Episode: Myths Revisited

Original Air Date: June 8, 2004

Myths: Revisits of Goldfinger, Peeing on the Third Rail, Chicken Gun, Cellphone Destroys Gas Station, Ice Bullet, Exploding Implants, Biscuit Bullet.

Revisited #1: Goldfinger

Myth: That people would die from their skin not being able to breathe if they were covered in gold paint.

In the first test Jamie was painted gold and they got some anomalous body readings but he was fine. Results: Busted.  Jamie's temperature was taken with a ear thermometer. This time around Adam's temperature is taken with a rectal thermometer. Adam shaves all the hair of his body and Jamie, with the help of Mythtern Christine Chamberlain on her first day, paint Adam gold. Adam's vital signs during the experiment are all normal.

Quote: Jamie "I'll get the lard."

Final result: Busted again

Revisited #2: Peeing on the Third Rail

Myth: That someone urinating on the electrified third rail with be electrocuted.

In the first test they found that a few inches from release the urine stream breaks up into droplets. The stream needs to be solid to carry the current. Myth busted. But viewers said they had received shocks while urinating on electric fences. Builders Tory Belleci and Kari Byron build an electric fence for the guys to pee on. Adam urinates on the fence and receives a shock. Fact remains that no one ever died from peeing on the third rail.

Final result: Busted again

Revisited #3: Chicken Gun

Myth: That thawed chickens cause less damage than frozen chickens when shot at airplane windows.

In test one the guys built their own chicken gun. They fired the chickens at cockpit windows. Problem: the windows they used are not rated for bird strikes. In test two they fired the chickens at a steel plate to measure impact. Result: no difference they said. The viewers said that's like comparing a cannon ball to lemon cream pies. For test three builder Scottie Chapman rebuilds the chicken gun. They fire the chicken gun at foam blocks to see how far the chickens penetrate. The result was that Jamie was very unhappy with the test. Test four: shot the chickens at panes of glass and see how many break. Thawed = 2 panes broken. Frozen = Goes right through, all twelve panes broken.

Final result: Plausible

Revisited #4: Cellphone Gas Station Explosion

Myth: Will a cellphone cause a gas station to explode?

The Mythbusters' research found that gas station fires are caused by static sparks not cellphones. Viewers said the guys had not used the cellphone at it's maximum power output, maybe metal from the antenna could cause a spark, or defective batteries shorting out could cause a spark. They tested for the maximum power output; it occurred when the phone first made contact, which is what they had said originally. They tested the antenna by stripping the coating off of it so it was down to the bare metal; no spark. They tried to short out a battery; no spark.

Final result: Busted again

Revisited #5: Ice Bullet

Myth: That a frozen water bullet can be shot from a gun and leave no evidence for the police to track.

When they tried this myth the first time they found that the heat from the gun would melt the ice bullet. Result: busted. But viewers said the Mythbusters were not freezing the bullets slowly enough. Tory Belleci and Kari Byron made new ice bullets; this time frozen slowly. The guys fire the new and improved ice bullet at a ballistic gel head. No projectile hits the head. Only steam comes out of the gun.

Final Result: Busted again

Revisited #6: Exploding Implants

Myth: At high altitude breast implants will explode.

In past experiments Jamie and Adam found no change in the implants at high altitude. Viewers said what about inflatable bras? A new altitude chamber was built. Two different types of bras were tested; one with air filled pockets and one with gel filled. Both bras expanded but didn't rupture. They found that even at twice the normal altitude that a airliner could fly, the bras would not explode.

Final result: Busted again

Revisited #7: Biscuit Bullet

Myth: Containers of biscuit dough will explode in a hot car and cause a woman to think she has been shot in the head.

The first time they did this myth the guys found that the dough will explode in a hot car but could not find any actual stories of it happening. This time the viewers said aerosol cans would explode if left in summer warm cars. Earl the Cadillac was put in the sun and the guys put various cans of potential explosives inside. Nothing happened. Adam and Jamie built a kiln to test some of the cans. First was spray lubricant - at over 320 degrees the can ruptured. Next was cans of cola - the can exploded at 300 degrees. Temperatures like these are far greater than a typical car left in the sun can reach.

Quote: Jamie with fire protection suit on, "I kinda like it in here. It's private."

Final result: Busted again