MythBusters Episode 14: Myths Revisited
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
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 PMYes, soda cans CAN explode in the car. I rarely drink soda, but I bought several 12 packs for my fiance who drinks it as if it were the only liquid on earth. I didn’t think heat would make them blow up (cold, yes); so I left them in the car for a two days since I didn’t want to lug them up to my third floor apartment. I went to get them today — HALF of the cans had the tops popped up, but not exploded. At least one exploded because it busted the box and messed up the inside of my car. When I brought the rest in the house, one exploded as I set it (set, not slammed) it on the counter. I blasted out of the box and splattered all over my kitchen. Needless to say, my fiance owes me big time.
August 6, 2008 at 4:51 PMhave had cans of soda explode in my car and a can of r-134a was working on ac an left the can in the hatch of a 280z directly in the sunlight an busted out the glass was also really hot out around 110
August 7, 2008 at 1:37 AMI did not see this episode, But a co-worker took me once that he had a can of CRC (like the WD40 story above) explode in his car one day (in Auckland, New Zealand).
August 23, 2008 at 6:56 PM(I can not remember the damage, if any – I just remember not to leave any CRC can’s in direct sun light in the car)
They need to revisit the can theory, I had a six pack in a cooler in my truck and thought it would be fine, came back a few day’s later and had a major mess, dried coke all over the windows, headliner, etc….everything was coated in nice sticky, dried coke. You couldn’t even see out the window. I hate to tell them this one is fact.
December 2, 2008 at 2:47 PMThe exploding soda can was revisted. This is a FACT that they can explode. When they did the experiement they did it in a stationary heated container. What if it was in a moving vehicle where the carbonation is getting more activated? Just like shaking a can and opening it. We had several cans explode in the trunk on a road trip cross-country, this was also in 1978. The soda manufactures have made improvements to their cans, so this could also be a fact finder.
December 11, 2008 at 5:56 AMI am a safety inspector for a major refinery and folks, cans DO indeed explode inside hot vehicles. The idea that it has to be moving is of no consequence, it may be somewhat contributory in some cases for obvious reasons but the fact that pressure builds up is apparent. I don’t have extended years experiance as a stunt guy but I do have over 20 years experiance as a safety manager and have seen more than a few cans of paint, cola, WD-40 and most any aerosol type can explode. Most with extreme effects on the inside of the vehicle. I even have pictures!
June 24, 2009 at 10:32 AMI had a can of “Fix-a-Flat” in the back of my car explode today. The can was stored below the trunk area of my Subaru Forester, near the spare tire. LOTS of damage under there…and a sticky mess that took 4 hours to clean out of the trunk. Vehicle had been parked in the hot sun for 8 hours, and I had driven it 2 minutes when it went off. VERY loud.
I think Mythbusters couldn’t get this to work because they were using an older car. You need a car less than 3 days old for this to work. :) Yes, I bought the car this happened to 3 days ago… Luckily it exploded in an area of the vehicle that acted as a sort of “bomb shelter”.
July 15, 2009 at 12:48 AMRE: exploding soda: I don’t know about that but I had a bottle of semi-sparkling muscat (which is carbonated) explode in the car.
July 26, 2009 at 8:23 AMThere is no doubt that soda cans can explode in a hot car. It’d be great for Mythbusters to determine the temperature at which this happens. I had about a dozen soda cans explode while driving through Death Valley in July in a van. The air conditioning was on full but it was ungodly hot — the air conditioning can only do so much — and I’ve always wondered how hot it actually was in that van.
July 27, 2009 at 3:50 PMI had a can of Fix-A-Flat in the back of my car, and it exploded yesterday and literally blew apart a paperback book that it was near. The weird part is, yesterday wasn’t the hottest day we’ve had this summer.
July 28, 2009 at 11:28 AMSo, yea, it is possible, I’ve got a sticky mess all over my car to prove it.
I live in Hawaii, and the temperature never gets much above 90 here and is usually in the 80s.
Last month, after I got home at around 1pm, I heard a sound like a heavy book falling on the floor. I walked around the kitchen where the noise had come from and heard dripping.
A can of caffeine free diet Pepsi (which was in a 12-can fridgepack in my pantry along with a dozen other such boxes) had popped open (the mouth of the can was pushed out) and sprayed out with enough force to wet the door of the pantry and the entire shelf it was on, as well as the puddle on the actual floor. Not cool.
Last Thursday it happened again. Same type of soda. Same shelf, even. This time I knew exactly what to look for and so minimized the mess.
My wife and I (she once had it happen, about three months ago, but didn’t find out until hours later and had a big mess to clean up and the shelves were permanently stained with the box artwork) think that this is probably due to heating and cooling of the cans, because it always happens right around the time our home is at around 80 degrees, and right about the time we’ve cranked the AC.
I can’t remember whether I’d opened the pantry or not those days, but I am positive that the cans were undisturbed for at least twelve hours prior to their explosion.
I could probably reproduce this on purpose if I set my mind to it, but not dependably, and I really don’t have that kind of time (or willingness to clean.)
Thank goodness it was diet, or we’d get bugs everywhere.
Diet Pepsi is more carbonated than most sodas, I believe, and maybe the caffeine free stuff is even worse or something (or maybe it’s just at an ideal height for this.)
In any case, MythBusters is so obviously wrong that I’m actually a bit ashamed of them. They’re hurting for material lately, so they should probably revisit this and reclaim their honor, in part.
August 18, 2009 at 6:27 PM