MythBusters (2008 season)


The cast of the television series MythBusters perform experiments to verify or debunk urban legends, old wives' tales, and the like. This is a list of the various myths tested on the show as well as the results of the experiments.

Episode overview


No. in seriesNo. in seasonTitleOriginal air dateOverall episode No.

Episode 95 – "James Bond, Part 1"

The MythBusters test various myths inspired by scenes in several James Bond movies.

Electromagnetic Watch

Propane Tank Peril

Speed Boat Survival

Episode 96 – "Lead Balloon"

The MythBusters, having already put the concrete glider through its paces, test another flight idiom.
Myth statementStatusNotes
A lead balloon cannot fly.BustedUsing lead foil, Adam and Jamie constructed a cube-shaped balloon with 10 foot edges out of lead. Even without pure helium inside it, the balloon was buoyant enough to support a basket along with some ballast.

Explosive Surfing

Episode 97 – "Airplane on a Conveyor Belt"

Shaving Cream in a Car

Cockroaches and Radiation

Episode 98 – "James Bond, Part 2"

Killer Hat

Jaws of Steel

Martinis: Shaken vs. Stirred

Though this is not actually a myth, the Build Team decided to test why James Bond prefers his martinis "shaken, not stirred."
Myth statementStatusNotes
There is a difference between shaken and stirred martinis.ConfirmedOn physical inspection, the shaken martini is cloudier because of the ice that was crushed because of the shaking, compared to stirred one, which is clear. But when the ice in the shaken martini melts, it is similar to the stirred martini. In a blind taste test wherein only Tory knew the clear shaken martinis and the stirred ones, Kari, Grant and the expert hired for the myth were able to correctly distinguish the shaken ones. Several explanations on why this is so were also given.

Episode 99 – "Viewers' Special 2"

Tree Machine Gun

Eye Black

Jeans High Wire Escape

Leaking Powder Keg

On the MythBusters fansite, the build team tested another short myth.
Myth statementStatusNotes
One can unlock a car door by having its remote unlocker frequency transmitted through a cell phone call.BustedWhen the unlocker was activated near the cell phone, the car door did not open on the other end. In addition, Grant explained that car unlockers and cell phones operate on completely different frequencies. A cell phone deals with frequency within the range of human speech, which is less than 10 kHz. So due to bandwidth restrictions, it would therefore be impossible to recreate the signal of the unlocker.

Episode 100 – "MacGyver Myths"

Bamboo Ultralight

MacGyver Challenge

Adam and Jamie were put under a battery of tests to prove that they could match MacGyver's ingenuity. They were not necessarily testing these myths to bust or confirm them, but whether they had the smarts and the ability to make them work without any preparation. In each test, Adam and Jamie had a one-hour time limit and could only use the materials that they were provided by Tory and Grant.
TaskStatusNotes
Picking a lock using light bulb filaments.PassWhile the show had MacGyver picking the lock in just 52 seconds, it took the MythBusters 52 minutes to pick the lock.
Developing film with ordinary household chemicals like ammonia and orange juice.FailBoth Adam and Jamie were placed in a room that had multiple household chemicals that included the necessary ones to develop photos. While Adam did have some experience in developing photos and could remember the necessary ingredients, he could not remember the exact process and the MythBusters were unable to develop the photos within the given time limit.
Creating a makeshift magnetic compass.PassAdam and Jamie built a makeshift electromagnet by wrapping wire around a metal screw and connecting it to some batteries. They then used the electromagnet to magnetize a paper clip, put the paper clip in a cork, and floated the cork in a cup of water to create a compass. While it was not perfect, it was good enough to direct the MythBusters to their next objective.
Creating a makeshift device that can go into the air and attract the attention of a passing helicopter.PassUsing materials found at an improvised "rebel camp," the MythBusters were left to try to create some kind of signal that would be visible in the air. Tory and Grant originally intended for Adam and Jamie to build a potato cannon and left the requisite materials, but the MythBusters had different ideas. They used a tarp, PVC pipe, and a rope to create a large kite, and though it took several failed attempts, they were able to get it to fly at a height of within minutes of the time limit expiring.

MacGyver Mini Myths

In the weeks before the broadcast of the MacGyver special, the MythBusters were advertising this special using the following mini myths.

Episode 101 – "Alaska Special"

The MythBusters went to Alaska as part of the Discovery Channel's Alaska Week.

Dynamite Dog

Cabin Fever

Moose Mayhem

Episode 102 – "''Shark Week'' Special 2"

This was a double length episode for Shark Week 2008 in which seven myths were tested.

Eye Gouge

Playing Dead

The myth was said to be borne out of claims from several survivors of the sinking of the.
Myth statementStatusNotes
In shark-infested waters, "playing dead" can aid a person in avoiding a potential attack.ConfirmedGrant and Tory took turns playing the "dead sailor" and the panicked sailor. The sharks seem to be interested in the panicked sailor more than the dead one, even when Grant and Tory switched roles.

Animal Magnetism

Dog Bait

Spicy Salsa Shark Shield

Fatal Flashlight

Fish Flap

Shark-Prey Vision

This was a web exclusive mini myth that Kari, Grant, and Tory tested.
Myth statementStatusNotes
A shark can see prey that are above the ocean's surface.ConfirmedKari and Tory threw fish into the water to attract sharks while Grant watched them from underwater for the control. Then, Kari held a fish on a pole one foot above the water. Within minutes, sharks began to notice and tried to bite it.

Episode 103 – "Exploding Steak"

Don't Drive Angry

Episode 104 – "NASA Moon Landing"

Announced by "This Week at NASA" on NASA TV on February 8, 2008. "The Marshall Space Flight Center hosted the MythBusters television show. The MythBusters chose Marshall as one of several NASA locations for an episode to debunk the notion that NASA never landed on the Moon. The cast conducted tests involving a feather, a weight, a lunar soil boot print, and a flag in a vacuum. A team of Marshall scientists helped with the tests."

Faked Photos

Myth statementStatusNotes
One of the NASA photos is fake because the shadows of the rocks and lunar lander are not parallel.BustedThe MythBusters built a small scale replica of the lunar landing site with a flat surface and a single distant spotlight to represent the Sun. They took a photo and all the shadows in the photo were parallel, as the myth proposed. They then adjusted the topography of the model surface to include a slight hill around the location of the near rocks so the shadows fell on a slope instead of a flat surface. The resulting photograph had the same shadow directions as the original NASA photograph from Apollo 14.
One of the NASA photos is fake because Buzz Aldrin can be clearly seen while in the shadow of the lunar lander.BustedTo test this, the MythBusters built a much larger scale replica of the landing site, including a dust surface with a color and albedo similar to lunar soil. The MythBusters then took a photograph which was nearly identical to the original NASA photo from Apollo 11. The MythBusters explained that the astronaut was visible because of light being reflected off the Moon's surface.

Vacuum Myths

In order to test these myths, the Build Team made a trip to the Marshall Space Flight Center to use one of their specialized vacuum chambers. The hammer and feather demonstration was not aired in the original episode due to time constraints, but can be seen as a supplement on the MythBusters website.
Myth statementStatusNotes
Footage of the American flag planted on the Moon shows it flapping, and a flag cannot flap in a vacuum, so it could not have been filmed on the Moon.BustedThe Build Team placed a replica of the American flag planted on the Moon into the vacuum chamber. They manipulated the flag in a manner similar to what the astronauts did when they planted the flag on the Moon, then stopped the manipulation. They first tested at normal pressure; the momentum moved the flag around somewhat but quickly dissipated. In pure vacuum conditions, after the manipulation stopped, the momentum caused the flag to flap wildly as if it were being blown by a breeze. This is because there was no resistance from air to dampen the motion. This proved that in a vacuum, a flag does not need wind to flap for a while after a person sets it in motion.
A clear footprint cannot be made in vacuum because there is no moisture to hold its shape.BustedThe Build Team first tested whether dry or wet sand made a more distinguishable footprint by stepping in them with an astronaut boot. It was clear that the wet footprint had more detail than the dry footprint. They then placed sand similar in composition to the soil on the Moon in a vacuum chamber and stepped on it with an astronaut boot, which made a clear print. The reason for this is that the composition of lunar soil differs from terrestrial sand, meaning it behaves differently when stepped on. Terrestrial soil is weathered and rounded, so the particles do not support each other's weight very well. Lunar soil, because it is not weathered, has a more jagged texture, so the particles "lock" with each other and will hold the shape of the imprint much more clearly.
In a vacuum, a feather and a hammer will drop at the same rate and hit the ground at the same time.ConfirmedKari first dropped a hammer and feather at atmospheric pressure, showing that air resistance caused the feather to fall more slowly than the hammer. However, when the test was repeated in the vacuum chamber, the hammer and feather fell at the same rate.

Slowed Film Fakery

Moon Laser

ClaimStatusNotes
The Apollo astronauts left special equipment on the Moon, like reflectors off which Earth-bound scientists can bounce lasers.ConfirmedThe MythBusters went to Apache Point Observatory, which is equipped with a high-powered laser. They first fired it at the bare lunar surface but did not detect the laser reflecting back. They then pointed the laser at a retroreflector left behind by Apollo 15 and received a confirmed reflection.

Episode 105 – "Viral Hour"

Despite the fact that most of the myths tested in this episode were confirmed, the MythBusters warned that not all viral videos are what they appear. They posted their version of the hoax Rubik's Cube viral videos online that showed Adam solving a Rubik's Cube with his feet while Jamie solved one blindfolded. In reality, they started with solved cubes and just manipulated them randomly. They then ran the footage backwards in order to give the illusion that they solved the puzzles. The illusion was partially achieved by having a crewmember walk backwards in the background so he would appear to walk normally in the final video.

Fireman's Lift

Fainting Goats

Sawdust Cannon

Invisible Water

iOnion

This was a myth based on a video posted on YouTube website. This myth was cut for time, which was why it was not shown in the actual episode. It was instead posted as a supplement on the MythBusters website.
Myth statementStatusNotes
One can charge an MP3 music player like an iPod by plugging a USB cable into an onion that has been soaked in electrolyte fluid for half an hour.BustedGrant tested this myth according to the process shown in the video, but was unable to get the iPod to charge. In order to confirm whether or not any charge was moving across the onion, Grant plugged a voltmeter into the onion, which indicated that there was zero charge in the onion. Grant explained that the basic idea would be that the electrolytes could be used as a sort of "wet battery", but the setup in the video lacked the vital anode and cathode, which would actually move the electrolytes. With this evidence, Grant declared the video a hoax.

Episode 106 – "Phone Book Friction"

Black Powder Shark

The Build Team received a request to test whether the final scene in the film Deep Blue Sea where the protagonists destroy the last shark with a harpoon gun, some gunpowder, and a car battery, was possible. To test these myths, Tory built a replica shark named "Hugo" out of foam.
Myth statementStatusNotes
Gunpowder can be set off by a car battery by using seawater to conduct the spark.BustedThe spark created by the car battery was not powerful enough to be conducted through seawater into the gunpowder.
A harpoon gun is accurate up to.ConfirmedTory was able to hit Hugo accurately in exactly the same spot that was shown in the movie.
Ten flares contain enough black powder for two and a half sticks of dynamite.BustedGrant first began by trying to take apart several tube flares, which took far longer than it did in the movie. After measuring the powder, the Build Team calculated that it would take at least 450 flares worth of gunpowder to equal two and a half sticks of dynamite, instead of the ten shown in the movie.
Two and a half sticks of dynamite will cause a tremendous explosion.BustedThe Build Team first tested this myth using a canister with the same dimensions as in the movie, which could only hold 28 grams of powder, which did not even disturb the surface of the water, and caused minimal damage to Hugo. Two and a half sticks of dynamite, was enough to blow up Hugo and cause a large explosion, but not anywhere near as large as seen in the movie. The Build Team also concluded that the size of the canister needed to contain two and a half sticks of dynamite would make the harpoon too heavy to hit a target away. Eventually, to produce an explosion of the movie's magnitude, of TNT was used.
A person can survive a large underwater explosion at a distance of.BustedThe Build Team tested this myth using rigs containing rupture discs that would burst if they were hit with a lethal pressure of. They placed several in varying distances from the explosion, and determined that a person would have to be at least away in order to have a chance of survival.

Episode 107 – "Water Stun Gun"

Fire Fables

Extinguisher Explosion

The Build Team tested whether the following fire extinguishers, if thrown into a fire, will explode and put out the fire.
Myth statementStatusNotes
A carbon dioxide fire extinguisher with a safety valve.BustedThe carbon dioxide fire extinguisher did not explode, due to the safety valve, and merely vented its contents harmlessly over a span of fifteen minutes.
A water fire extinguisher.BustedThe water fire extinguisher did better than the carbon dioxide fire extinguisher, but did not manage to extinguish the flames entirely.
A chemical foam extinguisher.PlausibleThe chemical foam extinguisher actually exploded, putting out the fire by scattering the fuel rather than actually extinguishing it.
A carbon dioxide fire extinguisher without a safety valve.PlausibleLike the chemical extinguisher, the carbon dioxide fire extinguisher exploded, putting out the fire by scattering the fuel rather than actually extinguishing it.

Fire Walking

Episode 108 – "Blind Driving"

Golf Galore

90% Air

Lightning Cleats

Gopher Goner

Episode 109 – "Ninjas 2"

This myth was revisited due to fan complaints that the bow was too close to the arrow catching rig, so the arrow was traveling faster than it would at a farther distance. Fans also pointed out many people who could catch an arrow on camera and wanted the MythBusters to bring one on the show.
Myth statementStatusNotes
A ninja can catch an arrow in mid-flight.BustedThe MythBusters first tested the speed of an arrow and showed that an arrow maintains its speed as far as because of its aerodynamic design. They then brought "The Arrowcatcher" Anthony Kelly onto the show and had him perform various tests. Anthony proved that he could catch tennis balls traveling at . They then had him try and catch an actual arrow, and Anthony succeeded in catching an arrow. However, at Anthony's request, the arrow had been fired below full strength and directly in front of Anthony. The MythBusters decided to redo the test by firing arrows at full strength from multiple directions. This time, Anthony had much more trouble and could only catch the arrows when he knew which direction they were coming from. Since Anthony was unable to catch the arrow in full combat conditions, the MythBusters considered the myth busted.

Special Forces Ninja's Revenge

Underwater Blow Dart

The One-inch Punch

Episode 110 – "Alcohol Myths"

Stone Cold Sober

Adam and Jamie tested several alleged methods for sobering up quickly. For each test, one of the co-hosts subjected himself to the remedy while the other did not, and both then traced a line pattern as quickly and accurately as possible. The difference in their performances was taken as the effectiveness of the remedy, although Adam also mentioned at the end of the experiment that their BAC measurements agreed with the differences in their performances as well. They tried to sober up by...
Myth statementStatusNotes
...drinking black coffee.BustedJamie and Adam's results were about the same, showing no change.
...exercising vigorously.PlausibleAfter running for five minutes on a treadmill, Adam's test had a remarkable improvement over the control test. During the test, Adam slipped and fell off the treadmill, but was not injured.
...dunking their heads in ice water.BustedThe results showed no effect.
...getting slapped in the face.PlausibleThe results showed a noticeable improvement.

Hwacha

The Hwacha is an ancient rocket launcher built in Korea based on earlier designs of ancient Chinese firearms technology such as the fire arrows that shoots in rapid fire sequence hundreds of rockets at once. The Build Team tested this weapon in 3 parts.
Myth statementStatusNotes
A Hwacha can fire 200 arrows at once at a range of and the arrows will explode on impact.ConfirmedFor the first stage, the Build Team tested whether an ancient rocket-powered arrow could travel 500 yards. They found an arrow could travel that far if enough powder is used. In the second stage, they tested whether an ancient arrow could be rigged to lethally explode. They found if packed right, an exploding arrow could inflict a mortal wound. They then moved to the third stage, where they actually built a hwacha to test if it could fire 200 arrows. During the test, the hwacha performed almost perfectly, firing 199 of the 200 arrows which all landed near the target army. With such conclusive results as well as historical record on their side, the Build Team declared the myth confirmed.

Episode 111 – "Motorcycle Flip"

This is a movie myth based upon a scene in Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade.
Myth statementStatusNotes
Throwing a wooden pole into the spokes of a motorbike's front wheel will cause it to flip.BustedThe MythBusters first obtained a bike similar to the type used during filming. They then built a mechanized rig that could fire a pole at the same speed a human can throw one. They found that it was possible for a human to throw a pole into the wheel and cause it to stop. They then attempted the full-scale test with a moving bike. At a speed of, the bike snapped the wooden pole without stopping. They then decided to redo the test, except with a steel pole. While the steel pole did stop the bike, it skidded instead of flipping, definitively busting the myth. The team analyzed the movie scene and discovered that explosives were used to flip the bike. They then built a mortar and used it to flip the bike in an elaborate recreation of the movie scene.

Prison Break

The Build Team tested whether or not a person can escape prison by using a rope made out of...
Myth statementStatusNotes
...toilet paper.PlausibleTory quickly found that toilet paper itself did not have very strong tensile strength, and decided to twist the toilet paper into multiple yarns to create rope. After creating the rope, Tory found that it would be strong enough to support his weight. During the actual test, the toilet paper was strong enough to hold his weight, only snapping when he swung on it for a few seconds after the test, but Tory had difficulty keeping a firm grip on it. However, despite that issue, the Build Team declared the myth plausible.
...bedsheets.ConfirmedGrant found that his bedsheet rope was incredibly easy and quick to make in comparison to the toilet paper and hair. Grant then tested his rope and found that the bedsheets were strong enough to hold his weight. During the actual test, Grant successfully managed to climb down the rope.
...hair.PlausibleIn order to make a rope, Kari braided numerous ponytails and braided them to other braids to create a rope. However, she had trouble getting her hair rope to stay together. Despite initial doubts, Kari managed to successfully climb down the hair rope. However, the Build Team declared the myth plausible since getting the necessary amount of hair to create a rope would be extremely impractical.

Episode 112 – "Coffin Punch"

Adam and Jamie take fan requests and determine if the following objects are bulletproof.
Myth statementStatusNotes
A police badgePlausibleFirst, a silver star was tested, but the bullet easily penetrated it. A star on a copper shield was tested, but it also failed to stop the bullet. Finally, a star on a nickel shield was tested. It was heavily deformed, but it caught the bullet.
An MP3 player/iPodBustedFiring an AK-47, Adam's second shot cleanly penetrated an iPod after his first shot only grazed it. The myth came from a story about a soldier in Iraq who survived when the iPod he was wearing was shot. However, he was also wearing body armor when he got shot.
3 pizza boxes in a warming bagPlausibleBased on a story that a pizza delivery boy survived a shotgun blast by holding his warming bag in front of him, Adam and Jamie first fired birdshot at a warming bag containing three pizzas, and it stopped all but six of the pellets. They then used buckshot which easily passed through the pizzas. To see how far the buckshot would penetrate, 5 warming bags, each containing 3 pizza boxes, were placed in front of the ballistics gel dummy. Buckshot was fired at it, and the shot made it all the way to pizza 14.
Human fatBustedDetermining that the largest layer of fat around a human would measure, Adam and Jamie placed that amount of human-temperature cow fat in front of the dummy. The bullet made it all the way through the fat easily.
Human muscleBustedUsing the measurements of a man with pectorals and biceps, Adam and Jamie placed of cow muscle in front of the dummy. The muscle failed to stop the bullet.
A mixture of cornstarch and water known as OobleckBustedAdam reasoned that this mixture's properties as a non-Newtonian liquid might allow it to stop a bullet. However, 6 thin bags full of the liquid failed to stop the bullet from a Glock pistol.
Bathroom tiles covered in a fiber-reinforced gypsum cementPlausibleJamie's attempt at a bulletproof material stopped rounds from a 9 mm pistol, a.45 caliber handgun, and buckshot. It failed to halt deer slug or rounds from a M4 Carbine.
A belt buckle PlausibleAlthough the bullet did pass through the belt buckle, a Deputy Sheriff who had been shot in the belt buckle and survived spoke with Jamie and Adam, saying the bullet caused a large bruise but lodged in his shirt.

Coffin Punch

Episode 113 – "End With a Bang"

You Can't Polish Poop

Better to End with a Bang

Episode SP12 – "Viewer Special Threequel"

Alkali Metal Mayhem

Brandy Warmer

Exploding Piano