Comments on: Episode 105: Viral Hour

By: Ron

Ron — Thu, 17 Jun 2010 14:53:07 +0000

In practical terms, no, Oxygen is not “flammable”. Go read any MSDS sheet on Oxygen and the flammability sections will be listed as “N/A”. It only forms one part of the three parts required for fire: Fuel, Heat and Oxygen. It is however a “Hazardous Oxydizer” and because of its potential to rapidly accelerate combustion, should be treated as if it were.

Also, I’ve never tried powdered rock or talc but I do know from personal experimentation that steel powder and steel wool burns nicely with a normal flame when provided just a little more Oxygen than is normally present in the atmosphere.

Of course, steel is sensitive to oxydation. It rusts. Maybe that’s the key, not the “flammability” of the powder’s source. If it oxydizes, it can burn.

By: Bob

Bob — Sun, 04 Apr 2010 01:21:21 +0000

Creamer is made of flammable substances like casein, sugar, and oil. Powdered rock, talc, etc. is NOT flammable. Only flammable substances are flammable when made into a fine powder.

By: Mister Whirly

Mister Whirly — Tue, 05 Jan 2010 20:51:29 +0000

Darlene-

It isn’t the creamer itself that is flammable – it is the fact the particles are so fine and small. Any fine powder is flammable.

By: Dukemd69

Dukemd69 — Mon, 28 Dec 2009 01:23:40 +0000

I have personally witnessed sparks emitted from an electrical outlet and a ceiling fixture during a thunderstorm. The former occurrence actually ignited curtains hanging over it. Did lightning cause these phenomena? Was this from poor grounding of the “lightning rod”?

By: Marc Barrett

Marc Barrett — Sat, 26 Dec 2009 03:53:29 +0000

Not a brick and a feather, but a hammer and a feather, in a vacuum.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5C5_dOEyAfk

By: darlene

darlene — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 19:34:30 +0000

I want to know more about why coffee creamer is explosive. Not being aware of this previously, I now question whether I should be swallowing it in my morning cup ‘o joe! And should I be keeping it away from my gas range??? – No warning on the label…..

By: John

John — Fri, 31 Jul 2009 20:06:23 +0000

You can’t charge an ipod with an onion for two reasons: no anode and cathode to form a voltage pair, but more importantly ipods talk to the charging equipment to make sure it can work with them. You can’t charge an ipod from a straight DC power supply: it has to be a computer or a charger that can act as a USB master. Other mp3 players can be charged directly from a voltage source, and would be better choices for the experiment, although it still won’t work unless you attached silver and copper wires to the + and gnd of the USB cable.

By: Ben

Ben — Fri, 29 May 2009 23:18:47 +0000

The cell phone popcorn thing has been declared false; some video editing tricks. Go here for the details: http://www.snopes.com/science/cookegg.asp

By: Gary Bohling

Gary Bohling — Sat, 11 Apr 2009 04:57:42 +0000

I find it hard to believe that a 5 pound dry chemical fire extinguisher will put out more Class A fire than a 2-1/2 gallon water fire extinguisher, as claimed by Underwighters Labitory. (Class A is wood and paper.) I would like to see Mythbuster confirm or bust this.

By: Alessio

Alessio — Sun, 01 Mar 2009 21:01:25 +0000

In the italian TV show “Scommettiamo che…?” (on italian TV RaiUno) firemans have lifted into the air a car with success!