Latest MythBusters Results

Driving a convertible with the top down in the rain at a high speed will ensure that no water can enter the driver compartment.

plausible

The MythBusters first performed several small scale tests, using a model car and a wind tunnel, and found that at higher speeds, a sort of air bubble seemed to form around the driver compartment, giving credence to the myth. In their full scale test, they used an actual convertible as well as a 200 foot rain bar to provide the rain. In a control test, they stopped the convertible in the middle of the rain to put up the top, and the interior was soaked. Then they drove through the rain at 70 mph (113km/hr), and saw that the interior was significantly less wet than the control. Next, they then drove the car through the rain at 90 mph (145km/hr) and saw that the interior was not wet at all. The MythBusters attributed this to the car’s windshield, which served its function as well as creating an air bubble over the interior of the car. However, they decided to declare the myth “plausible, but not recommended” due to the inherent danger of driving at such high speeds on wet roads.

You can pop popcorn instantly by detonating a propane tank.

busted

The Build Team placed popcorn kernels on top of the propane tank and detonated it with high explosives. The explosion failed to cook or pop any of the popcorn kernels because the blast blew the kernels away before they could absorb enough heat.

You can pop popcorn instantly by igniting dairy creamer.

busted

The Build Team loaded popcorn kernels into a cannon filled with flammable dairy creamer and ignited it, but this failed to pop any of the kernels. As with the propane, the speed and energy of the fireball dispersed, but did not cook, the popcorn kernels.

You can use a plane-mounted 5 megawatt laser to cook popcorn, and when using enough popcorn, it can expand with enough strength to break open a house. (Based on a scene from the movie Real Genius.)

busted

Since a 5 megawatt laser doesn’t currently exist, the Build Team used a 10 watt laser and still successfully popped a kernel. Even though this proved that lasers could pop popcorn, there currently isn’t a laser powerful enough to cook such a large amount, so the Build Team resorted to using a large pan to cook popcorn through induction. They then placed a panel representing the wall and window of a house over the pan to see if the popcorn could break through it. However, the popcorn lacked the power to push through the window. They also tested the expansion potential of already-popped popcorn by loading popcorn into a small model house and using a piston on the floor to push up on the popcorn until the house’s roof broke. This, however, required several tons of force, much more than the popcorn can create itself via popping.

A shooter can curve a bullet around an obstacle by swinging or flicking his or her arm. (Based on scenes from the movie Wanted.)

busted

The Build Team first went to a shooting range and set up a target with a wooden obstacle halfway between themselves and the target. Grant, Tory, and Kari each attempted to imitate the movie characters and shoot a bullet from a handgun around the obstacle by swinging the gun in an arc as they shot. No one was able to accomplish the feat. To continue testing, the team created a robot that could swing a gun at superhuman speeds. They set up a row of five large planes of paper, each parallel to the others to help determine the bullets’ paths. After each shot, they used a laser pointer to see if all five of the holes lined up. Even with the gun being swung by the robot, the bullet paths were completely straight. Finally, the team tried modifying the gun and bullets. With a de-rifled gun barrel and unbalanced bullets, the bullets tumbled through the air but still flew along a straight path.

The sonic boom or shockwave from a supersonic bullet can break glass.

busted

To test this myth, Adam and Jamie used a .50 caliber rifle capable of shooting bullets at 1,984 mph (3192 km/hr), well above the speed of sound. They set up a series of glass panes, stemware, and lightbulbs surrounding the path of the bullet. Even with the bullet passing within inches of the glass objects, nothing broke as a result of the passing bullet.

The sonic boom from a supersonic fighter jet will break glass.

busted

Adam and Jamie teamed up with the Navy’s Blue Angels to test this myth. Adam first received some subsonic flight training in an FA-18; despite passing out and vomiting at various times, he enjoyed the experience. To operate at supersonic speeds, they had to go to a restricted zone due to FAA rules. At the test site, the MythBusters built a small cabin with a glass window in addition to parking a car and leaving a table with lots of glass objects on it. When a Blue Angel jet, with Adam aboard, flew by at supersonic speed and with 8,000 feet of altitude, barely a sound was heard. At 2,000 feet, a loud boom was heard but no glass was broken. The jet continued to make lower and lower passes, ultimately making five passes at just 200 feet. The house’s window was broken from these passes, but nothing else was broken. Because of the extremely unlikely circumstance of a 200-foot supersonic jet pass, and the minimal damage observed, this myth was declared busted.

You can use dental floss to cut through the steel bars of a prison.

plausible

Grant built a flossing robot, applied toothpaste to the bars (the grit used to clean your teeth, they reasoned, could be used to aid the floss), and let it run for a week. After a week, the bar had been worn away a fraction of an inch, which, by Grant’s calculations, mean that you can cut through one bar in less than 300 days if you flossed 8 hours a night.

An 18th century prisoner placed the ball from his ball-and-chain into the prison’s ceremonial cannon, fired himself over the prison wall, and survived.

busted

After getting the specifications of a ball-and-chain for a 170 pounds (77 kg) person (what the dummy weighed) from an expert, Tory built a homemade cannon for the ball. Using one shotgun shell full of black powder, they launched just the ball 80 yards (73 m), well over the fence. After attaching it to Buster and using two shells, he flew an unspectacular 6 feet (1.8 m). Using rope to simulate hip ligaments, they fired again. Buster’s leg was completely separated from his hip, leaving this myth busted.

A person can hold onto the roof of a car with the windows down while the car is zig-zagging.

confirmed

A safety rig was constructed in case Jamie couldn’t hold on, but he was easily able to hold onto a car going 45 miles per hour (72 km/h).

A person can hold onto the roof of a car with the windows up while the car was zig-zagging.

busted

Jamie could not hold on when the car was going 45 mph. The windows were up for all tests after this.

A person can hold onto the roof of a car while the car is making a big turn.

busted

Jamie fell off when the car was going at just 15–20 miles per hour (24–32 km/h).

A person can hold onto the roof of a car when it makes a sudden stop.

busted

Jamie lost his grip and almost blacked out after a 45 mph stop.

A person can hold onto the hood of a car while the car is zig-zagging.

busted

Adam fell off after the first swerve at just 20 mph.

A person can hold onto the hood of a car while the car is making a big turn.

busted

Adam fell off immediately at only 20 mph.

A person can hold onto the hood of a car when it makes a sudden stop.

confirmed

Adam was able to hold onto the hood at both 20 and 45 mph stops.

A driver can shake someone off of the roof of a car by going through a car wash.

busted

The car wash had no effect on Jamie except for the chilly 55 °F (13 °C) water.

A driver can shake someone off of the hood of a car by going through a car wash.

busted

Adam easily held on to the hood.