MythBusters · Video summary
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.
Watch on YouTube ↗Key takeaways
- White oak was found to produce the most lethal shrapnel when cannonballs hit pirate ships, potentially causing more harm than the cannonballs themselves.
- The tests revealed that splintering wood can create deadly projectiles, with larger and denser splinters from white oak having a higher chance of penetrating flesh.
- The myth that pirates used rum as a stain remover was tested and found to be ineffective when compared to modern detergents.
- The testing process involved firing a 2-inch ball bearing at various types of wood to assess their splintering capabilities, with speeds reaching up to 273 mph.
- The MythBusters team humorously explored pirate lore, including the use of urine as a historical cleaning agent, which breaks down into ammonia over time.
- Experiment with different types of wood to observe their splintering effects and understand which materials could be more dangerous in impact scenarios.
Chapters
- 0:10🪙 Introduction to the Myth
- 0:40📚 Researching Pirate Cannons
- 2:00📏 Building the Air Cannon
- 4:00🌳 Choosing the Wood Types
- 4:52🎯 Testing Pine Wood
- 5:44⚔️ Analyzing Results
- 6:40💥 Testing White Oak
- 8:00🔍 Comparing Wood Types
- 8:50🪵 Testing Red Oak
- 9:50🤔 Concluding the Cannon Tests
- 10:20🏴☠️ Pirate Laundry Myth
- 11:00🍹 Staining the Pirate Shirts
- 12:00🧼 Testing Stain Removal
- 13:20🔬 Evaluating Cleaning Results
- 14:20🚫 Busting the Rum Myth
The digest
High-Level Overview
This episode explores two intriguing pirate myths: whether the deadly splinters from cannonball impacts were more lethal than the cannonballs themselves, and if pirates used rum as an effective stain remover. Through historical research and hands-on experiments, the MythBusters team evaluates the danger posed by wood splinters during naval combat and the cleaning properties of rum compared to other substances. The findings offer insight into pirate-era naval warfare and daily life, relevant for enthusiasts of history, naval combat, and chemical cleaning myths.
Keep reading in The Digest
The full 4-minute article, 13 more sections, and every new episode from MythBusters and the creators you follow.
- The Deadly Splinters Myth: Are Wood Shards More Dangerous than Cannonballs? (00:10–10:10)
- Background and Myth Setup
- Experiment Planning and Challenges
- Wood Panel Tests to Determine Optimal Splintering Material
- Key Observations
- Testing the Pirate Rum Stain Removal Myth (13:30–24:21)
- The Myth and Cultural Context
- Sample Preparation and Stains
- Cleaning Agents Tested
- Experimental Process
- Results and Conclusions
- Practical Takeaways
- Action-Oriented Summary
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