Remember when you were a kid, and you had a chemistry set, and you didn't follow the directions, and you blew stuff up? Remember how much fun that was?
That's what Myth Busters is all about. (Wednesdays at 9 p.m. on the Discovery Channel)
Currently in its sixth season, this show tests urban legends and myths ranging from the entertaining to the absurd. The show always seems to involve some kind of carefully set up and filmed explosion. For example, Episode 89, "Exploding Water Heater," which originally aired on 11/7/07, tested whether an ordinary home water heater, if poorly maintained, could overheat and explode, turning into a rocket.
The short answer to the water heater question is "yes," but that doesn't do the show justice. Hosts Adam Savage and Jamie Hyneman have years of special-effects experience on both movies and commercials, and they clearly know their way around a workshop. They also have amazing chemistry (sorry, I've used that pun before, but it fits) and real charisma. Adam is the goofy one; Jamie is the lets-get-down to business guy.
For the record, when a 52-gallon water heater is pushed beyond its limit to something like 350 degrees F, not only does it give way, it will take out the structure it's in. They tested it and filmed it with a high speed camera. It was beautiful, and Adam giggled like a little girl. So did I.
That's what Myth Busters is all about. (Wednesdays at 9 p.m. on the Discovery Channel)
Currently in its sixth season, this show tests urban legends and myths ranging from the entertaining to the absurd. The show always seems to involve some kind of carefully set up and filmed explosion. For example, Episode 89, "Exploding Water Heater," which originally aired on 11/7/07, tested whether an ordinary home water heater, if poorly maintained, could overheat and explode, turning into a rocket.
The short answer to the water heater question is "yes," but that doesn't do the show justice. Hosts Adam Savage and Jamie Hyneman have years of special-effects experience on both movies and commercials, and they clearly know their way around a workshop. They also have amazing chemistry (sorry, I've used that pun before, but it fits) and real charisma. Adam is the goofy one; Jamie is the lets-get-down to business guy.
For the record, when a 52-gallon water heater is pushed beyond its limit to something like 350 degrees F, not only does it give way, it will take out the structure it's in. They tested it and filmed it with a high speed camera. It was beautiful, and Adam giggled like a little girl. So did I.
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