS
GETTING MYSELF INTO HERE.
>> THIS WON'T KILL YOU OR INJURE
YOU, BUT IT WILL BE
UNCOMFORTABLE FOR A WEEK.
>> Narrator: HOW REASSURING, BUT
YOU KNOW WHAT THEY SAY -- NO
PAIN, NO GAIN.
>> SEE ONE THAT LOOKS GOOD?
>> [ LAUGHS ]
>> OH, THERE'S A GOOD ONE.
JELLY CATCHER AWAY.
ONE LITTLE TENTACLE.
NO PROBLEM AT ALL.
>> WOW.
>> BAG O' JELLY.
>> I CAN'T BELIEVE I GET TO TAKE
THIS GUY HOME!
>> HAVE FUN.
>> Narrator: IT'S THE
MYTHBUSTERS' EQUIVALENT OF THE
FUNFAIR GOLDFISH.
THOUGH IN THIS CASE, IT'S A BAG
FULL OF PAIN.
BACK AT M5, DESPITE
THE *** AT THE READY, KARI'S
HAD SECOND THOUGHTS, NOT TO
MENTION THIRDS AND FOURTHS.
>> I THINK I'M A LITTLE ANXIOUS.
I'M A LITTLE BIT NERVOUS.
I THOUGHT I WAS GONNA BE
PERFECTLY FINE, BUT NOW THAT
IT'S COME DOWN TO IT, I FIND MY
HEART GOING DEET DEET DEET
DEET DEET!
>> YOU REALLY WANT TO DO THIS?
>> IT'S NOT LIKE I WANT TO DO
IT.
I'M DOING THIS FOR THE SHOW.
[ LAUGHS ]
YOU'RE GONNA GRAB HIM BY THE
HEAD GENTLY AND, UNDERWATER, RUN
HIM ACROSS MY ARMS SO THE LITTLE
TENTACLES WILL SLIDE ACROSS,
STINGING ME WITH THOUSANDS OF
LITTLE STINGERS, RELEASING
NEUROTOXINS INTO MY BODY.
>> THAT SHOULD BE FUN.
>> Narrator: WHILE THE JELLY
LIMBERS UP, DR. TORY EXPLAINS
THE PROCEDURE.
>> ONCE YOU GET STUNG, THE
PROCESS IS GONNA BE THIS.
WE'RE GONNA DO THE
TRADITIONAL TREATMENT -- THAT'S
WARM WATER.
I'M GONNA BE SCRUBBING YOUR
ARM WITH A BRUSH.
AND THEN WE'RE GONNA PUT
TRADITIONAL ANTIHISTAMINE GEL ON
IT.
>> OKAY.
>> WITH THE OTHER ARM, WE'RE
GONNA TAKE THE *** AND POUR
THAT ON IT AND SCRUB WITH THE
BRUSH, AND WE'LL SEE WHICH ONE
WORKS BETTER.
>> OKAY.
>> YOU READY? YOU PSYCHED UP?
GIVE ME SOME HITS.
OKAY.
>> Narrator: AND CUE THE WINCE.
>> IT GET YOU?
>> I DON'T KNOW.
I FEEL A LITTLE MORE ON THIS
SIDE.
YOU MIGHT HAVE TO DO IT AGAIN.
>> [ Chuckling ] AGAIN?
>> GO FROM THIS SIDE TO THIS
SIDE NOW.
>> YOU LOVE THE PAIN.
>> NOT REALLY.
>> OKAY.
>> READY?
>> YEAH.
>> DO IT.
>> DID WE GET ENOUGH ON THIS
ONE?
>> I FEEL SOME THERE, TOO.
>> LET'S GO.
>> OKAY. SO, IT'S DEFINITELY
STARTING TO STING MORE AND MORE,
AND IT'S TINGLING IN DIFFERENT
PLACES.
AND WHAT'S BASICALLY HAPPENING
FROM WHAT I UNDERSTAND IS THAT
EACH OF THE LITTLE SPIKES IS
LETTING OFF, SLOWLY,
NEUROTOXINS.
OKAY. NOW WE CAN START THE
TREATMENT.
>> Narrator: KARI COULD SWEAR
THAT WHEN SHE TOOK THIS JOB
NOBODY MENTIONED NEUROTOXINS.
>> SO, WE'RE GONNA DO THE
TRADITIONAL TREATMENT FIRST --
WARM WATER.
READY? HERE WE GO.
>> AND THE BRUSH.
NOW WE GOT TO SCRUB THE STINGERS
OUT THAT HAVEN'T RELEASED YET.
LITTLE LOWER ON THE ARM.
YEAH.
OKAY.
>> Narrator: NOW, PAIN IS A
SUBJECTIVE THING, BUT HOW DOES
THAT FEEL, KARI?
>> IT'S NOT LIKE PETTING PUPPIES
OR ANYTHING.
>> [ LAUGHS ]
>> Narrator: TEAM PLAYER TORY
WORKS FAST, FINISHING THE
TRADITIONAL TREATMENT
LICKETY-SPLIT.
>> *** TREATMENT.
YOU READY?
>> Narrator: AND BEFORE YOU CAN
SAY...
>> HOW ARE YOU DOING?
>> [ LAUGHS ]
IT'S ALL RIGHT.
>> Narrator: ...HE'S ALSO
APPLIED THE ALCOHOLIC ANTIDOTE.
>> THAT'S IT FOR THE ***
TREATMENT, RIGHT?
>> THAT'S IT FOR THE ***
TREATMENT.
>> Narrator: AND ALL THINGS
CONSIDERED, KARI'S IN GOOD
SPIRITS.
MAYBE SHE'S BEEN DRINKING THE
***.
>> I WAS EXPECTING SOME SORT OF
SCI-FI KIND OF PAIN.
I REALLY WAS.
SO I WAS PREPARING FOR, LIKE,
JAGGED SPIKES, AND I WAS
GRITTING MY TEETH REALLY, REALLY
HARD.
IT WASN'T AS BAD AS I THOUGHT.
>> WELL, YOU ARE A BRAVE
INDIVIDUAL.
I HAVE TO SAY THAT.
>> IT'S DEFINITELY NOT A
COMFORTABLE FEELING.
>> IT'S NOT SOMETHING YOU WANT
TO DO EVERY DAY.
>> IT'S BETTER THAN A KICK IN
THE HEAD.
>> Narrator: THE JELLYFISH MAY
NOT HAVE HAD A FEROCIOUS KICK,
BUT DID THE *** HELP AT ALL?
>> SO, AS WE ADMINISTERED THE
TRADITIONAL TREATMENT, I
DEFINITELY FELT KIND OF GOOD.
IT WAS LIKE SCRATCHING AN ITCH
THAT REALLY NEEDED TO BE
SCRATCHED.
AND THE *** ARM -- PRETTY MUCH
THE SAME THING.
THE ONLY DIFFERENCE WAS ONE FELT
A WARM SORT OF RELIEF, AND THE
OTHER ONE FELT A COOL SORT OF
RELIEF.
AS IT'S PROGRESSED, IT'S BEEN
ABOUT TWO MINUTES, AND THEY FEEL
THE SAME, TO TELL YOU THE TRUTH.
>> Narrator: AND IT'S THE SAME
STORY AFTER SEVERAL HOURS.
>> SO, BETWEEN THE *** AND THE
TRADITIONAL TREATMENT FOR A
JELLYFISH STING, WHICH ONE DO
YOU THINK WORKS BETTER?
>> BOTH TREATMENTS WERE
EXTREMELY EFFECTIVE.
I REALLY DIDN'T DEVELOP A RASH.
AFTER ABOUT AN HOUR AND A HALF,
I WOULDN'T HAVE EVEN KNOWN THE
JELLY STUNG ME AT ALL.
>> SO *** AS A TREATMENT FOR A
JELLY STING -- CONFIRMED?
>> I'M COMPLETELY SURPRISED, BUT
I DEFINITELY HAVE TO SAY THAT
THE MYTH WAS CONFIRMED.
I THINK THE *** DEACTIVATED
THE PNEUMATOSIS IN MY ARM AND
LEFT ME WITHOUT AN ITCHY STING.
>> SWEET.
>> NOW IT'S TIME TO TAKE LITTLE
TITUS OUT TO THE BAY AND SET HIM
FREE.
>> YOU DON'T WANT TO EAT HIM?
>> Narrator: ADAM AND JAMIE HAVE
BEEN TESTING HOW CHRISTMAS-TREE
LIGHTS CAN SET YOUR FESTIVE FIR
ON FIRE, AND THEY'VE JUST HAD A
RESULT.
>> IF YOU PUT TOO MUCH INTO AN
EXTENSION CORD JUST PLUGGED INTO
YOUR HOUSE...
[ POP ]
WHOA!
HO HO HO HO HO!
ALL RIGHT.
WE GOT A SPARK.
NOW IT'S TIME TO GET A FIRE.
>> OKAY. WELL, A DRY TREE IS
GONNA BE EASIER TO BURN.
>> I AGREE.
SO WE SHOULD DRY THE HECK OUT OF
THIS TREE WE'RE GONNA USE AND
WRAP THE HECK OUT OF IT.
I WANT FIVE TIMES AS MANY
CHRISTMAS LIGHTS ON IT AS WE DID
IN THE SHOP.
>> OKAY. AND JUST IN CASE THAT
DOESN'T DO IT, WE SHOULD ALSO
PUT IN A REMOTE IGNITION RIG, AS
WELL.
>> JUST TO REPLICATE THE SPARK I
GOT ON THE BENCH TEST.
PERFECT.
ONE WAY OR THE OTHER, WE'RE
GONNA BURN THIS THING.
[ SIREN WAILS ]
>> Narrator: SOUND THE SIRENS.
DID SOMEONE SAY "FIRE"?
TO TRY TO IGNITE A TREE ONCE AND
FOR ALL, JAMIE AND ADAM HAVE
COME TO THE CITY OF PLEASANTON
FIRE CENTER.
>> THIS IS IT.
>> [ LAUGHS ]
>> IT SMELLS KIND OF FUNKY IN
HERE.
IT WORKS FOR ME.
WE'VE GOT A COUPLE DOOR ACCESSES
FROM DIFFERENT ANGLES THAT WE
COULD BE AT.
>> I THINK WHAT WE'RE LOOKING AT
HERE IS PROBABLY THE TREE IN,
LIKE, THAT CORNER.
>> HI, CAPTAIN.
>> GENTLEMEN.
>> Narrator: AND CAPTAIN DICKEY
HAS NO DOUBT THAT CHRISTMAS-TREE
FIRES ARE FRIGHTENING.
>> WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT WHAT
WE'RE DOING HERE?
HAVE YOU DEALT WITH THIS KIND OF
SITUATION BEFORE IN A HOUSE
FIRE?
>> YES. WE GO TO CHRISTMAS-TREE
FIRES EVERY YEAR.
WE HAD A HOUSE BURN UP IN
DECEMBER 26 OF 1997, WHERE A
CHILD TURNED THE LIGHTS ON TO
THE CHRISTMAS TREE AND THE TREE
IMMEDIATELY IGNITED AND BURNED
UP THE HOUSE AND CAUSED A LOT OF
DAMAGE.
>> ALL RIGHT.
WELL, YOU READY TO GO?
>> I'M READY.
>> Narrator: IN THIS LAST TEST,
THE GUYS ARE GOING FOR BROKE.
THEY'VE RIGGED THE TREE WITH
HUNDREDS OF LIGHTS PLUGGED INTO
DOZENS OF SOCKETS.
>> WELL, ALL I KNOW IS THIS IS
GONNA MAKE SOME LITTLE CHILD
REALLY HAPPY.
>> Narrator: AND TO FURTHER UP
THE FIRE FACTOR, THE PINE IS
TOTALLY PARCHED.
>> WHAT WE HAVE IS A KILN-DRIED
TREE.
THIS WAS DRIED AT A PLACE THAT
DRIES FLOWERS, SO IT'S DRY AS A
BONE.
>> Narrator: NOW IT'S TIME FOR
SOME TREE-TRIMMING FUN.
>> WE'VE GONE WAY OVER THE TOP
WITH THESE LIGHTS.
WE'VE GOT 2,500 LIGHTS.
IT'S A COUPLE HUNDRED AMPS
WORTH OF ELECTRICAL POWER AND
HEAT GOING INTO THIS TREE.
>> Narrator: THE MYTHBUSTERS'
TREE IS STARTING TO RIVAL THE
ROCKEFELLER CENTER'S.
>> 72 STRANDS OF LIGHTS.
1,800 BULBS.
[ LAUGHING ]
I'LL BET THIS IS WHAT CHRISTMAS
IS LIKE IN HEAVEN.
>> I'M GONNA TURN THEM OFF.
>> I CAN'T EVEN GAZE UPON IT, SO
BRIGHT IS THE LIGHT IT GIVES
OFF.
>> Narrator: IT'S AS BRIGHT AS
THE SUN, BUT THERE'S SOMETHING
MISSING.
THAT'S RIGHT -- TACKY
ORNAMENTS -- A DECORATIVE
GARLAND...
>> AS IF WE NEEDED THIS THING TO
BE ANY MORE FLAMMABLE.
>> Narrator: ...AND SOME
BRIGHTLY COLORED BAUBLES.
>> HA HA!
ARE THESE NOT GLASS?
OH, THEY ARE.
>> Narrator: WITH 2,500 LIGHTS,
THIS IS THE ULTIMATE TEST IN THE
HOT-BULB-MAKES-FIRE THEORY.
BUT IN CASE THAT STILL DOESN'T
WORK, JAMIE'S ALSO ADDED A
SPARKER FOR GOOD MEASURE.
>> THE NEON TRANSFORMER TAKES
110 JUST NORMAL LINE VOLTAGE
AND KICKS IT UP TO -- I THINK
IN THIS CASE, IT'S AROUND 5,000,
6,000 VOLTS.
SOMETHING LIKE THAT.
>> THIS IS A STRAIGHTFORWARD,
ALWAYS-WORKS WAY OF GETTING A
FIRE.
>> Narrator: DOESN'T THE TREE
LOOK LOVELY, CHILDREN?
NOW, TO SET IT ON FIRE.
>> THIS TREE BEHIND ME IS LOADED
UP WITH 2,500 CHRISTMAS LIGHTS.
WE'VE GOT SOME GARLAND, WE'VE
GOT SOME BULBS.
AND THIS TREE HAS BEEN DRIED OUT
IN A FLOWER-DRYING OVEN FOR
FIVE SOLID DAYS.
IT IS EFFECTIVELY A
CHRISTMAS-TREE-SHAPED MATCH.
>> Narrator: SO, WHAT DO JAMIE
AND ADAM HOPE SANTA WILL BRING?
WE'RE HOPING THAT WE'LL GET
EVERYTHING TO COME TOGETHER AND
MAKE FOR A BIG FIRE.
>> Narrator: DO NOT TRY THIS
TEST AT HOME.
WITHOUT THE FIRE DEPARTMENT ON
HAND, MORE THAN THE TURKEY WILL
BE OVERCOOKED.
>> OKAY, LINDA, GIVE US POWER,
OVER.
>> COPY THAT.
PRESSING THE GREEN BUTTON, OVER.
[ BOTH LAUGH ]
>> AND THERE IT IS.
AND IT LOOKS SO CHEERY NOW.
>> Narrator: WITH ALL 2,500
LIGHTS ON, THE GUYS MONITOR THE
TREE FROM A SAFE DISTANCE.
>> THOSE LIGHT BULBS REQUIRE
MORE POWER THAN MOST PEOPLE
HAVE IN THEIR HOUSE -- NOT JUST
ON A SINGLE CIRCUIT, IN THEIR
WHOLE HOUSE.
>> Narrator: THE TEMPERATURE
RISES RAPIDLY, AND SOON THE
TREE GETS HOT ENOUGH TO MAKE
JAMIE'S WHISKERS BRISTLE WITH
ANTICIPATION.
>> CHRIS, WHAT'S THE
TEMPERATURE, THE MAXIMUM?
>> THE TOP NOW IS AT 240.
>> 240 ON THE SCALE, THAT'S THE
HIGHEST?
240 DEGREES.
AND IT'S BEEN 21 MINUTES.
>> Narrator: SOON, THERE'S A
HOPEFUL SIGN.
>> YEAH, IT'S SMOKING.
YOU CAN SEE IT THROUGH THE
WINDOWS HERE.
>> DUDE, WE'RE GONNA GET
IGNITION.
>> Narrator: BUT 40 MINUTES
LATER, THE BULBS STILL HAVEN'T
GONE BALLISTIC.
AND IF 2,500 BULBS CAN'T HEAT A
TREE TO IGNITION, THEN NO AMOUNT
WILL.
>> WELL, LOTS OF SMOKE, NO FIRE.
I THINK WE'RE GONNA SET THE
SPARK OFF.
>> SOUNDS GOOD.
>> YOU GUYS READY?
>> WE'LL MASK UP AND BE PREPARED
TO GO IN.
>> OKAY.
>> WE'RE GOING TO LIGHT THIS
THING UP WITH OLD SPARKY, SO
STAND BY FOR OUR SIGNAL TO CUT
THE POWER, OVER.
>> COPY THAT.
STANDING BY.
>> Narrator: IT'S THE FINAL TEST
IN THIS STORY.
CAN A SPARK CAUSE THE FIR TO
FIRE?
>> OKAY, LET'S TRY IT.
IGNITION IN 3, 2, 1...
>> Narrator: BINGO.
WE HAVE IGNITION.
>> THERE YOU GO!
THAT'S IT!
THAT'S BEAUTIFUL!
SO FAST.
>> Narrator: THE FIRE DEPARTMENT
SPRINGS INTO ACTION.
>> FIREMEN HAVE THE BEST TOYS
EVER.
>> Narrator: OUR CHRISTMAS
TREE'S BRANCHES AREN'T SO LOVELY
ANYMORE.
>> WELL, I THOUGHT IT WAS AN
UGLY CHRISTMAS TREE BEFORE.
>> NOW THERE'S YOUR PROBLEM.
>> OH, MAN.
>> Narrator: THE SHORT-CIRCUIT
DID THE JOB, AND THE BOYS ARE
SHOCKED AT HOW FAST THE FIRE
SPREAD.
>> THAT WASN'T AN EXPLOSION, BUT
IT WAS SO FAST THAT IT WOULD BE
OUT OF CONTROL.
IF IT WENT UP, YOU WOULDN'T BE
ABLE TO DO ANYTHING UNLESS YOU
WERE STANDING THERE WITH THE
FIRE EXTINGUISHER.
>> EXACTLY.
AT THE MOMENT WE SAW THE FIRE,
YOU WERE ALREADY PRETTY MUCH TOO
LATE TO GET IT UNDER CONTROL
WITH ANYTHING BUT A BUNCH OF
FIREMEN.
[ BOTH LAUGH ]
I WAS AMAZED HOW FAST IT GOT OUT
OF CONTROL.
>> RIGHT. IT GROWS QUICKLY, AND
THERE'S NO OTHER FUEL IN THAT
ROOM, SO IT WOULD BURN ITSELF
OUT.
BUT IMAGINE IF YOU HAD DRAPES
AND FURNITURE INSIDE, IT WOULD
CONTINUE TO GROW RAPIDLY.
>> AND WITH THAT KIND OF FIRE,
EVEN IF YOU HAD A STANDARD
HOUSEHOLD FIRE EXTINGUISHER, YOU
PROBABLY WON'T BE ABLE TO DEAL
WITH IT, RIGHT?
>> NO. A FIRE LIKE THIS WOULD
GROW OUT OF CONTROL BEFORE YOU
CAN EVEN GO OUT AND GET YOUR
FIRE EXTINGUISHER.
THE BEST THING TO DO IS LEAVE
THE HOUSE IMMEDIATELY.
>> ALL IT WOULD TAKE IS ONE
LITTLE SPARK.
WHETHER IT'S AN OLDER SET OF
LIGHTS, WHETHER SOMEBODY'S
MESSED WITH THE FUSE, YOU CAN
GET A SHORT, AND IF YOU DO, YOU
CAN SET A TREE ON FIRE.
>> THIS IS NO MYTH.
IN FACT, THIS IS MORE LIKE A
PUBLIC-SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENT,
BECAUSE THE FIGURES WE HAVE SAYS
THAT ON DECEMBER 24th, 25th,
AND 26th IN THE U.S., THERE'S
OVER 10,000 FIRES THAT CAUSE 40
DEATHS AND OVER $80 MILLION IN
DAMAGE EVERY SINGLE YEAR FROM
CHRISTMAS TREES BURNING DOWN
FROM VARIOUS REASONS.
I THINK THIS ONE IS TOTALLY
BUSTED.
WE PUT 2,500 BULBS ON THAT TREE,
AND IT WAS NOT ENOUGH TO CREATE
THE HEAT NECESSARY TO
AUTO-IGNITE.
>> I AGREE.
IT'S MYTH BUSTED.
BUT THAT DOESN'T MEAN THAT
PEOPLE SHOULD LET THEIR GUARDS
DOWN, BECAUSE WE DID PROVE THAT
IT IS POSSIBLE TO OVERLOAD
SOMETHING LIKE AN EXTENSION CORD
WITH SO MANY LIGHTS THAT YOU
CREATE A SHORT, AND YOU COULD
START A TREE FIRE.
>> YEAH, YOU KNOW, THIS MYTH,
REALLY -- I'M AMAZED -- WOKE UP
MY HOLIDAY SPIRIT.
I THINK WE SHOULD DO A CHRISTMAS
SPECIAL.
>> THAT'S ONE FOR THE FUTURE.
>> IT IS.