MythBusters · Video summary
Can You Actually Catch A Greased Pig? | MythBusters
The Mythbusters tackle the age-old idiom of "catching a greased pig" to see if it's truly an impossible feat, putting their skills and inventions to the test against slippery swine.
Watch on YouTube ↗Key takeaways
- 🐷The Mythbusters are testing the idiom "as impossible as catching a greased pig" by attempting to catch actual greased pigs.00:08
- 🧴The team uses an animal birthing agent as their "grease" for the pigs, ensuring it's natural and won't harm the animals.01:48
- ⏱️Kari successfully catches a 25-pound greased pig in 55 seconds, but finds the experience quite messy due to the pig's natural state.03:41
- 💪Grant catches a 40-pound greased pig in 2 minutes, while Tory takes 5 minutes to catch a 150-pound pig, showing increasing difficulty with size.05:40
- 🧤Kari invents fur-covered gloves and uses bait to improve her pig-catching technique, aiming for a softer yet firmer grip.09:44
- 🛠️Grant designs pneumatic claws attached to a backpack for catching pigs, while Tory creates a suction device using vacuum cleaners and plungers.10:37
Chapters
- 0:05Introduction to the Greased Pig Myth
- 0:47The First Greased Pig Challenge
- 3:43Kari's Attempt with a Small Pig
- 7:04Grant's Attempt with a Medium Pig
- 9:59Tory's Attempt with a Large Pig
- 13:28Myth Busted (First Conclusion)
- 14:03Designing New Pig-Catching Devices
- 15:30Kari's Fur Gloves and Bait
- 17:17Tory's Suction Plunger Device
- 18:32Grant's Pneumatic Claws
- 20:38Testing the Inventions on a Dummy Pig
- 23:27Kari's Second Attempt with Fur Gloves
- 26:43Grant's Second Attempt with Pneumatic Claws
- 30:28Tory's Second Attempt with Suction Plungers
- 34:15Final Verdict: Myth Busted
The digest
For centuries, the phrase "as impossible as catching a greased pig" has been used to describe tasks of extreme difficulty. But is this idiom rooted in truth, or is it merely a colorful exaggeration? The Mythbusters team, never one to shy away from a challenge, decided to put this slippery saying to the ultimate test, venturing into the world of swine to uncover the truth.
The Initial Setup: Understanding the Challenge
The team began by clarifying the idiom's meaning and setting up their experimental parameters. The core idea was to determine if a pig, coated in a slippery substance, could be caught and contained within a designated area. To ensure a fair and humane test, the Mythbusters consulted with animal experts and used an animal birthing agent as their "grease" – a natural, non-harmful substance that would provide the necessary slipperiness without causing any distress to the pigs. The chosen location was a pig farm, providing a natural environment for the animals and ample space for the chase. The goal was simple: catch the greased pig and bring it into an 8-foot diameter circle in the middle of a pen. The time taken for each attempt would be recorded, with the ultimate question being whether the task was truly impossible.
Keep reading in The Digest
The full 4-minute article, 4 more sections, and every new episode from MythBusters and the creators you follow.
- Round One: The Human vs. Pig Showdown
- Inventing the "Pigger-Upper": Enhancing Catching Techniques
- Round Two: The Gadget Gauntlet
- The Verdict: Myth Busted!
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