Air Date: June 8, 2004
REVISITED: Soldiers marching in unison can cause harmonic oscillation in a bridge and cause it to collapse. (From Episode 12)
plausible
The first time the myth was tested, the miniature bridge was flawed enough in its design to get an inconclusive answer, but with this test, just testing the natural resonant frequency of a simple wooden bridge, resulted in a plausible conclusion, but it is very improbable.
(This myth was retested for this episode but it ultimately did not air.)
REVISITED: A frozen chicken will penetrate aircraft or train windshields better than a thawed chicken. (From Episode 9)
plausible
When re-visited, frozen chickens could penetrate sets of layered glass panes better. Listed as Plausible because it’s uncertain the original myth actually occurred.
REVISITED: An ice bullet can kill someone without leaving a trace. (From Episode 1)
re-busted
They retested using slow-frozen bullets that were stronger than the ones they used previously. The bullets simply vaporized when the trigger was pulled.
REVISITED: Using one’s cell phone while pumping gas/petrol can cause an explosion. (From Episode 2)
re-busted
The battery of retests the MythBusters performed reaffirmed their original Busted verdict.
SPINOFF: Leaving a can of aerosol spray or cola inside a hot car can cause it to explode. (From Pilot 2)
busted
The aerosol cans didn’t explode inside a car after sitting in the sun for hours. Both aerosol and cola took temperatures of over 300 °F (150 °C) to blow.
SPINOFF: An inflatable brassiere can explode inside an airplane as it climbs in altitude. (From Episode 2)
busted
The different types of inflatable brassieres tested proved capable of maintaining their integrity even at altitudes fatal to humans.
SPINOFF: Urinating on an electric fence can cause electrocution. (From Episode 3)
confirmed
Upon retesting the myth on an electric fence it was found to be confirmed, but the rail was still Busted. Distance was the factor, as the urine stream breaks up less at the close range needed for urinating on the fence than urinating on the third rail, thus ensuring a direct line of current between ones body and the electrical source.
REVISITED: Covering one’s body in gold paint can kill a person by skin asphyxiation like in the James Bond movie Goldfinger. (From Pilot 3)
re-busted
When Adam retested the myth, he reported some discomfort, describing it as a slight flu-like feeling, but he nonetheless survived.
Newer: Episode 15: "Scuba Diver, Car Capers"
Older: Episode 13: "Buried in Concrete, Daddy Long-legs, Jet Taxi"
[...] you to watch MythBusters who demonstrated that it is not only possible, but likely. Here’s a handy reference with the episode. Makes you wonder when this guy will show up as a winner of the illustrious [...]
April 12, 2008 at 9:03 AM
Cans of cola CAN explode in a car. I had a whole twelve pack explode and then dry out from the summer heat before I found out. AND the day before yesterday after some friends and I went out to play some basketball, one can of Coke Zero exploded as we were driving away in the back of his jeep cherokee, we thought we were shot at. Every can that explodes goes through the top of the can.
June 25, 2007 at 1:08 PMI had a 6 pack of pepsi and a 6 pack of Dr.Pepper that would not fit into my cooler for our camping trip. All but 3 cans had exploded by the next time I hopped in my car 2 days later. They might be neglecting the fact that the dark color on the can might channel the heat directly into the cola making it much hotter than the actual temperature of the car
June 27, 2007 at 3:21 AMI had a case of coke explode in my silver ‘93 Probe in like 94 or 95.
They were in the floor boards behind the passenger’s seat
I do not leave sealed containers under pressure in the car anymore
June 27, 2007 at 9:31 AMI’ve never seen cans of cola explode from heat before. Cold, sure. I’ve had that happen, where it was cold enough to start freezing.
July 7, 2007 at 3:34 PMi have a dodge ram 1500 and i had a can of dr. pepper in there that had explode sitting in my newborns car seat bass i think it depends on how big of an area the sun has to heat up to get the can to explode
August 9, 2007 at 12:12 AMI manage an autoglass shop and a customer called me in a panic . I went to the hotel where she was staying. An air freshner can had the bottom blown out , went across the dash board hit the steering wheel and almost all the way out through the windshield. I kept the can for years in my collection of odditys. I have never seen any thing like it since. It was a black car with a black interior and the can was on the dash board. It also took a small chunk out of the steering wheel. It takes alot of force to penetrate a windshield, especially with something the size of a can.
August 9, 2007 at 7:57 PMUnfortunately I missed the episode, but did you factor in the movement of the vehicles? This could contribute to pressure build up and when combined with the heat factor, the end result could be an exploding can. (Most of the previous comments mention items left in vehicles for a couple of days or while in motion until they exloded.)
August 10, 2007 at 9:31 AMI too have had soda cans “explode” in my car. I bought a 12-pack of soda and left it in my car trunk. The next day as I was driving when I heard popping sounds it occurred to me to check the trunk I found the 12-pack of soda was leaking. While the cans did not literally explode of the 12 cans of soda the top 8 cans were deformed by the reaction of the contents heating. They looked like someone had taken a stick and poked upwards from inside. On one can this deformation occurred right under the pop-top causing the can to open and spill its contents.
August 27, 2007 at 2:49 PMYesterday - 8/27/07 - I went into work at 12:00 eastern time and when I got back to my car at 5:15 eastern time the two cans of pepsi that I had JUST Put in the cair had exploded, the soda was all over my windows, my seats and everything. I am not sure if it is just that I live in Florida and have a black car or what, but it was quite gross to open my car to. The cans also were seriously deformed, the top of them had popped up like they were a volcano… so this myth obviously is not tested right by the Mythbusters…. becuse cans DO EXPLODE in the heat.
August 28, 2007 at 7:30 AMRe the Ice Bullet. Could this actually work if a non explosive weapon were to be used; for example a gas-powered or spring-powered gun. I have a vague recollection of spring-guns being used in the past and being outlawed for military use in the 19th Centrurty
September 20, 2007 at 4:12 AMThere were a bunch of coke cans in the back of my dad’s car. All 12 exloded. The sides were blown out and everything. Loook like some osycho took a stick and started jabbing the heck out of the cans. I’m not surprised though… the weather in Kentucky is crazy and anything can happen.
October 15, 2007 at 4:23 PMI agree with Kat. Shaking a can of pop does increase the pressure inside, which, when combined with the increased pressure from heat, could cause the can to explode. That might be the most likely explanation for the “when I was driving…” anecdotes.
October 25, 2007 at 1:28 AMI had a can of electrical contact cleaner explode in my 1987 Ford Ranger. Part of the can hit a piece of metal trim in front of the passenger area with enough force to dent it and knock it loose! The contact cleaner was not flammable.
December 13, 2007 at 3:29 PMConditions:
Vehicle parked in the sun.
Hot summer day in Maryland, Harford Co.
Windows up / doors locked.
No witnesses.
I have had several coke cans explode after being left in my car for only a couple of hours (i.e. getting to work at 7:30 and forgetting the can until 12:00pm at lunch). This has happened several times while my car has been parked in the parking lot of my office. I live in central Alabama and the can was in the cup holder each time. Therefore, it was unlikely to have suffered much agitation from the drive. Also, while I was working at an airfield in central Alabama, in the summer, I would often leave leftover pizza, wrapped in aluminum foil sitting on the dashboard and many times it was as hot as it would be has I placed it in the microwave for 40-50 seconds. The windows would be rolled up completely each time and the car was parked in direct sunlight with an average outside temperature in the mid to upper 90’s.
December 14, 2007 at 5:18 PMI would like to see the ice bullet myth retested with an air gun of some sort that would not create a hot explosion in a chamber, thus vaporizing the ice bullet.
December 26, 2007 at 11:52 PMWhile serving time in Iraq, I had a can of soda explode in our vehicle. So, technically yes, soda can explode in your car.
January 8, 2008 at 10:44 AMI wonder if a fire retardent wadding would be sufficient enough to protect the ice. All that should affect it then is barrel friction. A smooth bore shotgun with several types of wadding might prove better.
February 4, 2008 at 3:52 PMKeep Busting!
Namarie an si
Lance
Seems like i am not the only one who has had a soda can explode in their car. In my case the soda was there for at least 3 days. It was a cheap soda and my windows were up. I imagine it was 100 degrees fahrenheit outside or 38 C. How is it the Mythbusters got this one wrong?
April 14, 2008 at 7:54 PMActually, for all you Dan Brown skeptics, ice bullets do exist - and have done for at least 20 odd years. They are coated with glycerine to protect the projectile from heat during flight to target. Largest calibre I’ve heard of is 7.62mm. Max range is about 150 metres.
As to the storyline of ‘Deception Point’ (c), Delta using ice buckshot (I think), it is not too far fetched. After all, if we can have bullets made from ice, why not other munitions of a larger calibre?
The Priory of Scion and Corpus Dei - both exist, as does the Illuminati. I respectfully suggest you research St John Ambulance [surprise!], the Knights of the Templars, Maltese Knights, Knights of the Round Table [King Arthur], Spanish Inquisition etc, etc.
Everything can be traced back to the Holy Grail - be it a brother and sister or the cup which Christ allegedly drank from at the Last Supper or even Mary Magdelane as Dan Brown suggested.
April 15, 2008 at 2:27 PMA soda exploded in my vehicle yesterday — It was 104 degrees outside.
May 20, 2008 at 12:15 PMCans CAN, and WILL explode - and not jus t soda cans. We had a WD-40 can go through the windshild the other day. If you’ve never seen a pop can explode all over your trunk or car….you obviously have never parked your car in the southern midwest during the middle of the summer!
May 21, 2008 at 9:56 AMI just had a can of coke AND a can of sprite explode in my car. They were on the backseat of my firebird and it got up to 93 degrees outside, the sun was shining in and the windows were all the way up. Somehow or another, I’m now cleaning up soda on the floor, front windshield, rear window and all the seats. Soda cans CAN explode. I have the proof for anyone who wants it.
June 26, 2008 at 3:50 PM