Episode: Animal Myths

Original Air Date: March 21, 2004

Myths:  No New Myths.  Clips from Chicken Cannon, Goldfish Memory, Duck Quack Echo.

Chicken Cannon

(Notice: In this version of the show, they do not have the famous argument between Adam and Jamie, nor the apology, nor Adam's famous "wardrobe malfunction" with his glasses.)


The Myth: NASA invented a chicken cannon to test bird impacts on plane windshields.  The British borrowed the idea to test bird impacts on trains.  There was a problem, however, when the chickens went crashing all the way through the windshields and embedded themselves in the seats of the train. The British wrote back to NASA, asking them for help, and NASA replied, saying, "Gentlemen, thaw your chickens"!  So, the guys decided the thing to do was test frozen vs. thawed chickens to see which had more impact when smashing through a windshield.

The Experts:

Dr Heather Joseph-Witham says that it is very common to have myths where one country makes fun of another, especially if the United States is involved. Bruce Brandford is the Punkin' Chunkin' Champion for 2002 and 2003. He has built big guns before, and he gives his seal of approval to the chicken cannon.

Memorable/Quotable Moments:

Jamie: (talking about the 7UP machine) It's fun, yet deadly (laughs) what else could you possibly want coming out of an effects shop?!

The Action/Results:

The guys buy a tank, and a part of an airplane to shoot at, along with some spare windshields. Then they put together the gun, aim it at the windshields of the plane, and fire!  They test the rig at several different pressures, but all of them are equally destructive. Then they find out that the windshields are not even rated for bird strikes. They decide to do it again, but this time they time the impact of the birds on a steel plate. They have exactly the same amount of impct, and so they decide that this myth is BUSTED!

Goldfish Memory

The Myth:

Goldfish only have a three second memory.  That is why it is OK to keep them in that little bowl.

The Experts:

Dr. Heather Joseph-Witham says that we tell this story to make ourselves feel better about keeping the fish in such small bowls.

Steve Murata (Nippon Goldfish Company) says that he has heard the myth and he believes it to be true.

Memorable/Quotable Moments:

Adam: So what you're talking about is not just a goldfish intelligence test, but a Mythbusters intelligence test as well!

Jamie: You could look at it that way.

Adam: (evil mad scientist voice) One that I think I will win!

The Action/Results:

The guys each get a tank and five goldfish.  Jamie makes a food holder out of orange plastic, and starts training the fish to eat from it.  Adam makes some clear plastic dividers and puts them in between the fish and the food. They spend 45 days training the fish to go through the maze, and finally Jamie's fish do it, in about 45 seconds.  Adam's fish (down to 2 from the original 5) "are eating their own poo", and get through the maze in 9-20 minutes. So, myth BUSTED!

Duck Quack

The Myth: Does a duck's quack echo?

The Experts:

Dr. Heather Joseph-Witham says that this is like "fax lore" - witty sayings and strange facts that circulate around offices.

Jim Reichardt has raised ducks for years, and he has never heard of this myth.

Roger Schwenke is an acoustician for Meyer Sound - he asks the boys to "silently induce a duck to quack"!

Memorable/Quotable Moments:

Jamie: Don't mess with me, duck - I'm the boss, here, don't give me any beak!

The Action/Results:

The guys call in Roger to help them test this myth.  First they try to catch a duck quack echo with the ducks in an open field - no dice.  Then they move inside, to the Meyer Sound studios. They test the duck quacking in an anechoic chamber, and in a big warehouse.  Finally,with a lot of patience and perserverance, they capture a duck quack echo!  Myth BUSTED!