Ask The Mythbusters

Who are the Mythbusters? Adam Savage and Jamie Hyneman are the hosts of a unique and popular television show on the Discovery cable channel. Working from a background in the special effects industry and shooting on location at effects warehouse M5 Industries, Jamie and Adam attempt to shed light on hearsay, rumour, and myth. Along the way they usually run across a little bit of science, too. Today, you have a chance to put questions to them. We'll take the 15 best questions and pass them on to the gentlemen to be answered sometime soon after the Thanksgiving holiday. One question per comment, please, and keep things topical. We'll post their responses as soon as we get them back, so ask away.

Comments

Favorites

[MikesOnFire]

Lets start simple -
What is your favorite Busted Myth and your favorite Confirmed one?

Re:Favorites

[kpwoodr]

The title of your show is "Myth Busters". That said it would seem to your benefit to have more bustable myths than not. Your reputation seems to be at stake with the need to stay above .500. Otherwise you might have to change the name of your show to something like "Myth Guys" or "Guys who sometimes bust myths, but only easy ones".

Are there any myths that the network won't let you have a crack at?

Re:Favorites

[Dasch]

Actually, when the Mythbursters invited the MIT guys to San Francisco, MIT's death ray apparatus didn't successfully set a ship on fire.

http://www.usatoday.com/tech/science/2005-10-22-de athray_x.htm

Re:Favorites

[Manitcor]

What your forgetting is the format of the show. First they take a myth and test it as closely as possible to the excat theme of the myth.

In this case the myth was that Arcamedies had an army of soliders with highly polished shields. On command the soliders directed the sunlight at the advancing ships. And burned to dust an entire fleet. No not one boat, but an entire advancing fleet.

This myth was quickly busted from the inital tests showing the diffcutly of having multiple people align thier mirrors in one spot.

Next they tested the 2nd myth which was similar claiming that arcamedies had a device with mirrors mounted to it which he used to direct the sunlight. As both mythbusters and MIT discovered, while possible to ignite or create smoke on an ship you have serious issues with mirror alignment and the movement of the sun. While it may be probale that a device like this was in fact constructed and even probable that it was used and may have even torched or at least set to flame one ship (ignoring factors like wet hulls, and having ideal conditions). The chances of someone even today taking out an entire fleet of advancing ships which would likely be spread across miles of shore line is so unlikely that it borders on completly impossible if not impossible.

Thus the myth was busted.

Often times people tend to forget what the myth actually was by the time they are at the end of the show. This was a problem with the eariler shows and if you notice in later shows the format is changed up a bit where they re-hash and re-explain the myth as well as why it was busted. To prevent this very problem.

Re:Favorites

[bataras]

It is impossible to prove a negative. When you do something like failing to flip a taxi with a jet engine and claim that busts the myth that a taxi can be flipped with a jet engine, do you feel you're misleading the public as to how science and logic work?

Your show is great fun to watch and all, but...

[bobertfishbone]

Have you ever been completely blown away by what you've found? Has there been an experiment where you two just sit back and say "Huh...who woulda thought?" Most of the myths are pretty easy to debunk, but I'm just curious as to whether or not there was actually one that you guys did that totally shocked you in being true.

Re:Your show is great fun to watch and all, but...

[Moofie]

Maybe in California. In America, they're perfectly legal.

Houston, we have a busted/confirmed myth

[richdun]

With an unlimited budget, what "myth" would you most like to test? How about using 1960s technology to try and land on the moon?

Re:Houston, we have a busted/confirmed myth

[Lord_Dweomer]

How about trying to find the WMDs in Iraq.

Re:Houston, we have a busted/confirmed myth

[nmb3000]

Good evidence that we truly never landed on the moon can be found here. Irrefutable if you ask me.

Myths that didn't make it.

[skywalker107]

What Myths have you tested that have never made it on the show? What about them made you and the producers decide they didn't qualify to go on the air?

Most Challenging Myth

[Winterblink]

What has been your most challenging myth to bust? And is there a particular myth you feel would be a challenging one to try taking on?

Injuries

[jacksonai]

What is the worst injury anyone sustained while trying to bust a myth?

Re:Injuries

[Ubergrendle]

On a related note...

Are there any myths that you would like to attempt to prove/disprove, but the risk involved is too great? Specifically, are there any scenarios that you can build sufficient saftey measures around that would allow you to test?

(Love your show, keep up the good work. One of the few things worth watching on Discovery anymore...)

busting myths mistakenly

[selil]

Have you all figured out yet that a Robin Hood (two arrows impacting the same spot) is actually possible? disgruntled archer.

Re:busting myths mistakenly

[SatanicPuppy]

I've broken the nock off more than a few arrows in my time, which, in this time of aluminum arrows, is about as close to "splitting" an arrow as you can get. If you're a good shot, and you're shooting at a small target it's not unlikely that you could hit an arrow that's already there. Basic probability distribution says that.

You'd have to be more uber than me to be able to do it repeatedly, or to hit the arrow on purpose, but I've known people who could hit their own arrow, given a few shots.

If I'd seen them prove that one "busted", I would have been peeved as well. In the era that they're referring to, in England, archery was the only allowed sport...I bet there were some damn ferocious archers, who could do things that modern sport hunters would not be capable of. They bow hunted for birds for christs sake.

Re:busting myths mistakenly

[dafz1]

In the test MythBusters did, they created a machine to fire the arrows following the human archer test, so that adjustments could be made to velocity, trajectory, etc. This was the device they used to put the tip of the broadhead against the nock of the arrow already in the target. As stated in my parent, all attempts at "splitting" arrow failed.

The one arrow they were able to somewhat damage, the problem was the arrow split following the wood grain of the shaft. Since all wood arrows have wood grain, they conclude that even if there was a direct tip to nock impact, there wouldn't be a "perfect" split.

Please watch Mythbusters Episode 36 "Killer Tissue Box", which will be re-broadcast Nov. 25, 2005 on the Discovery Channel @ 10am(EST). This is the episode that they "bust" this myth.

ultimate myth?

[Antonymous Flower]

What myth would the Mythbusters most like to investigate but lack the means to do so?

Cool

[JWW]

Mythbusters is a great show! Oh, yeah I should ask a question.

I understand completely why you guys warn us to "not try this at home". But who warns you guys?

Ok all joking aside. You guys do some really dangerous stuff on the show. What has been the scariest/ most hair raising moment on the show so far, a time when you might have thought "this is really going to hurt"?

Re:Cool

[AKAImBatman]

Whatever? Whatever?!? I don't think you realize the peril you place yourself in! Now the wrath of the First Church of Buster shall verily rain down upon you! Repent! Repent before you are smitten! ;-)

upside down car

[Marqis]

I heard that an F1 racing car has enough downdraft to drive upside down at speed. True or false?

Fact vs Fun

[elrick_the_brave]

When I watch your show, it's obvious that there is a lot of fun going on. Who wouldn't like blowing up, breaking down, stinking up, falling down, and all-around destroying everything?

For those of us not of TV-land.. how long does it take for you guys to produce an average episode.. how much of it is fun vs time spent working on getting it right?

Would you consider a contest to have a guest helper? (Not that I am plugging this potential guest helper at all.. no!).

Is it true?

[robyannetta]

Similar to a stunt in a famous James Bond film, can a person really be shot out of a submarine torpedo tube?

Oh this is an easy one...

[tgd]

What is Kari's phone number, and whats her favorite restaurant?

Re:Oh this is an easy one...

[Heliologue]

I agree. Actually, I'm surprised this thread hasn't been overwhelmed with drooling over this very subject. In a related but more serious note: I've noticed that Kari seems to get more and more screen time; disproportionately so. Is there a concerted effort to boost her involvement (and no one is questioning her skill or usefulness) as a way to appeal to fans who, well, want to know her (in the Biblical sense)?

Re:Oh this is an easy one...

[Durandal64]

And in this thread, we're busting the myth that Kari might actually be interested in random people posting on Slashdot.

Idea behind MythBusters.

[hal2814]

Did you guys come up with the idea for the show or was it presented to you? If you came up with it yourself, how?

Budget

[wobedraggled]

What is the most you can spend on one myth? What is the most spent so far on one myth? Thanks, and awesome show

q:

[TheBeardIsRed]

What was the pitch process like for the show and what myths did you propose to sell the TV execs on it?

Impact on the World

[verbatim_verbose]

Of all of the myths you have busted, has any one in particular stood out as changing the way much of the public thinks?

Gilligan's Island

[netglen]

QUESTION: Is it possible to create batteries out of coconuts like in all those episodes of Gilligan's Island?

Computer myths?

[Short Circuit]

Could you take on some computer myths? Like whether or not it was ever possible for a virus to destroy old monitors? It was rumored that if a virus could change the refresh rates to a too low or too high setting, you could fry some of the internal circuitry.

Re:Computer myths?

[harlows_monkeys]

We accidently destroyed the monitor on a "Battlezone" arcade game by putting it in some kind of out-of-spec mode. We were trying out a bug that we'd heard could crash the game (with the permission of the owner, who was curious and watching). Basically, you get down to your last tank, and then keep dodging shots until the game sends a missile. You time it right so that when the game takes away the enemy tank and replaces it with the missile, there is a last shot from the enemy tank still in progress, and you run into that shot and die.

What happens then is the game goes into demo mode. However, that missile is still there, and it kills the demo tank. The game then crashes, as the demo mode code did not expect the demo tank to die.

What happened in our case was the monitor then went freaky, and that distinct smell and smoke that you get when a monitor fries appeared.

We wanted to try this again after it was fixed to see if it was reproduceable, but the owner was against it as none of us could afford to cover the damages if it happened again (we were all poor college students).

Critique

[CrazySailor]

How would you address the critique that you excessively extrapolate from a single data point to a generality?

In particular I refer to a show where you were examining fuel mileage on SUVs with windows open vs. air conditioning. As an engineer, I believe that you failed to conduct adequate experimentation to demonstrate anything other than results at a single data point and you didn't make that clear to your viewers.

Source Material

[DigitalSorceress]

I've been a fan since your first season, and in that time, you've covered quite a few of the big, classic myths and legends. Are you ever concerned that you'll "use up" all the best source material, sort of running out of steam as it were? or is the internet such a fertile ground for kooks and bad jokes that you figure you can go on indefinitely (or at least until you accidentally cause the spontaneous destruction of the universe while trying to prove a theory about the second gunman in the Grassy Knoll)

To the Mythbusters whom it may concern-

[dslauson]

Dear Mythbusters-
It seems like it must be tempting to definitively call a myth "busted", even though the reality is that you just couldn't duplicate the results. Whether something is fact or fiction, scientifically a myth probably shouldn't be considered "busted" unless you have empirically show it to be implausable.

You guys generally do a good job of this, though on occasion I've seen an episode where you seemed a little premature. What can you say about where you draw the line, and do you feel like you generally do a good job of following the scientific method to get your results?

Also, can you get me that redhead's phone number?

Kari and Grant

[GigsVT]

Are Kari and Grant a couple? I noticed Grant let Kari use his TI-30Xa calculator. I can't imagine such a sacrifice would be made lightly.

Strictly speaking ...

[s20451]

Let me firstly say that I like your show as entertainment. However, I do not like it as a form of true skepticism or as science. What you do is fun and interesting, but it is not rigorous. I'm thinking particularly of the time you tried to flip a taxi with a jet engine, which failed on your show, but which actually happened in real life. So it's not obvious that a failure on your show means anything.

My question is this: are you taking yourselves too seriously as "myth busters"? (And a suggestion: why not let a physics prof supervise some of your stunts?)

Blasting Zone Myth

[fatboy]

Hey guys, love the show. I was wondering why you have not tackled the "Blasting Zone" myth. You know, were you are asked to turn off 2-way radio equipment and Cell Phones when passing through a "Blasting Zone". I ask this because several years ago there was an accidental blast in my home town and many speculated on the radio that it was caused by RF from a cellphone. Several of us amateur radio operators kind of laughed at that because there are few guys that supposedly tried to set off a blasting cap with radios, just to see if it could be done. They went so far as to even wire the blasting cap into a 100 watt VHF (low band ~50Mhz) radio's antenna jack. Nope it didn't go off. Using inverse square law, it seems very unlikely that a cellphone or 2-way radio could set off a blasting cap at any distance.

Budget restrictions?

[Mr Bill]

What sort of budget limits do you guys have for your show these days? I remember seeing some earlier episodes where money really seemed to be an issue (spending an extra $700 on helium for the weather baloon lawn chair seemed to cause some concern). Whereas these days you guys seem to have no problem blowing up cement trucks or catapulting a boom lift.

As a corollary: Which experiment(s) ran rediculously over budget, and which one was surpirisingly cheap to pull off?

From the Front vs. From Behind

[unipus]

Hey guys, great show! Just wondering, what's are the best and worst aspects of moving from behind the scenes to in front of the lens?

Question

[lunchlady55]

What is the most tedious part of busting myths? I'm sure alot of the fun and games gets on camera, but what are we not seeing and why is it still important?

Myths you cannot do?

[jessejay356]

Have there been any myths that were either too expensive or dangerous that you just would not do?

Are you Scientists or Special Effects Builders?

[arnie_apesacrappin]

When watching the show, the introduction emphasizes your experience in the special effects industry but I think I recall you referring to yourselves as scientists on occasion. The reason I ask for clarification is that you routinely ignore good scientific methods. The best example I can think of off the top of my head was the windows down vs. air conditioning myth. I know you revisited the myth, but your initial tests were poor science at best. Couldn't you have some sort of science advisor to at least make sure that there is some sort of logical sense to your experiments?

Even with my harsh comments, I'm not disrespecting your show. I have it setup to record on my DVR every week. I mostly enjoy the shows but occasionally your lack of scientific method is maddening. I realize you are probably cutting a lot out for the sake of TV, but could you at least point out that there are some possibilities you aren't testing?

Repeatable Experiments

[Aggrazel]

I'm a father of a 7 year old who absolutely loves your show. We have it on our tivo and I'm constantly pausing the show to ask him what he thinks will happen in your experiments.

You start every show with "Don't try this at home" but sometimes there are experiments that you do which you could try this at home. Have you ever considered having a show where you say, "DO Try this at home?" Its fun to see my child get such a love of science in such a fun way.

Scientist on staff?

[caveat]

I've noticed you guys have a regard for the scientific method, and make quite an effort to try and keep things controlled with regards to how you run your experiments and derive your conclusions. Have you ever considered bringing a formally trained scientist onto the crew to make sure you're going "by the book", so to speak?

M5 Industries

[JBMcB]

Are you still doing special effects for commercials and/or movies, or is Mythbusters your full time job now? Have your mythbusting experiments helped out with your special effects work?

This happens all the time

[neile]

In last week's episode Adam was specifically saying how the myth they were testing (tailgate up or down for better fuel economy) was one of the experiments where the result totally surprised them.

The same episode also had them surprised that a finger in the barrel of a gun, even though it couldn't stop the bullet, would actually cause enough pressure buildup to deform the gun barrel at the tip.

Neil

Who would you rather have on your team

[AngryMuppet]

BA Baracus or Angus MacGyver?

Blows Me Away

[TubeSteak]

Have you ever been completely blown away by what you've found

Well, there was that one show where they had they FBI hook them up with several TONS of high powered explosives.

Then they used it to make a cement mixer truck dissappear.
Here's the video (CoralCDN to the rescue)

That pretty much blew me away.

Guests on the show

[LMac]

Have you ever considered having "Guest Busters"? For example if a viewer suggests a good myth to bust and it makes the cut, they get to come on the show and help you guys out.

I have a question for the Mythbusters.

[sgant]

Is it true that Athena really came out of Zeus' head? I find that really hard to believe because we all...oh, what's that? Not that type of myth?

Never mind then...oh, and great show!

Shown vs. Not Shown

[Craig Maloney]

Hi Guys,

Has there ever been a segment that you wish had been shown, but didn't make the cut? Conversely, was there a segment that did make the final show that you wish had not been shown?

Forget Mythbusters...

[TheRealMindChild]

What everyone REALLY wants to know is (several questions, but one answer can nail them all):

- Would you choose to be a Super Hero duo, or a pair of villains, which would you be?
- Would they be original characters, or someone/something that already exists?
- Would you wear tights?
- WHY?

I'll second this!

[raygundan]

I love the show, and maybe this would ruin the show's mainstream appeal, but I'd LOVE to have a couple of resident Physicists and Engineers advising them to get more rigorous results. Things get waaaaay too oversimplified.

To add to your jet engine example, my biggest gripe was always their "windows down vs. AC" gas-mileage test. All their test could possibly show was that at the one tested speed in the one tested vehicle, that's what happened. Even their retraction and correction later was oversimplified-- they explained that at some point, the speed of a vehicle becomes great enough that the AC wins over the windows-- but they acted like that number is the same for all cars regardless of all the other variables. (engine size, AC design, window size and position, and overall aerodynamic shape, to name a few)

Insurance issues

[mattegger]

Last year I heard an insurance underwriter speak about the challenges of covering reality TV. I don't want to lump your program in the same category of "reality" TV, but he did mention that there were shows or specific stunts that he was not able to cover. Have you ever been unable to debunk a myth because of liability/insurance reasons?

Brings to mind my question...

[_xeno_]

Given that you often refer to getting "lots of angry emails" based on the show, why would you agree to do an interview with one of the websites that's frequented by the type of people that generate most of that angry email? Are you hoping that they'll waste time posting comments and that you can let the moderators get rid of them as opposed to your staff?

Oh, and can you get Discovery to show the show at some time other than 9:00PM EST on Wednesdays? I have a commitment then and always have to miss it. (Silly family.)

Bloopers!

[binaryDigit]

You guys should easily have enough blooper material to fill a show by now, let's have it.

So, barring, that, my question would be, what are your top 5 "oops" incidents that never made it on to the screen?

Bust this myth

[DaFallus]

Is it true that if I give $8000 and all my banking information to Sumbawi Katangi at First Nigerian Bank I will inherit Prince Muntu's $8 million fortune?

How does it make you feel...

[iotashan]

How do you feel when you've finished exploring a myth in front of the cameras, knowing that your results are being closely scrutinized by geeks worldwide, and, in a lot of cases, by experts in their respective fields?

working at M5

[kin_korn_karn]

How do you recruit talent for M5? What qualifies someone to work there?

Re:Your memory is faulty

[Andrewkov]

Yep, here's the website of the guy that can break a crystal glass with his voice (without an amp). http://www.thevoiceconnection.com/ There's lessons and stuff there in case you're interested in singing.

Ballistics Gel

[tdischino]

What's the naughtiest/kinkiest thing you've ever molded with Ballistics Gel?

Myths to avoid?

[immel]

I've seen a lot of questions so far about myths you would like to do if you had an unlimited budget, if you were invincible like Superman, or if danger to people, property, or reality in general was no object. But is there a myth that you would NOT do even if you had all those things? Do you believe that there are myths that are better left unsolved or too controvertial (basically flamebait myths)?

REJECTED MYTHS?

[RUFFyamahaRYDER]

It seems like you guys are willing to try to bust any myth, but there have got to be some myths out there that you are too afraid to attempt to replicate. So my questions is:

What are some of the rejected myths that were too dangerous to pull off and why?

BTW - Thank you for having a great show that is both entertaining and educational.

Libility aside....

[DarthVain]

What is the stupidest thing either of you have done for the show? or conversly what was the stupidest thing that you almost did, and at last minute were like "Hmmm maybe not such a good idea..."?

Which is actually cheaper, soda or ice?

[Deven]

Most restaurants seem to believe that ice is free, and therefore tend to overfill the ice to save money on soda. However, the energy required to freeze water to make ice should be considered -- is the real cost of ice actually less than the cost of an equivalent volume of soda?

Will the new San Francisco gun laws change show?

[Kodack]

San Francisco recently put a ban on hanguns in the city limit. People are not allowed to own, possess, manufacture or sell firearms within the city anymore. Several episodes involve busting firearms myths. How will this new law affect the show? Michael Scott Plano, TX

Myth-ing Proof

[caffeinebill]

Are there any myths you would love to test/bust/confirm but it is not possible to prove/disprove it? For example, have you pondered the myth that NASA filmed the landings on the moon in a studio?

Worst Fallout

[theonetruekeebler]

Okay, there are a lot of people and companies who have invested heavily in the credibility of various myths and bogosities. Some of them are scammers, and some are true believers.

What Busting has had the most dramatic fallout for companies and people who've relied on the Myth being true?

And while we're out it, how many times have you been sued or threatened with lawsuits?

Previous interview

[dimator]

It's too bad this chat transcript was not linked in the story, because it covers a lot of the more common questions.

Energy drinks

[TheGSRGuy]

Red Bull, Monster, Rockstar, No Fear...there's tons of these so-called "energy drinks" on the market. But do they even have any tangible effects? What's really happening to me for $2.49? Is it just an overpriced can of soda?

Changes in billing and useage of Kari

[Schnapple]

I noticed that in the more recent episodes instead of just Jamie and Adam in the "Who are the Mythbusters?" section of the opening credits, you also have Grant, Kari and Tory listed. It's still the two of you who get the iconic billing, but why the change? Are they more than just "Mythterns" now? (i.e., permanent cast members)

Also my Wife noted "boy they don't really make any bones about using Kari for sex appeal" and not that I mind one bit but I did notice that even before changes in billing and the departure of other female Mythterns, Kari was pretty much like the third host of the show. Were I to guess I'd say her increased useage on the show was Discovery's idea (since the audience is probably mostly male) - is there any concern about using her too much?

To expand on that question...

[Pollux]

I remember the episode where you were trying to make the Intrepid taxi tip over using a jet engine, but were unable to use a commercial 737 jet due to "safety concerns" with your insurance company.

What is going on behind the scenes that we don't see on camera to keep all your stunts and myth busting as safe as possible? Also, after seeing you turn a hydrolic lift into a catapult (hoisted up on empty shipping cargo crates, no less), how can a commercial 737 jet be considered unsafe?

Bittorrent

[boatboy]

First make sure the lawyers aren't around, then answer this one: Your show is available on bittorrent networks to download and watch when/where it's more convenient. Some users, however, could download the show without paying for it via cable service. How do you personally feel about this? (Cheated\Angry\Flattered\What's A Bittorrent?)

Migratory Coconuts

[dj245]

I've always wondered if Coconuts really migrate or if a swallow could carry one. Maybe if two of them carried it on a sort of line...

How many times...

[jav1231]

I'm curious as to how many "You busted this myth, but my cousin's best friend's brother actually had that happen to him!" responses you get.

About the 'science' used in the show

[Kickassthegreat]

I have heard several times of supposed myths which were 'Busted' on your show, only to be refuted by scientists, educators, government officials, etc.

A particular incident of this which comes to mind was the 'myth' of 'Urinating on the Third Rail', which had been 'Busted' on the show, but which was later refuted by officials from a large city (I believe it was New York) who stated that several people each year are electrocuted by contact with the third rail in their subways, and felt the show had misportrayed the safety hazards of contact with a third rail.

What efforts do you take to ensure that the science of the tests you are performing is valid? Do you have any sort of outside independant review (similar to a scientific peer review process), to ensure that you are not accidentally miseducating the public (either about potential real dangers, or simply by teaching bad science)?

Van Eck Phreaking!

[zonix]

Could you take on some computer myths?

Oooh, how about Van Eck Phreaking? Not exactly a myth, but wouldn't it be cool?

Would it be allowed even?

z

Safety versus Ratings

[pisces22]

How much pressure do you feel to test more and more dangerous myths in the pursuit of ratings and have your safety standards changed at all for the sake of "good TV"?