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MythBusters summaries
Every long episode from MythBusters, read in minutes: the key takeaways, the chapters, and a digest of the whole conversation. Welcome to the official home of MythBusters! The legendary science show where Hollywood special effects experts Adam Savage and Jamie Hyneman put the world's most popular myths, urban legends, and movie moments to the ultimate test. With explosions, engineering, and relentless cu…
Does Indiana Jones' "Bike Flip" Work in Real Life? | MythBusters
In this episode of MythBusters, the team tests the movie myth that jamming a flag pole into the spokes of a motorcycle will cause it to flip end over end, ultimately proving that while it can stop the wheel, it does not result in the dramatic aerial flip depicted in films. Through various experiments, they demonstrate that the physics involved do not support the myth, concluding that Hollywood effects often rely on tricks rather than reality.
Can The Kill Bill Coffin Punch Work In Real Life? | MythBusters
In this episode of MythBusters, the team tests the Kill Bill coffin punch myth to determine if it's possible to punch through a casket and dig through six feet of dirt. Ultimately, they conclude that the myth is busted, as even with a trained martial artist's power, breaking through the coffin lid and escaping from such a burial is not feasible.
"What Household Items Can Stop A Bullet? | MythBusters
In this episode of MythBusters, the team tests various household items to determine their effectiveness at stopping bullets, including police badges, MP3 players, and even pizza boxes. While some items show surprising results, like a nickel badge stopping a bullet, others, such as MP3 players and fat, fail to provide any real protection.
Can Metals In A Bathtub Create A Massive Explosion? | MythBusters
In this episode of MythBusters, the team investigates whether adding alkaline metals like rubidium and cesium to water can create a hand grenade-sized explosion in a toilet, ultimately concluding that while the reactions are impressive, they do not match the explosive claims and are busted. They then conduct a dramatic experiment with sodium and potassium, which also fails to produce a significant explosion, reinforcing that such myths are often exaggerated online.
Could Bamboo Actually Grow Through A Human Body? | MythBusters
In this episode of MythBusters, the team investigates the myth that bamboo can grow through a human body, ultimately finding that while it can penetrate flesh, the process takes longer than expected for it to be an effective method of torture. The experiment concludes that bamboo can indeed grow through a dummy, confirming the myth's plausibility.
Is It Better To Hit A Moose At High Speed Or Low Speed? | MythBusters
In this episode of MythBusters, the team investigates whether it's safer to accelerate or brake when hitting a moose with a car, ultimately determining that speeding up increases damage and is not a viable strategy, leading to the myth being busted.
Is Cabin Fever A Real Psychological Condition? | MythBusters
In this episode of MythBusters, the team investigates whether cabin fever is a real psychological condition by isolating Adam and Jamie in a remote Alaskan lodge while also testing a myth involving a dog retrieving dynamite that sinks an SUV. Ultimately, they find the myth busted and conclude that the symptoms of cabin fever are plausible based on their experiences.
Can A Machine Gun Really Cut Down A Tree? | MythBusters
In this episode of MythBusters, the team tests the myth of whether a machine gun can effectively chop down a tree, ultimately confirming that while it can be done with a Dylan minigun, traditional methods like a chainsaw are more practical. The myth is thoroughly explored through various machine guns and tree types, showcasing the destructive power of firearms.
This Ancient Man Myth Became a HUGE Side Quest | MythBusters
In this episode of MythBusters, Adam and Jamie explore why ancient humans crafted flint arrowheads despite the ease of making sharpened sticks, ultimately discovering that while the flint arrows caused larger wounds, both types demonstrated similar lethality and accuracy, raising questions about the value of the extra effort involved.
Would Cockroaches Really Survive A Nuclear Explosion?| MythBusters
In this episode of MythBusters, the team investigates the myth that cockroaches can survive a nuclear explosion, testing their resilience against lethal doses of radiation alongside other insects. Ultimately, while cockroaches show remarkable survival rates, the flower beetles outperform them, leading to the conclusion that the myth is busted.
Could A Plane Take Off On A Backwards Conveyor Belt? | MythBusters
In this episode of MythBusters, the team tests the controversial myth of whether a plane can take off from a backwards conveyor belt matching its takeoff speed, ultimately proving that the plane can indeed take off despite the belt's movement, thus busting the myth.
MythBusters Discovers The Deadliest Thing On A Pirate Ship | MythBusters
In this episode of MythBusters, the team investigates the myth that splintering wood from cannonball impacts on pirate ships is more deadly than the cannonballs themselves, ultimately revealing that white oak produces the most lethal shrapnel. They also humorously test the claim that pirates used rum as a stain remover, concluding it is ineffective compared to modern detergents.
Could A Cannonball Actually Sink A Pirate Ship? | MythBusters
In this episode of MythBusters, Adam and Jamie investigate whether splinters from cannonball impacts cause more fatalities than the cannonballs themselves, ultimately concluding that the shrapnel is not as lethal, leading to the myth being busted.
The Build Team Creates Nightmare Creatures | MythBusters
In this episode of MythBusters, the team tests various mythical remedies to keep Christmas trees fresh, discovering that while hairspray proves effective in retaining needles and maintaining appearance, other methods like fertilizer and bleach perform poorly. Ultimately, they emphasize the balance between needle retention and aesthetic appeal in selecting the best solution for holiday trees.
How Hard Is It To Actually Make A Diamond From Scratch? | MythBusters
In this episode of MythBusters, the team attempts to create diamonds at home using three different methods, including peanut butter and a pressure cooker, but ultimately finds that all their efforts are busted as none produce actual diamonds. They later explore a more scientific approach with explosives, resulting in industrial diamonds rather than gemstones.
Does A Banana Peel Actually Make You Slip? | MythBusters
In this episode of MythBusters, the team tests the classic myth that stepping on a banana peel will always result in slipping and falling, ultimately concluding that while banana peels can be slippery, they do not guarantee a fall, thus deeming the myth busted.
What Does It Actually Take To Shatter Glass With Sound? | MythBusters
In this episode of MythBusters, the team investigates whether a sonic boom can shatter glass, ultimately discovering that while a sonic boom can break glass under specific conditions, the myth that any sonic boom will break any glass is busted. The experiments reveal that the glass remained intact unless subjected to extremely low-altitude passes from a supersonic jet.
Could NASA Have Faked The Astronaut Footage? | MythBusters
In this episode of MythBusters, the team investigates the myth that NASA faked the moon landing using various photographic and video evidence, ultimately proving that the claims of a hoax are unfounded and that the Apollo missions were genuine. Through rigorous experiments and tests, they demonstrate that the supposed anomalies in the footage can be explained by physics and the moon's unique environment.
Can You Build a Working Cannon Out of Duct Tape? | MythBusters
In this episode of MythBusters, the team tests whether a fully functional cannon can be constructed using only duct tape instead of traditional materials, ultimately confirming that it can withstand the explosive forces required to launch cannonballs, albeit with reduced performance compared to a steel cannon.
Can Duct Tape Lift a Full Grown Man? | MythBusters
In this episode of MythBusters, Adam and Jamie explore the strength and versatility of duct tape by testing its ability to lift a car and repair a boat, ultimately demonstrating that while duct tape can hold significant weight and provide temporary fixes, its effectiveness varies depending on the conditions.
Can You Escape A Car That's Sinking Upside Down? | MythBusters
In this episode of MythBusters, Adam and Jamie test the myth of escaping a car that has turned upside down underwater, revealing that disorientation complicates the escape process, while also exploring whether shooting through milk can prevent a gun's muzzle flash from igniting flammable gas, ultimately debunking the myth with explosive results.
Myths That Sounded Fake But Were ACTUALLY True! | Mythbusters
In this episode of MythBusters, the team investigates myths surrounding salsa as a corrosive agent and its effectiveness in a prison escape scenario, ultimately demonstrating that DC electricity significantly outperforms AC in accelerating corrosion. Additionally, they explore the myth of the brown note and its supposed effects, concluding that it is indeed busted.
How Much Punishment Can One Dummy Take? | MythBusters
In this episode of MythBusters, the team investigates whether being shot can actually throw a person backward, ultimately proving the myth busted as Buster the dummy fails to move significantly despite being shot with a 50 caliber bullet. The experiment highlights the difference between Hollywood portrayals and real-life physics, confirming that bullets do not have the dramatic impact often depicted in movies.
Could A Briefcase Bomb Have Changed The Course Of WWII? | MythBusters
In this episode of MythBusters, Adam and Jamie explore whether a briefcase bomb could have successfully assassinated Hitler by testing the impact of an explosion in an enclosed bunker versus an open room, ultimately demonstrating that the change of venue significantly reduced the bomb's lethality. They also investigate the myth that you can slap sense into someone, finding that a slap can indeed enhance focus under certain impairments.