MythBusters · Video summary

Can You Really Catch Or Cure A Cold The Ways People Claim? | MythBusters | S6 E16 | Full Episode

MythBusters debunks the 100 mph sneeze and 30 ft sneeze distance myths, and confirms that flying glass in tornadoes can be decapitating, while also highlighting how responsible behavior can prevent germ spread.

MythBusters · April 20, 2026 · 49-min episode · 5-min read

Can You Really Catch Or Cure A Cold The Ways People Claim? | MythBusters | S6 E16 | Full Episode

Key takeaways

🎯The common myth of a sneeze traveling at 100 mph is busted; tested sneezes reached only 35-39 mph.05:09
🚀Be aware that sneezes are not as fast or far-reaching as commonly believed, so avoid unnecessary panic about short-range transmission.05:09
🎯The myth of sneezes traveling 30 feet is also busted; the maximum recorded distance for the tested sneezes was 17 feet.09:49
🔍A significant amount of fluid (approx. 60 ml/hour) can be produced by a runny nose, and this fluid is easily transferred through common activities like touching surfaces and shaking hands.19:17
💡The spread of nasal secretions is significant; even with a mechanical drip, secretions covered the experimenter, the table, and surrounding areas.21:58
💡Flying glass during a tornado, even at moderate speeds (around 70 mph with a small piece), can cause decapitation.42:52

Chapters

0:01🎯 Introduction and Myth Overview
2:15🎯 Testing the Speed of a Sneeze
2:54🎯 Conducting the Sneeze Speed Experiments
6:14🎯 Measuring Sneeze Distance
9:54🎯 Summary of Sneeze Myth Busting
10:10🎯 Testing the Tornado-Guillotine Myth
18:02🎯 Infection Spread via Nasal Secretions
22:38🎯 Partying and Disease Transmission
27:05🎯 Glass Decapitation Tests
28:46🎯 Speed and Impact of Glass at Tornado Speeds
44:02🎯 Impact of Behavior on Contamination
47:52🎯 Final Conclusions and Safety Tips

The digest

High Level Overview

This episode critically examines widely held beliefs about cold transmission and the physical dynamics of sneezing, alongside an investigation into the possibility of tornadic winds propelling glass with enough force to cause decapitation. The experiments combine high-speed videography, biomechanics, and real-world scenarios to test viral spread through nasal secretions and the physical potential of tornado-debris injuries. These findings are important for anyone interested in public health, disease prevention, and disaster safety.

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Structured Deep Dive
1. Testing the Speed and Distance of a Sneeze (00:18–09:40)
2. Investigating Tornado-Propelled Glass as a Guillotine (10:07–43:31)
3. Tracking Nasal Secretion Spread and Cold Transmission via Contact (18:02–48:21)
Key Frameworks & Mental Models
A. Measuring Sneeze Velocity and Distance Using High-Speed Imaging
B. Kinetic Energy Equivalence for Simulating Tornado Speeds
C. Simulating Nasal Secretion Spread
Practical Implications & Takeaways
Action-Oriented Summary

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