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Which Fan-Submitted Myths Will Survive The Ultimate Test? | MythBusters | S5 E13 | Full Episode

MythBusters tests viewer-submitted myths: bamboo torture, alkaline metals in bathtubs, and St. Bernard brandy, revealing surprising truths about plant growth, chemical reactions, and hypothermia.

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Key takeaways

• 🎯Bamboo shoots are physically capable of penetrating flesh due to their tough, sharp tips and the force generated as they grow through soil and obstacles.03:58
• 💡Alkaline metals like rubidium and cesium react violently with water, producing heat and hydrogen gas, but the resulting 'explosion' is not equivalent to a hand grenade in scale.14:40
• 📚When encountering claims of explosive chemical reactions, like alkaline metals in water, seek quantitative comparisons (e.g., grenade-sized explosion) to properly evaluate the scale of the event.16:30
• 🔧When assessing myths involving rapid growth or penetration, consider the rate of growth as a critical factor in determining the plausibility of the scenario (e.g., torture vs. slow plant growth).18:31
• 🎯The myth of bamboo torturing someone is plausible because bamboo can grow through a human-like analog in a matter of days, though it doesn't necessarily result in complete penetration quickly.19:11
• 💪The human body's initial response to cold is to constrict superficial blood vessels to conserve core heat, leading to increased core temperature even as extremities feel colder.31:52

Chapters

• 0:01🎯 Introduction and Viewer Myths
• 2:14🎯 Bamboo Plant Penetration Myth
• 13:52🎯 Alkali Metal Reactions in Water
• 27:00🎯 Exploding Toilet Experiment
• 29:51🎯 Brandy and Hypothermia Myth
• 44:20🎯 Burning a Baby Grand Piano
• 46:20🎯 Piano Explosion with TNT
• 48:13🎯 Concluding the Myths

The digest

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