MythBusters · Video summary

Testing Traditional Tales | MythBusters

Mythbusters tests the feasibility of a 100-mile Confederate rocket and the "finger in a gun barrel" myth, finding both busted. They also explore fuel efficiency and seasickness remedies.

MythBusters · April 15, 2026 · 151-min episode · 7-min read

Key takeaways

🎯The historical basis for a 100-mile Confederate rocket is weak, with key technologies like liquid oxygen and sophisticated gyroscopic stabilizers being unavailable in the 1860s.21:50
📈Driving a pickup truck with the tailgate down does NOT improve fuel efficiency; it actually creates drag by disrupting the aerodynamic "separated bubble" behind the cab.01:15:14
🔧When driving a pickup truck, keep the tailgate UP to optimize fuel efficiency and reduce aerodynamic drag.01:15:14
💡A "finger in a gun barrel" myth, where plugging a barrel with a finger causes a backfire, is busted; while it can cause barrel deformation and severe hand injury, it doesn't reliably explode the gun or protect the shooter.01:25:51
💡Do not rely on plugging a gun barrel with your finger or other objects to prevent a gun from firing or to cause it to explode; it is ineffective and dangerous.01:25:51
🔍For seasickness, ginger pills were found to be effective with no significant side effects, unlike pharmaceutical remedies which caused drowsiness and electrical stimulation bands which proved ineffective.01:33:03

Chapters

0:02🎯 Intro and Myth Overview
2:09🎯 Examining Civil War Rocket Technology
2:36🎯 Building Civil War Era Rockets
8:21🎯 Testing Rocket Performance in the Desert
15:48🎯 Investigating the Myth of the Long-Range Confederate Rocket
24:11🎯 Creating a Hybrid Fuel Rocket
43:48🎯 Testing the Hybrid Rocket
49:14🎯 Final Assessment of the Myth
50:14🎯 Other Myths Tested - Seasickness Remedies
1:22:27🎯 Testing the Finger-in-the-Barrel Myth
1:25:41🎯 Results of the Gun Barrel Myth
1:39:15🎯 Final Myth Conclusion
1:39:18🎯 Closing and Episode Summary

The digest

This episode of MythBusters systematically investigates four distinct myths: the Confederate Army’s supposed development of a 100-mile long-range missile during the Civil War, non-pharmaceutical cures for seasickness, the fuel efficiency impact of pickup truck tailgate position, and the cartoon-based notion that placing a finger in a gun barrel can cause the weapon to backfire explosively. Each myth is examined through historical research, practical experiments, engineering builds, and scientific analysis to determine the plausibility or debunk these long-standing tales.

Myth 1: The Confederate Long-Range Rocket (0:02–49:27)

Keep reading in The Digest

The full 7-minute article, 23 more sections, and every new episode from MythBusters and the creators you follow.

Context and Claim
Methodology and Historical Research
Experimental Results
Investigation of the Mythical Long-Range Rocket
Final Test and Conclusion
Myth 2: Non-Pharmaceutical Remedies for Seasickness (51:23–1:33:13)
Background
Experimental Setup
Remedies Tested
Results and Insights
Summary
Myth 3: Does Driving a Pickup Truck With the Tailgate Down Improve Fuel Efficiency? (58:03–1:15:39)
Myth Claim
Testing Protocol
Observations and Results
Conclusion
Myth 4: Can Placing Your Finger in a Gun Barrel Cause the Gun to Explode and Save Your Life? (1:01:05–1:39:18)
Myth Claim
Experimental Approach
Findings
Conclusion
Practical Takeaways and Implications
Action-Oriented Summary