Mythbusters Jr. (2019–…): Season 1, Episode 3 - Battery Blast - full transcript

♪♪

♪♪

-OH! IT'S ON FIRE!
-IT'S ON FIRE!

Narrator: ON THIS EPISODE
OF "MYTHBUSTERS JR."...

I'M DRESSED FOR FIRE!

...VALERIE,
CANNAN AND JESSE...

WAIT!

...SNIFF OUT A POTENTIALLY
SERIOUS SANITATION SITUATION...

-OH!
-OH!

THAT A LITHIUM-BASED BATTERY
THROWN IN THE TRASH...

Jesse: WE HAVE A FIRE!



...CAN END UP SETTING OFF
A CATACLYSMIC CHAIN REACTION

OF EXPLOSIONS AND FIRE...

WE HAVE A TRASH FIRE!
-YEAH!

...INSIDE A GARBAGE TRUCK.

OH!
THERE'S ANOTHER ONE!

LIKE POPCORN FROM HELL.

Narrator: WHILE ALLIE,
ELIJAH AND RACHEL...

I DID IT!

Narrator: ...PUT THE PHRASE
"STRAIGHT AS AN ARROW"...

I THINK THIS CROSSBOW WILL SCARE
THE ARROW INTO FLYING STRAIGHT.

Narrator: ...TO A LITERALLY
LEGENDARY TEST.

I ALMOST CRAPPED MY PANTS.

SO MUCH POWER!

-WHAT?!
-DID IT DO IT?



-NO WAY.
-DID IT DO IT?

♪♪

[ LAUGHS ]

YES, I'M BACK...

WITH A BRAND-NEW TEAM
OF THE BEST BUILDERS...

...THE BRIGHTEST MINDS...

...AND THE BOLDEST BUSTERS
I COULD FIND.

YES.
THEY'RE A BUNCH OF KIDS.

BUT THE MYTHS...

HA! THEY ARE AS FULL-SIZED
AND AS EXPLOSIVE AS EVER.

THIS IS "MYTHBUSTERS JR."

OH!

CAPTIONS PAID FOR BY
DISCOVERY COMMUNICATIONS

♪♪

HERE IS THE SCENARIO --

AMERICANS THROW OUT
OVER 3 BILLION BATTERIES

INTO THE TRASH
EVERY SINGLE YEAR.

IMAGINE A SINGLE LITHIUM-BASED
BATTERY CATCHES FIRE,

AND THE FIRE SETS FIRE
TO OTHER LITHIUM-BASED BATTERIES

IN THE SAME GARBAGE TRUCK,

WHICH EXPLODE IN A CHAIN
REACTION LIKE POPCORN FROM HELL.

DEFINITELY NOT GOOD
FOR THE GARBAGE TRUCK.

-OR THE GARBAGE MAN OR WOMAN.
-INDEED.

OKAY, SO BIG QUESTION --

WHAT CAUSES A LITHIUM
BATTERY TO IGNITE?

THAT, I THINK, IS THE VERY FIRST
THING WE SHOULD ANSWER.

♪♪

Narrator:
THEY WON'T HAVE TO LOOK FAR

TO FIND DISCARDED BATTERIES,

SO LONG AS SOMEONE IS PREPARED
TO GO DUMPSTER DIVING.

OH!
JESSE GOT THE SHORT STRAW.

YOU'RE GONNA WANT THESE.

OH, YES.

I HOPE
HE FINDS SOMETHING.

I LIKE TO CALL THIS MYTH
"HOT GARBAGE."

WE ALL KNOW THAT YOU SHOULDN'T
THROUGH BATTERIES IN THE TRASH.

IF YOU DIDN'T KNOW, NOW YOU DO.

-OH!
-AWESOME!

HERE YOU GO.

TO HELP US DO RESEARCH
ON THIS SUBJECT,

WE HAVE ENLISTED THE SERVICES
OF A STANDOUT PhD STUDENT --

CANNAN'S 16-YEAR-OLD BROTHER,
CARSON.

HE'S A COLLEGE GRAD
WORKING TOWARDS HIS PhD AT 16,

AND CANNAN IS A COLLEGE
SOPHOMORE AT 12!

THAT'S MORE COLLEGE THAN I HAVE.

Narrator: FOR CARSON,

ELECTROCHEMICAL PROCESSES
ARE NO BIG MYSTERY.

ESSENTIALLY THE FIRST THING
WE'RE GOING TO WANT TO LOOK AT

IS WHAT'S GOING ON
INSIDE OF THE BATTERY.

Narrator: FOR THE REST OF US,
HERE'S THE SIMPLE VERSION --

DIVIDING THE CELL IS
AN ULTRA-THIN PERMEABLE MEMBRANE

THAT ALLOWS LITHIUM IONS TO PASS
BETWEEN THE CATHODE

AND THE ANODE SIDES,
DISCHARGING STORED ELECTRICITY.

WHEN THE SEPARATOR RUPTURES,

IT STARTS
AN EXOTHERMAL REACTION,

WHERE THE TEMPERATURE
SPIRALS OUT OF CONTROL.

SO THE ONLY THING

KEEPING A LITHIUM BATTERY
FROM EXPLODING

IS THIS 10-MICRON-THICK
THING,

AND IF IT GETS BREACHED,
ALL HELL BREAKS LOOSE.

RIGHT. IT'S SO THIN,

THAT IF WE HAVE
ANY HEAT OR PRESSURE

APPLIED TO IT
IN THE POINT THAT IT CRACKS,

WE'RE GOING TO REACH
WHAT'S CALLED THERMAL RUNAWAY.

THIS REACTION GOES
COMPLETELY VOLATILE,

TO A POINT WHERE IT REACHES
OVER 1,000 DEGREES FAHRENHEIT.

WHOA!

Narrator: THE THREE
MOST COMMON CAUSES

OF EXPLOSIVE BATTERY FAILURE
ARE PRESSURE OR PUNCTURING,

EXPOSURE TO HEAT,
AND EXPOSURE TO MOISTURE.

WELL, ANY ONE OF THESE MODES

CAN ACTUALLY HAPPEN
IN A GARBAGE TRUCK.

YEAH, I THINK THE NEXT STEP
IS PRETTY CLEAR.

LET'S GET SOME BATTERIES
AND APPLY

THESE COMPROMISED
SITUATIONS TO THEM,

AND HOPEFULLY
WE'LL BE WITNESSING

SOME SPECTACULAR
FIREWORKS.

Carson: YEAH.

SOUNDS LIKE MY KIND
OF EXPERIMENT.

Narrator:
FOR ROBOTICS EXPERT VALERIE

AND MECHANICAL WHIZ JESSE,

BUILDING A SERIOUS
BATTERY BASHER

IS RIGHT UP
THEIR RESPECTIVE ALLEYS.

TALKING TO CARSON
HAS MADE ME REALIZE

HOW EASILY YOU COULD
BLOW UP A BATTERY.

I MEAN, LITHIUM-BASED BATTERIES
ARE EVERYWHERE,

TO YOUR LAPTOP, CELLPHONE
OR EVEN YOUR TV REMOTE.

I'M EQUALLY EXCITED AS I AM
TERRIFIED TO TEST THIS MYTH.

Narrator:
POWERED BY COMPRESSED AIR,

THIS CAR JACK BUILT
INTO A BOX FRAME

HAS ALREADY BEEN CHRISTENED
"THE MUNCHER."

ALL RIGHT.
NICE WORK.

READY TO CRUSH
SOME THINGS?

-YES.
-ALL RIGHT.

EVERY ONE OF US IS FAMILIAR
WITH THE PHRASE

"STRAIGHT AS AN ARROW."

WHEN IT'S USED TO DESCRIBE
A PERSON,

WE MEAN SOMEBODY WHO IS
HONEST, GENUINE AND TRUE.

WHEN USED LITERALLY, WE MEAN
SOMETHING THAT FLIES

IN A PERFECTLY STRAIGHT,
UNWAVERING FLIGHT,

BUT DOES AN ARROW
TRULY FLY STRAIGHT?

WE'VE ALL SEEN MOVIES
IN WHICH ARCHERS

AIM THEIR LONG BOWS IN HIGH ARCS
OVER ANCIENT ARMIES.

THOSE AREN'T FLYING STRAIGHT,
SO CLEARLY WE'RE TALKING

ABOUT A SHORTER-RANGE TARGET
SHOOTING KIND OF SCENARIO

FOR TESTING THIS STORY.

Narrator:
THIS ISN'T THE FIRST TIME

THE MYTHBUSTERS HAVE DABBLED
WITH BOWS AND ARROWS.

BEST REMEMBERED AS THE ROBIN
HOOD MYTH OF ONE ARROW

SPLITTING ANOTHER CLEAR
DOWN THE MIDDLE.

I DIDN'T SPLIT THE ARROW,
BUT I SPLIT THE FEATHERS.

WOW.
LOOK AT THAT.

THAT'S GETTING
REALLY CLOSE.

Narrator:
THIS ONE WAS PARTIALLY BUSTED.

IT WORKED WITH A SHAFT
OF FIBERGLASS OR BAMBOO...

WE'RE GONNA PUT THE MACHINE
RIGHT ON IT,

FIRE IT, AND SEE IF THAT IS
ABLE TO SPLIT AN ARROW.

Narrator:
...BUT NOT WITH WOOD.

I'M THINKING THIS IS BUSTED
RIGHT HERE, PERSONALLY.

TO HELP OUT WITH TODAY'S MYTH,
ADAM'S WRANGLED A MAN

WHO DEFINITELY KNOWS ONE END
OF AN ARROW FROM THE OTHER.

Adam:
BYRON FERGUSON IS WORLD-RENOWNED

AS ONE OF THE BEST MARKSMEN
IN THE HISTORY OF ARCHERY.

HE IS DEFINITELY SOMEONE
WHO WILL HIT

WHATEVER HE IS AIMING AT.

AS FAR AS WHETHER OR NOT
THAT ARROW IS FLYING TRUE,

WELL, HE'S ALSO THE BEST PERSON
TO HELP US ANSWER THAT QUESTION.

Narrator: THE MASTER ARCHER IS
READY, WILLING AND VERY ABLE.

ALL RIGHT, BYRON.
FIRE WHEN READY.

WHOA.

Narrator:
IT SEEMS A NO-BRAINER

TO CALL THAT SHOT
AS STRAIGHT AS AN ARROW

UNTIL RACHEL HITS PLAY
ON THE HIGH-SPEED.

Rachel: IT LOOKS LIKE THIS ARROW
ISN'T FLYING VERY STRAIGHT.

Elijah: IT'S, LIKE, BENDING
AROUND THE FRONT OF THE BOW.

IT'S LITERALLY
LIKE A NOODLE!

THAT'S MOVING A LOT MORE
THAN I THOUGHT IT WOULD.

Narrator: PROBING THIS MYTH

SUDDENLY GOT
A WHOLE LOT MORE COMPLICATED.

COMING UP...
THEY'LL TRY TO CRACK

THE CONUNDRUM
WITH A PRACTICAL CHALLENGE

THAT'S GOT EVEN BYRON QUIVERING.

THEY SAY IT'S IMPOSSIBLE,
SO GOOD LUCK, BRO.

Ferguson: NOW I KNOW SHOOTING
THROUGH A 3-INCH RING

SHOULDN'T BE A VERY HARD SHOT.

SHOOTING THROUGH 12 OF THEM?

IT'S A VERY HARD SHOT.

Narrator: AND TEAM TRASH
PILES ON THE PRESSURE TO SEE

JUST WHAT IT TAKES
TO START A BATTERY BONFIRE.

-WHOA!
-WHOA!

THAT HAPPENED
AWFUL QUICKLY.

Narrator:
TO CHALLENGE THE MYTH

OF THE GARBAGE TRUCK
BATTERY INFERNO,

JESSE AND VALERIE HAVE BUILT
A FORMIDABLE BATTERY CRUSHER

FOR SMALL-SCALE TESTING.

THIS IS OUR BATTERY BUFFET.

IN ORDER TO BE THOROUGH
WITH OUR TESTING,

WE'VE COLLECTED
A WIDE RANGE OF BATTERIES.

WE'LL START BY PICKING
A BATTERY, RECORDING ITS VOLTAGE

AND SENDING IT
TO THE TESTING PLATFORM.

THIS IS OUR BATTERY DESTRUCTION
ACTIVATION STATION,

AND WHEN I PULL THIS LEVER,
THE PRESSURE IS ON.

AND A HIGH-PRESSURE ENVIRONMENT
IT WILL BE.

THIS HEAVY-DUTY STEEL-WELDED BOX
FRAME HAS A CAR JACK

BUILT INTO ITS BASE THAT,
WHEN JESSE PULLS THE LEVER,

WILL APPLY 40,000 POUNDS
OF FORCE

TO CRUSH EVERY BATTERY
WE ARE TESTING.

WE LIKE TO CALL HIM
"THE MUNCHER"!

Narrator: THEY'VE GOT A FAN
TO DISPERSE ANY FUMES

AND AN INFRARED CAMERA
TO CAPTURE THE COMBUSTION.

THE MUNCHER'S FIRST MEAL

IS A COMMON ENOUGH
HOUSEHOLD POWER SOURCE.

THIS IS 9-VOLT LITHIUM.

Narrator:
IN ALL THE FOLLOWING TESTS,

WE'VE OBVIOUSLY NOT FOLLOWED THE
MANUFACTURER'S SAFETY WARNINGS.

UNDER NO CIRCUMSTANCES SHOULD
THIS EVER BE ATTEMPTED AT HOME.

COME ON.

GIVE US SOME FIRE.

IT'S LIKE
SQUISHING A CAN.

AND IT'S EVERY BIT AS FUN
AS SQUISHING A CAN.

-RIGHT!
-AH, GOT TO GET SOME FIRE.

I'M DRESSED FOR FIRE.

Narrator:
AND HE MIGHT STILL GET IT.

THE NEXT BATTERY ON THE MENU
IS ONE JESSE KNOWS ALL TOO WELL.

I'VE ACTUALLY HAD
SOME CLOSE CALLS

WITH LITHIUM BATTERIES,
SUCH AS THIS ONE.

MY FRIEND ACTUALLY
HAD AN RC CAR,

AND HE WENT TO GO CHARGE
HIS BATTERY,

AND THEY SUSPECTED THAT
THE BATTERY CAUSED HIS GARAGE

TO LITERALLY BURN DOWN.

Narrator:
LITHIUM POLYMER BATTERIES

USE A DIFFERENT KIND
OF ELECTROLYTE,

AND THEIR RELATIVELY
LIGHT WEIGHT

MAKES THEM IDEAL FOR GADGETS

LIKE JESSE'S PAL'S
ILL-FATED RC CAR.

NOW THAT WE'RE MOVING ON
TO OUR BIGGER BATTERIES

THAT CAN RELEASE TOXIC FUMES,
WE HAVE TO WEAR RESPIRATORS.

SAFETY FIRST, RIGHT, GUYS?

RIGHT.

Jesse: THIS IS LITHIUM
POLYMER RC BATTERY

IN THREE, TWO, ONE...

Valerie: CONTACT.

-OOH!
-OOH!

OH, IT'S SMOKING!

AH!
-OH!

OH, GOD.

OH, MY GOD.

STOP!

Narrator:
IT'S THE PROOF THEY NEED

THAT A LITHIUM-BASED BATTERY
CAN IGNITE UNDER PRESSURE,

AND WHEN YOU'RE ON A ROLL...

HEY,
LET'S TRY THIS ONE.

OH, WHAT IS THAT?

SAME AS BEFORE, LITHIUM
POLYMER, JUST BIGGER.

MM.
ALL RIGHT.

THAT LOOKS SCARY.

IT'S AROUND TWICE THE VOLTAGE
OF THE BATTERY

THAT JUST WENT UP IN SMOKE.

VALERIE,
ARE YOU READY FOR THIS?

-YES!
-ALL RIGHT.

THIS IS BIGGER
LITHIUM POLYMER

IN THREE, TWO, ONE...

HERE WE GO!

CONTACT!

IT LOOKS LIKE THE MUNCHER
HAS ONLY SUCCEEDED

IN MAKING ANOTHER LITHIUM
FLAPJACK, UNTIL...

OOH!

OH, MY GOODNESS.

WOW!

THAT IS A LOT OF SMOKE.

WOW!

OH, MY GOD.

AND YOU KNOW THE OLD SAYING --

"WHERE THERE'S SMOKE,
THERE'S GENERALLY"...

-OH, IT'S ON FIRE!
-IT'S ON FIRE!

WE HAVE A FIRE!
-IT'S ON FIRE NOW!

Narrator:
THE FLIR CAMERA CONFIRMS

THAT THEY'VE GOT
WHAT THEY WANTED --

HIGH-PRESSURE COMBUSTION.

WE GOT SPARKS,
SMOKE AND EVEN FIRE.

AWESOME FOR US, BUT NOT SO GREAT
FOR OUR GARBAGE MAN.

WE ALSO FOUND OUT
THAT THE HIGHER THE VOLTAGE

THE BATTERY WAS AT,
WE GOT MORE EXPLOSIVE RESULTS.

Narrator: THE HIGHER VOLTAGE

CREATES A HIGHER CURRENT
WHEN SHORTED,

WHICH GENERATES
A HIGHER TEMPERATURE.

AND WHILE THINGS ARE HEATING
UP HERE...

♪♪

...OUR AMATEUR ARCHERS
CAN'T QUITE AGREE

ON THE TRUTH OF THE IDIOM,
"STRAIGHT AS AN ARROW."

Allie: OF COURSE AN ARROW
CAN FLY STRAIGHT,

BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT THEY'VE BEEN
DOING FOR HUNDREDS OF YEARS,

AND THAT'S WHAT
THEY'RE DESIGNED TO DO.

Elijah:
I DON'T THINK THIS IS THE CASE.

I THINK AN ARROW FLIES
IN AN ARC.

WHY DO I THINK THIS?

BECAUSE GRAVITY.

IT'S A THING.

Narrator: BUT HERE'S A THING
THE TEAM DIDN'T EXPECT.

EVEN IN THE HANDS
OF AN EXPERT ARCHER,

AN ARROW SHIMMIES LIKE
A HULA DANCER IN HIGH HEELS.

ALL RIGHT.
SO THIS IS A LONG BOW,

AND AS YOU CAN TELL,
THE STRING AND THE BOW

ARE COMPLETELY ALIGNED,
BUT THE ARROW GOES ON THE SIDE,

SO THAT'S ALREADY AN OBSTACLE
THAT THE ARROW HAS TO OVERCOME.

THE ARROW HAS TO GO AROUND
THE BOW AND DO KIND OF

LIKE A FISH TAIL-Y MOTION
TO GET TO THE TARGET.

Narrator:
ACCORDING TO BYRON,

IT'S A WELL-KNOWN PHENOMENON
CALLED "THE ARCHER'S PARADOX."

"THE ARCHER'S PARADOX" IS
THE EFFECT OF THE ARROW

ACTUALLY CONTORTING
THROUGH THE AIR

TRYING TO CORRECT ITSELF
IN FLIGHT.

THE REASON FOR IT

IS WHEN YOU APPLY PRESSURE
TO THE BACK OF THE ARROW,

OF COURSE IT'S GOING
TO KIND OF BOW UP

AND KIND OF WARP IT A LITTLE
SIDEWAYS WITH ALL THAT PRESSURE

BEFORE IT ACTUALLY
STARTS MOVING.

Narrator:
EVEN OVER A SHORT DISTANCE,

AN ON-TARGET ARROW MAY WOBBLE,

BUT DOES THAT REALLY MEAN
THAT IT DOESN'T FLY STRAIGHT?

A DEFINITIVE ANSWER DEMANDS
A DEFINITIVE TEST,

SO IT'S ALL HANDS
TO THE WORKSHOP TO RECONSTRUCT

A LEGENDARY ARROW
OBSTACLE COURSE.

THIS PARTICULAR CHALLENGE
IS ACTUALLY A MYTH IN ITSELF,

AND IT INVOLVES A DOZEN REPLICA
DOUBLE-BLADED BATTLE AXES.

WHILE GREEK HERO ODYSSEUS
WAS FIGHTING THE TROJAN WARS,

PENELOPE WAS LEFT TO FEND OFF
A BUNCH OF UNWANTED ADMIRERS.

SHE PROMISED TO MARRY
WHICHEVER MAN

COULD FIRE AN ARROW
THROUGH 12 AXE HEADS,

CONFIDENT THAT THE SHOT
WAS IMPOSSIBLE,

BUT ODYSSEUS RETURNED

AND, IN DISGUISE,
TOOK THE SHOT AND NAILED IT.

IF THE MYTHBUSTERS CAN SOMEHOW
REPEAT THAT SUCCESS,

IT WOULD PROVE BEYOND DOUBT

THAT AN ARROW FLIES
STRAIGHT AND TRUE.

Rachel:
HERE WE HAVE OUR 12 AXES

WITH THE TARGETS OF
3 INCHES IN DIAMETER,

INSPIRED BY ODYSSEUS'
ARCHERY TRICK SHOT,

SO WE'RE GONNA HAVE BYRON
TAKE THIS SHOT

AND SEE IF HE CAN GET THROUGH
ALL 12 WITH HIS LONG BOW.

THEY SAY IT'S IMPOSSIBLE,
SO GOOD LUCK, BRO.

Narrator:
IT'S A DAUNTING PROSPECT.

EVEN BYRON HAS HIS DOUBTS.

NOW I KNOW SHOOTING THROUGH
A 3-INCH RING

SHOULDN'T BE A VERY HARD SHOT,
AND IT'S NOT.

SHOOTING THROUGH THREE OR FOUR
OF THEM, NOT A HARD SHOT.

SHOOTING THROUGH 12 OF THEM?

IT'S A VERY HARD SHOT DOING IT
WITH A TRADITIONAL BOW.

♪♪

♪♪

Narrator:
CALLING THIS A HARD SHOT

IS A MASSIVE UNDERSTATEMENT,

AND WITH A QUIVER
FULL OF ARROWS,

BYRON'S NOT ABOUT TO LAY DOWN
HIS LONG BOW.

-WHOA!
-AH!

COME ON!
GET ON THROUGH THERE.

Narrator: EVERY TIME, HE
SMOOTHLY SHOOTS THE ARROWS

THROUGH AT LEAST
THE FIRST FEW RINGS.

-OH!
-SO CLOSE!

Narrator:
BUT THE SLIGHTEST TOUCH OF SHAFT

OR FLETCHING ON METAL
SPELLS DISASTER

FOR THIS TREACHEROUS
TRICK SHOT.

IF YOUR ARROW COMES INTO CONTACT
WITH EVEN SO MUCH

AS A BLADE OF GRASS,
IT'S GONNA THROW IT OFF.

MINE CAME IN CONTACT
WITH 1/4-INCH STEEL.

I THINK THE ARCHER'S PARADOX
IS WHAT DID ME IN.

ANYWAY, I COULDN'T DO IT.
I TRIED.

AND WHILE I'M THINKING ABOUT IT,
GREAT SHOT, ODYSSEUS!

Narrator: BUT FAILURE HERE

DOESN'T NECESSARILY
BUST THE MYTH

THAT AN ARROW FLIES STRAIGHT.

IT JUST MEANS THEY'VE
PUSHED THE LIMITS OF HUMAN SKILL

WITH THIS TYPE OF BOW.

COMING UP, THEY TRY A HIGH-TECH
VERSION OF THIS ANCIENT WEAPON

WITH SOME EXPERT ADVICE
AND ASSISTANCE.

IF YOU SET
THIS UP CORRECTLY,

YOU CAN ACTUALLY HIT
A BULL'S-EYE EVERY TIME.

Narrator: IN THE GARBAGE TRUCK
INFERNO MYTH,

JESSE AND VALERIE HAVE SHOWN
IN SMALL-SCALE TESTING

THAT SIMPLY CRUSHING A LITHIUM
BATTERY CAN TRIGGER A BLAZE.

-OH, IT'S ON FIRE!
-IT'S ON FIRE!

Narrator: CANNAN, CARSON

AND RESIDENT
DESIGN EXPERT JON MARCU...

...ARE TESTING THE SECOND MAJOR
CAUSE OF BATTERY EXPLOSIONS --

EXPOSURE TO HEAT.

THEY'VE GOT THE PROPANE FIRE
AND A STEEL MESH BATTERY CRADLE.

STEP ONE, GENTLY
BROILING A LITHIUM AA.

Cannan: OH, WOW.
WOW.

OH, THERE WE GO.

OH, MY GOD.
THAT IS BEAUTIFUL.

YEAH, IT'S SPARKING
ALL OVER THE PLACE.

LOOK AT THAT!

IT'S, LIKE, WAY COOLER
THAN FIREWORKS.

Jon: I KNOW
WHAT YOU'RE THINKING.

OF COURSE THE BATTERY IS GOING
TO BURN, YOU'RE PUTTING ON FIRE.

WE WANT TO SEE
IF IT'S GONNA BURN,

IF IT'S GONNA BURST
INTO A GIANT FIREBALL,

ENOUGH TO LIGHT ANOTHER BATTERY
AND ANOTHER BATTERY

AND ANOTHER BATTERY
AND CAUSE THIS CHAIN REACTION

THAT WILL JUST BURN
A TRASH TRUCK TO THE GROUND.

Narrator:
NOW THAT THEY'VE TASTED SUCCESS,

THEY ALL WANT TO GO BIGGER.

THE LITHIUM POLYMER RC BATTERY
SHOULD FIT THE BILL.

Cannan: SEEING HOW IT'S LITHIUM
AND IT'S FOUR CELL,

I THINK SOMETHING BIG IS GOING
TO HAPPEN WITH THIS ONE.

Narrator:
BUT CANNAN'S ENTHUSIASM

LOOKS LIKE IT COULD COST JON
MORE THAN AN EYEBROW.

Cannan: WE HAVE IGNITION.

LOWERING RC LITHIUM
POLYMER BATTERY IN...

-WAIT!
-OH, OKAY.

NEVER MIND THEN.

WAIT, NO!

Narrator: WE'LL CHALK THAT UP
TO YOUTHFUL ENTHUSIASM.

WITH JON NOW A SAFE
DISTANCE BACK FROM THE FLAMES...

IN THREE, TWO, ONE...

-OH!
-OH!

THAT WAS QUICK.

I CAN SEE SOME
ORANGE-Y RED FLAME.

Narrator: WITHIN SECONDS,

THE PROPANE FLAMES
ENGULF THE BATTERY.

-OH, WOW.
-IT'S STARTING TO PUFF UP.

THE ENTIRE THING
IS JUST ON FIRE NOW.

AND THEN...

OH, IT'S LIKE...
OH!

-OH!
-WHOA!

[ ALL YELLING INDISTINCTLY ]

Carter: IT'S AMAZING!

THIS IS MUCH MORE BEAUTIFUL
THAN THE LAST ONE.

JETTING OUT SIDEWAYS!

Cannan: THAT WAS AWESOME.

WE HAD A MUCH LARGER FLAME THAN
ANY OF OUR PREVIOUS BATTERIES.

I THINK THIS IS LOOKING
PRETTY PROMISING FOR THE MYTH.

IF WE GET ONE BATTERY
TO CATCH ON FIRE,

I THINK IT'LL SET OFF
A CHAIN REACTION

AND CAUSE OTHER BATTERIES
TO CATCH ON FIRE.

Narrator:
WITH FIRE AND PRESSURE

BOTH PROVING
POTENTIALLY CATASTROPHIC

TO DISCARDED
LITHIUM BATTERIES,

THERE ARE JUST A COUPLE
OF QUICK TESTS LEFT TO RUN.

WE'VE BEEN USING
THIS LITTLE GUY HERE,

AND WE'VE BASICALLY BEEN
PANCAKING OUR BATTERIES.

NOW WE'RE GONNA TRY
SOMETHING NEW WITH A WEDGE,

AND WE'RE GONNA SEE
IF WE GET ANY DIFFERENT RESULT,

OR EVEN A BETTER RESULT.

Narrator: THE WEDGE MAKES
SPECTACULARLY SHORT WORK

OF A SUCCESSION OF BATTERIES.

THERE WASN'T EVEN
ANY SMOKE.

Valerie: CONTACT.

NOTHING.

THAT WAS EXCITING.

THE RELIABLY COMBUSTIBLE LITHIUM
POLYMER BATTERY

AT LEAST PUTS ON A SHOW...

-OH!
-OH!

-OH, MY GOD.
-OH, MY GOD.

Narrator: ...BUT STOPS SHORT
OF CATCHING ALIGHT.

OH, MY GOODNESS.

THAT WAS CRAZY.

MEANTIME, CANNAN, CARSON AND JON
ARE TAKING THEIR TESTING

A FULL 180,

FROM FIRE TO WATER.

A POTENTIAL FAILURE MODE
OF LITHIUM BATTERIES

IS WHEN THE LITHIUM
COMES IN CONTACT

WITH MOISTURE IN GENERAL,

AND THAT'S WHAT WE'RE SETTING UP
TO TEST RIGHT NOW.

Narrator: CUE ONE FLASK OF WATER
AND ONE HEAVILY DAMAGED BATTERY.

THIS IS WHAT'S INSIDE A AA
IN CASE YOU WERE WONDERING.

LET'S SEE HOW REACTIVE IT IS.

-WOW.
-OH!

OH, THERE'S SOMETHING.

THAT'S REALLY
DOING SOMETHING.

Narrator:
THERE'S NO DOUBT ABOUT IT,

BUT COULD IT ACTUALLY
CATCH FIRE?

OH, WE HAVE FIRE!

YEAH, FIRE!

Narrator: APPARENTLY, YES.

OH!

Carter: ALL WE DID WAS
WE TOOK THE LITHIUM OUT

OF A AA BATTERY.

WE PUT IT INTO WATER, AND WE GOT
THIS MASSIVE, LIKE,

BURST INTO FLAMES.

IT SEEMS KIND OF
COUNTER-INTUITIVE AT FIRST,

BUT THEN YOU THINK ABOUT
HOW LITHIUM IS VOLATILE

WHEN IT COMES INTO CONTACT
WITH WATER,

SO YOU CAN KIND OF SEE WHERE
THAT EXPLOSION COMES FROM.

Narrator: AND WITH THAT,

THEY WRAP UP
THEIR MODES OF IGNITION TESTS.

Jesse: NOW THAT WE KNOW ALL THE
FAILURE MODES OF THESE BATTERIES

AND THAT THEY DEFINITELY
CAN EXPLODE,

IT'S TIME TO SEE IF WE CAN
SIMULATE WHAT HAPPENED HERE,

IN THE BACK OF A GARBAGE TRUCK.

Narrator: SO WHILE JESSE
PREPARES TO GET TRASHY,

IT'S BACK TO THE RIDDLE
OF THE UNSWERVING ARROW.

PROVING THE MYTH
THAT AN ARROW FLIES STRAIGHT

DEMANDS PRETTY MUCH
PERFECT EXECUTION.

BYRON DID HIS BEST TO MATCH
THIS MYTHICAL TRICK SHOT.

OH! SO CLOSE!

BUT THE PROBLEM HERE LIES WITH
THE TOOLS, NOT THE TRADESMAN.

WE WANT OUR ARROWS TO FLY
AS STRAIGHT AS POSSIBLE,

AND RATHER THAN CONTINUE
USING A LONG BOW,

WHICH HAS QUITE A BIT OF
ARCHER'S PARADOX,

WE'RE GOING TO MOVE ON
TO A DIFFERENT BOW

THAT IS RUMORED TO CUT DOWN
ON THIS EFFECT.

IT'S TIME TO SEE A COMPOUND
BOW IN ACTION.

Narrator: HELPING TO RIG THIS
DELICATELY DEADLY DEVICE

IS "MYTHBUSTERS" MENTOR TAMARA.

WE'VE GOT OUR HAND TRIGGER
ALREADY IN PLACE.

THIS TIME, THEY WON'T NEED
A HUMAN TO FIRE THE ARROW.

AND THIS IS RATED
TO BYRON'S,

SO IT IS
A 70-POUND PULL.

THEY FIRST NEED TO SEE
IF THE COMPOUND BOW

LIVES UP TO ITS LEGEND.

CAN IT REPEATEDLY SHOOT AN ARROW
ON THE EXACT SAME TRAJECTORY?

SO NOW THAT OUR COMPOUND BOW
IS RIGGED UP,

WE'RE GONNA DIAL IT IN,

AND WE HOPE TO GET
CONSISTENT DATA

AND STRAIGHT ARROW PATHS
RIGHT INTO THE BULL'S-EYE.

Narrator: MECHANIZED ARROW
SHOOTING IS NOTHING NEW.

IN FACT, TORY, KARI AND GRANT
ONCE RECONSTRUCTED

THE FABLED KOREAN HWACHA.

Tory: QUICK!
YOUR ARMY IS ATTACKING!

RUN, GRANT!

TO SEE IF IT REALLY COULD SHOOT

200 FIRE ARROWS
A DISTANCE OF 500 FEET.

[ ALL CHEERING ]

WHEN EVERY ARROW
BUT ONE WAS LAUNCHED,

THIS INCREDIBLE MYTH
WAS RESOUNDINGLY CONFIRMED.

Allie: RANGE IS HOT.

ARROW IS LOADED.

THIS IS THE COMPOUND BOW
DIALING IT IN TEST.

COOL. ALL RIGHT.
IN THREE, TWO, ONE...

Narrator: IT'S NOT DEAD CENTER,
BUT THAT DOESN'T MATTER.

THEY WANT TO SEE
IF A SUCCESSION OF SHOTS

CAN ALL HIT THE SAME SPOT.

-YAY!
-BRILLIANT!

Narrator:
THE COMPOUND BOW IS ACCURATE

TO THE POINT OF PERFECTION.

ALL RIGHTY.

LET'S TAKE A LOOK
AT THE HIGH-SPEED.

Narrator: AND NOW THE TEAM
WANTS TO SEE

WHAT THOSE ARROWS WERE DOING
IN SUPER-SLOW MOTION.

IT LOOKS LIKE
IT'S STILL WOBBLING.

IT LOOKS LIKE THERE'S STILL
SOME MOVEMENT IN THERE,

BUT IT'S JUST
ON A DIFFERENT AXIS.

MOST OF THAT IS JUST COMING
FROM THE AMOUNT OF FORCE

THAT THE BOW HAS TO PUSH ON IT

IN ORDER TO GET IT MOVING
IN THE FIRST PLACE.

Rachel: TOTALLY AGREE.

THIS BEAUTIFUL COMPOUND BOW HERE

LOOKS LIKE IT'S ELIMINATED
THE ARCHER'S PARADOX,

BUT WHEN YOU LOOK AT IT
AT A DIFFERENT ANGLE,

THE ARROW IS STILL OSCILLATING,
SO WHAT'S A GIRL GOT TO DO

TO GET AN ARROW
TO FLY STRAIGHT AROUND HERE?

Narrator: THE ANSWER TO THAT
MIGHT BE THIS.

COMING UP...
THE FINAL CONTENDER

FOR "BEST BOW IN SHOW."

I THINK THIS CROSSBOW WILL SCARE
THE ARROW INTO FLYING STRAIGHT.

I ALMOST CRAPPED MY PANTS.

♪♪

♪♪

OKAY, SO HERE IS OUR STORY --

THAT A LITHIUM-BASED BATTERY
THROWN IN THE TRASH

CAN END UP
SETTING OFF A CATACLYSMIC

CHAIN REACTION OF EXPLOSIONS
AND FIRE

INSIDE A GARBAGE TRUCK.

Narrator:
RIGHT NOW, THE TEAM WANTS TO SEE

IF THEIR INCENDIARY
SMALL-SCALE RESULTS

ARE REPEATABLE
IN THE KIND OF COMPACTOR

THAT GARBAGE TRUCKS USE.

HEY, BRO,
CHECK THIS OUT!

SAY HELLO
TO MY LITTLE FRIEND.

OH!

AFTER A FEW VERY PRODUCTIVE
HOURS IN THE SHOP,

THEY'RE GOOD TO GO.

THIS IS OUR CUSTOM-MADE
TRASH COMPACTOR,

AND HERE'S HOW IT WORKS.

SO OVER HERE IS OUR
16,000-POUND CYLINDER,

AND OVER HERE
IS WHERE OUR TRASH GOES.

WHEN THIS CYLINDER IS ACTIVATED,

IT'S GONNA PUSH OUR CRUSH PAD
OVER TO THIS SIDE,

AND IT'S GONNA CRUSH
ALL OF OUR TRASH,

AND POTENTIALLY CAUSE
ONE OF OUR BATTERIES TO FAIL,

CATCH FIRE OR POSSIBLY EXPLODE.

Narrator: CARSON, THOUGH,
IS NOT OPTIMISTIC.

JUST KNOWING THAT WE HAVE
SO MANY VARIABLES

AND IT'S NOT AS CONTROLLED
AS THE INDIVIDUAL TESTS,

I DON'T THINK
IT'S GONNA WORK.

Narrator:
THE COMPACTOR IS FILLED

WITH BAGS
OF TYPICAL HOUSEHOLD WASTE...

HERE'S OUR TRASH!

...INCLUDING
A HANDFUL OF USED BATTERIES.

ALL RIGHT.
GOOD TO GO.

ALL RIGHT.
ARE YOU GUYS READY?

-READY!
-I'M READY.

LET'S DO THIS.

THIS IS TRASH COMPACTOR TEST
IN THREE, TWO, ONE...

WHOO!

Narrator:
INCH BY STINKING INCH,

THE METAL PLATE
CRUSHES THE TRASH.

BUT WILL THIS STEADY SQUEEZE
ACTUALLY SUCCEED

IN IGNITING A BATTERY?

-OH!
-WHOA!

-IT'S ON FIRE!
-OH!

-WOW!
-OH!

-WOW!
-OH, MY GOODNESS.

-WOW.
-THAT HAPPENED AWFUL QUICKLY.

I MEAN, AS SOON AS EVERYTHING
STARTED TO, LIKE...

-WHOA.
-WHOO!

Valerie: WELL, THE BATTERY
CAUGHT ON FIRE.

Narrator: AND RIGHT THERE
IS THE KEY TO THIS MYTH.

FOR THE TRUCK TO BE TRULY
AT RISK,

ONE FIZZING BATTERY
HAS TO SET OFF ANOTHER.

Valerie: IT'S A CHAIN REACTION.

OTHER BATTERIES ARE SETTING
OTHER BATTERIES ON FIRE.

-RIGHT.
-THIS IS AWESOME.

Narrator:
AND POTENTIALLY CATASTROPHIC.

ONE REASON THESE FIRES ARE SO
DANGEROUS IS THAT ONCE STARTED,

THEY'RE EXTREMELY HARD
TO PUT OUT.

Jon:
WE'VE BEEN BATTLING THIS THING

FOR EASILY 5, 10 MINUTES NOW,

AND IT'S STILL NOT OUT.

THESE METALS JUST DO NOT
WANT TO EXTINGUISH.

THEY BURN ON THEIR OWN.
WE'VE TRIED CO2.

WE'VE TRIED SNUFFING IT.

WE'RE PULLING STUFF OUT.
WE'RE TRYING SAND, EVERYTHING.

THIS IS SOME CRAZY STUFF.

Narrator: IN THEIR BID TO BUST
OR CONFIRM THE IDIOM

"STRAIGHT AS AN ARROW,"

THE MYTHBUSTERS HAVE
A CONUNDRUM TO SOLVE.

IN ONE SENSE,
IT KIND OF SEEMS TRUE.

-YAY!
-BRILLIANT!

Narrator:
IN ANOTHER, IT KIND OF DOESN'T.

Elijah: IT LOOKS LIKE
IT'S STILL WOBBLING.

TO SETTLE THINGS ONCE
AND FOR ALL,

THE TEAM HAS PROPOSED
ONE HECK OF A STUNT --

THE LEGENDARY
ODYSSEUS CHALLENGE.

BECAUSE IT'S ALL
ABOUT THE ARROW,

THEY OWE IT TO THE MYTH
TO FIND THE BEST BOW THEY CAN,

AND THAT MIGHT JUST
BE THE CROSSBOW.

LIKE OUR COMPOUND BOW,
WE'VE GOT CAMS

THAT GIVE
A MECHANICAL ADVANTAGE

AND A SCOPE THAT
HELPS US AIM TRUE.

ONE BIG DIFFERENCE
THAT YOU'LL NOTICE THOUGH

IS THAT WE HAVE
THIS FLIGHT GROOVE,

WHICH ALLOWS OUR ARROW
TO HAVE COMPLETE ALIGNMENT

WITH OUR STRING,
WHICH IS A MAJOR ADVANTAGE.

IT ALSO SHOOTS BOLTS, WHICH ARE
TECHNICALLY SMALLER VERSIONS

OF ARROWS
THAT ARE ALSO WAY THICKER.

LOOKS LIKE AN ARROW TO ME.

Narrator: AGAIN, THE PLAN
IS FOR HANDS-FREE FIRING,

SO TAMARA HAS RIGGED UP
A STURDY MOUNT...

ALL RIGHT.
LOOKS GOOD.

...AND A REMOTE TRIGGER SYSTEM.

SECONDARY SAFETY IS SET.

NOW THEY'VE SEEN IT SET UP,

THE TEAM IS PREPARED
TO MAKE SOME PREDICTIONS.

Rachel: THE DRAW STRENGTH
OF OUR CROSSBOW IS EQUIVALENT

TO 20 POUNDS
MORE THAN OUR COMPOUND BOW.

TO ME, THIS TELLS ME THAT
THERE'S MORE FORCE

BEING PUSHED ON THE ARROW,

SO HOPEFULLY WE'RE GOING
TO GET A STRAIGHT FLIGHT.

I THINK THIS CROSSBOW WILL SCARE
THE ARROW INTO FLYING STRAIGHT.

PRIMARY SAFETY IS OFF.
SECONDARY SAFETY IS OFF.

CROSSBOW IS HOT.

CROSSBOW TEST IN THREE,
TWO, ONE...

-WOW!
-I JUST ALMOST CRAPPED MY PANTS.

SO MUCH POWER!

Narrator:
AS WITH THE COMPOUND BOW,

THEY FIRE OFF A FEW MORE ROUNDS
TO GET SOME USEFUL DATA.

THEY CAN ALREADY SEE
THAT IT'S NOT AS PRECISE

AS THE COMPOUND BOW.

WITH OUR COMPOUND BOW,
WE HAD THE ARROW HIT

THE EXACT SAME SPOT
EVERY SINGLE TIME,

BUT WITH OUR CROSSBOW, WE'RE
HAVING A NICE, TIGHT GROUPING.

SO ALTHOUGH IT MIGHT NOT BE AS
CONSISTENT AS THE COMPOUND BOW,

WE STILL DON'T KNOW
HOW THE ARROW FLIES.

Narrator: TRUE.

IT'S HIGH TIME
FOR THE HIGH-SPEED.

THAT ARROW DEFINITELY SEEMS
TO BE FLYING

STRAIGHT AS IT LEAVES
THE CROSSBOW.

Allie: YEAH. EVEN HERE,

IT LOOKS LIKE
IT'S FLYING PRETTY STRAIGHT.

I MEAN, WE'RE ONLY SEEING

JUST A TINY, TINY BIT
OF OSCILLATION,

BUT OTHER THAN THAT,

IT LOOKS WAY BETTER
THAN THE OTHER ONES.

SO WHICH BOW DO THEY CHOOSE?

AN OBJECTIVE OPINION MIGHT HELP.

ALL RIGHT, ALLIE.

TELL ME WHERE WE'RE AT
WITH ARROWS AND BOWS.

WELL, BYRON TOLD US ABOUT
THE ARCHER'S PARADOX,

AND WHEN YOU LOOK
AT HIS LONG BOW SHOOTING,

THEN YOU CAN ACTUALLY SEE
A LOT OF OSCILLATION

THROUGHOUT THE ENTIRE FLIGHT,
SO IT'S REALLY PROMINENT.

LOOK AT THAT!

YOU CAN JUST SEE IT SNAKING
RIGHT OUT OF THE BOW.

THAT'S INCREDIBLE!
-ALL RIGHT.

SO WHEN WE MOVED ON
TO A COMPOUND BOW,

THEN IT MINIMIZED
THE AMOUNT OF OSCILLATION,

AND IT HAD REALLY
GOOD ACCURACY.

THIS WAS BEING FIRED
MECHANICALLY, IS THAT RIGHT?

-YEAH.
-OKAY.

WE COMPARED THE COMPOUND
BOW AGAINST A CROSSBOW,

AND THE CROSSBOW MADE IT
EVEN STRAIGHTER...

-YEAH.
-...AND IT HAD ACCURACY.

BUT THE COMPOUND BOW SHOT
INTO THE SAME HOLE EVERY TIME.

-SERIOUSLY?
-YEAH.

THAT SOUNDS LIKE THE ONE
WE HAVE TO GO WITH.

-MM-HMM.
-ALL RIGHT.

Narrator: COMING UP, DOES AN
ARROW THAT BUCKS LIKE A BRONCO

HAVE ANY CHANCE OF SHOOTING
STRAIGHT THROUGH 12 TINY RINGS?

FIRING IN
THREE, TWO, ONE...

AND A BATTERY TRASH-TASTIC TEAM
HITS THE ROAD...

GO AHEAD AND DUMP
THE FIRST LOAD OF TRASH.

-WHOA!
-WHOA!

Narrator:
...WITH A FULL-SIZED TRUCK

AND AN ECONOMY-SIZED
SERVING OF GARBAGE.

HOW MANY BATTERIES
DID YOU THROW IN THERE?

SEVERAL!

Narrator: GOING FULL-SCALE

ON THE GARBAGE TRUCK
BATTERY INFERNO MYTH,

THE TEAM HAS FOUND
AN IDEAL TEST SITE --

THE PLEASANTON GARBAGE
AND RECYCLING CENTER.

WE'VE EXPERIMENTALLY PROVEN
THAT LITHIUM-BASED BATTERIES

CAN IGNITE UNDER
A VARIETY OF CIRCUMSTANCES,

AND THAT'S AWESOME,
BUT IT'S NOT THE MYTH.

REMEMBER, THE MYTH IS THAT

WHEN ONE OF THEM GOES OFF
IN A CONFINED SPACE,

LIKE A DUMPSTER
OR A GARBAGE TRUCK,

IT CAN SET OFF OTHER BATTERIES
THAT HAPPEN TO BE NEARBY.

POPCORN FROM HELL
IS WHAT WE'RE LOOKING FOR.

IT'S WHAT I'M HOPING FOR,
AND OH, MAN!

I CANNOT BELIEVE THEY'RE
LETTING US USE

A BRAND-NEW GARBAGE TRUCK
TO TEST THIS IN!

Narrator: IT'S AGREED

THEY CAN MAKE SURE
THAT ONE BATTERY GETS PIERCED,

AND THEN LET THE MYTH
RUN ITS COURSE.

Adam: ALL RIGHT.
OUR GARBAGE TRUCK IS IN PLACE.

EVERYONE IS READY, AND IT'S TIME
TO START SETTING FIRE

TO SOME BATTERIES
LIKE THIS ONE.

THIS IS A LITHIUM POLYMER
USED BY HOBBYISTS

FROM REMOTE-CONTROLLED
CARS AND PLANES.

IT'S NOT INCONCEIVABLE THAT ONE
OF THESE

COULD GET COMPROMISED
IN A TRASH COMPACTOR

BY A PIECE OF LAWN FURNITURE,
A SPIKY PIECE OF METAL.

BUT WE'RE NOT GOING TO JUST
KEEP COMPACTING TRASH

TO HOPE THAT WILL HAPPEN.
OH, NO, NO, NO.

WE'RE GOING TO COMPROMISE
THIS BATTERY ON PURPOSE

USING A RIG WE DESIGNED
JUST FOR THIS.

THE BATTERY WILL SIT HERE
IN THIS LITTLE CRADLE.

THIS TERRIBLE MODEL OF
THE EMPIRE STATE BUILDING

WILL BE PLACED IN THIS HOLE
WITH ITS SPIKE AT THE BATTERY.

WHEN THE COMPACTOR
STARTS MOVING,

IT WILL CONTACT THIS EMPIRE
STATE BUILDING SPIKE,

DRIVING IT THROUGH
THE HEART OF THE BATTERY,

AND AS WE KNOW
FROM EXPERIMENTATION,

THESE BATTERIES LIGHT UP
VERY QUICKLY

AND BURN VERY HOT AND FAST.

OH!
IT'S LIKE CHRISTMAS!

Narrator: AND AS WITH SO MANY
OF ADAM'S CHRISTMASES,

THERE WILL BE MEN
STANDING BY WITH HOSES.

♪♪

OKAY, MYTHBUSTERS,
ARE YOU GUYS READY?

-YEAH!
-WE'RE READY!

AWESOME!
ALL RIGHT, TIM.

GO AHEAD AND DUMP
THE FIRST LOAD OF TRASH.

-WHOA!
-WHOA!

WOW.

SOMEONE FORGOT TO PUT
THEIR TRASH IN THE TRASH BAG.

YEAH, THIS IS A LOT TRASHIER
THAN I EXPECTED TRASH TO BE.

ALL RIGHT, TIM.

LET'S LOAD THE SECOND
DUMPSTER FULL OF GARBAGE.

OH!

OH, MY GOD!

Narrator: THIS EXTRA LOAD OF
PUTRID WASTE PERSUADES

ADAM TO SUIT UP...

ALL RIGHT.
LET'S GO MAKE THIS REALLY HOT.

Narrator: ...BEFORE INITIATING
PHASE ONE.

THE FIRST BATTERY WILL,
OF COURSE,

BE CRUSHED BY THE COMPACTOR,

BUT THEY'RE DEPLOYING THE SPIKE
TO GUARANTEE THERE'S A RUPTURE.

OH!

THIS IS TERRIBLE!

Narrator: A BARRAGE OF TRASH
TALK DOESN'T HELP.

GET IN THERE, ADAM!

STICK YOUR FACE IN IT!

Adam: THE DIFFICULTY IS THAT
SECOND LOAD WAS REALLY HEAVY.

IT WAS ALMOST ENTIRELY
FOOD WASTE.

SO WOO-HOO!

Narrator:
LIKE A STARVING RACCOON,

ADAM BURROWS DEEP INTO
THE GARBAGE TO SET THE SPIKE.

NOW WE'RE READY FOR PHASE TWO.

THE OTHER PART OF THE EQUATION.

THE POPCORN, IF YOU WILL.

Narrator:
WITH TWO EXTRA BATTERIES

RANDOMLY TOSSED IN THE MIX...

WE'RE ALMOST READY!

Narrator: ...IT'S TIME TO FIND
OUT IF THE BIG SQUEEZE

COULD END IN A STINKING INFERNO.

Adam: OKAY,
YOU GUYS ALL READY?

-YES.
-TOTALLY!

ALL RIGHT.
HERE WE GO.

ADAM FOR TIM, GO AHEAD
AND START COMPACTION.

STARTING COMPACTION.

HERE IT GOES.

OH!

-OH, MY GOODNESS.
-LOOK AT THAT FIRE!

-THAT WAS QUICK.
-THAT WAS REALLY GOOD.

Narrator:
TO EVERYONE'S TOTAL SURPRISE,

WE HAVE ALMOST INSTANT IGNITION.

WE HAVE A TRASH FIRE!

YEAH!

BUT AS VALERIE REMINDS US,

IT'S NO MORE THAN
A PROMISING START.

Valerie:
WE ALREADY KNOW THAT

IF YOU APPLY PRESSURE
TO OUR BATTERIES,

IT WILL LIGHT ON FIRE.

BUT WHAT WE WANT
IS A CHAIN REACTION.

Narrator: AND GETTING THAT
MUCH-HOPED-FOR CHAIN REACTION

MEANS ADDING MORE FUEL
TO THE FIRE.

Adam: YEAH!

HOW MANY BATTERIES
DID YOU THROW IN THERE?

SEVERAL!

THERE'S A CHANCE, THOUGH,
THAT NONE OF THEM CATCH FIRE.

Adam: THIS WASN'T SOMETHING
THAT OCCURRED TO ME BEFORE,

BUT THAT SECOND LOAD
WAS MOSTLY HOUSEHOLD TRASH,

WHICH MEANS IT WAS
A LOT OF ORANGE PEELS

AND FOOD AND DIAPERS.

IT WAS WET, WET, WET!

Narrator:
BUT IN LESS THAN A MINUTE,

ONE AFTER ANOTHER...

-WHOA!
-WHOA!

OH!
THERE'S ANOTHER ONE!

THAT WAS A BIG ONE!

...THEY GET THEIR MYTHICAL
CHAIN REACTION.

OR AS ADAM PREFERS TO CALL IT,
POPCORN FROM HELL.

Adam: I FEEL LIKE WE'RE GOOD.
YOU GUYS WANT TO CALL IT?

-YEAH.
-OKAY.

ALL RIGHT, TIM.
GO AHEAD AND COMPACT

ALL OF THE FLAMING GARBAGE
OUT OF YOUR TRUCK.

Narrator: WITH NO OTHER CATALYST
THAN SHEER PRESSURE,

THEY'VE TURNED A TRUCK
FULL OF HOUSEHOLD WASTE

INTO A TRASH INFERNO.

AND THE LIVERMORE-PLEASANTON
FIRE BRIGADE

IS ON HAND
TO CLEAN UP THE MESS.

THIS IS NASTY.

YEAH, BUT IT WAS SUCCESSFUL,
AND LET ME REMIND YOU,

WE WERE NOT TESTING WHETHER
OR NOT LITHIUM BATTERIES

CAN CATCH FIRE OR EXPLODE

WHEN THEY'RE PINCHED
OR HEATED.

WE WERE TESTING WHETHER ONE
IN A GARBAGE TRUCK

CAN SET OFF A CHAIN REACTION
AND CAUSE POPCORN FROM HELL.

HOW DO WE FIND?

-IT TOTALLY WORKED!
-IT TOTALLY WORKED!

-YES.
-CONFIRMED.

-CONFIRMED.
-CONFIRMED.

CONFIRMED.

REMEMBER, KIDS...

All: DISPOSE OF YOUR
BATTERIES RESPONSIBLY.

-I SAID, "RISPOSE."
-ME TOO!

Narrator: TESTING THE IDIOM
"STRAIGHT AS AN ARROW"...

SO CLOSE!

...MEANS JUMPING THROUGH
A WHOLE LOT OF HOOPS.

-YAY!
-BRILLIANT!

AND THE WEAPON OF CHOICE
IS A COMPOUND BOW.

WE ARE ALMOST THERE,
AND NOW IT'S TIME TO DIAL

IN THE AIM ON OUR COMPOUND BOW,

AND IN ORDER TO DO THAT WITHOUT
DESTROYING A TON OF ARROWS,

WE'VE SCOOCHED
EVERYTHING TO THE RIGHT.

WE'VE PLACED THIS AIMING HOLE,

WOW, EXACTLY 12 INCHES
TO THE RIGHT,

THAT WE HOPE TO DO, LIKE,
95% OF OUR DIALING IN

WITHOUT THE DANGER
OF THE AXES IN THE WAY,

SO THAT WHEN WE'RE DONE,

WE SCOOCH THE WHOLE
RIG BACK 12 INCHES,

AND FIRE IT THROUGH
ALL THE RINGS, IN THEORY.

IN PRACTICE, QUITE HONESTLY
I HAVE NO IDEA

IF WE'RE GOING
TO BE ABLE TO DO IT.

Narrator:
IF A TEST ARROW CAN MAKE IT
CLEAN THROUGH THE YELLOW RING,

AND GO ON TO HIT THE BULL'S-EYE,

THEY KNOW THAT AT LEAST THEY
HAVE A CHANCE TO MATCH ODYSSEUS.

AFTER ONE OR TWO
DEFT ADJUSTMENTS...

-REALLY LINED UP.
-REALLY GOOD.

OKAY, I'M GIVE IT
ONE MORE LITTLE BUMP, HERE.

Narrator:
...THEY'RE SET TO FIRE.

RANGE IS GOING HOT.

ALL RIGHT.
FIRING IN THREE, TWO, ONE...

COME HERE, LOOK!

WE ARE VERY, RESPECTABLY CLOSE.

-WE DIDN'T HIT...
-WE TOUCHED THE RING.

Narrator:
IT'S NOT GOOD ENOUGH.

THEY'LL HAVE TO RELOAD,
RECALIBRATE, AND TRY AGAIN.

Adam: TWO, ONE...

DUDE!

IT DESTROYED
THE PINEAPPLE.

IT JUST, "PHEW!"

LINING UP THIS ARROW HAS PROVEN
TO BE A LOT MORE DIFFICULT

THAN WE WERE EXPECTING
BECAUSE NORMALLY YOU AIM

FOR THE THING THAT'S AT THE END
OF THE ARROW'S FLIGHT,

LIKE OUR TARGET,
BUT BECAUSE WE HAVE SOMETHING

THAT'S IN THE MIDDLE
OF ITS FLIGHT,

WHICH IS OUR RING THAT
WE'RE TRYING TO GET IT THROUGH,

IT'S PROVING TO BE A LOT
MORE DIFFICULT TO LINE IT UP.

Narrator: BUT EACH SUCCESSIVE
SHOT GETS THEM CLOSER

AND CLOSER, UNTIL...

FIRING IN THREE, TWO, ONE...

-OH!
-THAT WAS...

-YES!
-DUDE.

THAT LOOKS ABSOLUTELY PERFECT.

Narrator:
AND JUST AS IMPORTANT,

DID THE ARROW SAIL
THROUGH THE RING?

OH, MY GOODNESS.
IT DIDN'T TOUCH IT.

Allie: RIGHT THROUGH
THE MIDDLE. WOW.

-IT DIDN'T TOUCH IT.
-GOOD.

-THAT'S IN OUR ZONE.
-YEAH.

-I THINK IT'S TIME.
-PERFECT.

ALL RIGHT.
LET'S MOVE THE WHOLE RIG OVER.

-YEAH.
-OKAY.

Narrator:
SO, IT'S WITH EXTREME CARE

THAT THEIR FINALLY CALIBRATED
SHOOTING RIG

IS MOVED BACK IN LINE WITH THAT
OMINOUS ARRAY OF STEEL RINGS,

AND DON'T FORGET,
THE ONLY CHARACTER

TO EVER MAKE THIS SHOT
WAS FICTITIOUS.

[ SIGHS ] IT'S GO TIME.
OUR AXES ARE LINED UP.

OUR BOW-SHOOTING RIG
HAS BEEN AIMED

TO THE BEST OF OUR ABILITIES,
ADJACENT TO THE AXIS,

AND NOW IT'S BEEN
MOVED INTO LINE

SO IT'S LOOKING DOWN
THE THROAT OF HISTORY.

ODYSSEUS, HERE WE COME.

Narrator: IT'S WORTH RECALLING
THAT THIS CHALLENGE

IN ITSELF IS A MYTH.

THERE'S NO RECORD OF ANYONE

BEFORE BOW MASTER
BYRON ATTEMPTING IT,

AND NO EXPECTATION THAT
IT'S ACTUALLY POSSIBLE.

RANGE IS GOING HOT.

Adam: HERE WE GO.

ODYSSEUS SHOT.

FIRING IN THREE,
TWO, ONE...

WHAT?!
-DID IT DO IT?

-NO WAY!
-DID IT DO IT?

[ SCREAMING ]

WE HIT THE TARGET!

COME HERE! COME HERE!
COME HERE!

COME HERE! COME HERE!
-WE JUST HIT THAT TARGET!

Narrator:
IT'S A ONE-SHOT WONDER.

ACTUALLY, IT'S MORE
LIKE A MIRACLE.

WHAT IN THE WORLD?

HIGH-FIVES!
OH, MY GOD!

CRAZY!

Allie: THAT IS SOME
WICKED SETUP WE HAVE.

Elijah: I DID NOT EXPECT
THAT THE FIRST TIME.

THAT SHOULD NOT HAVE WORKED
LIKE THAT.

NO!

THIS WILL GO DOWN
IN MYTHBUSTER HISTORY!

I NEED TO CHECK THAT HIGH-SPEED.
I NEED TO SEE WHAT HAPPENED.

Rachel:
THIS IS MESMERIZING.

I DON'T BELIEVE MY EYES.

THIS IS LITERALLY
A MYTHOLOGICAL SHOT.

♪♪

Adam: ALL RIGHT, GUYS.

IT'S TIME
TO CALL THIS ONE.

DOES AN ARROW
ACTUALLY FLY STRAIGHT?

WELL, ODYSSEUS USED A LONG BOW,
AND WE WERE ONLY ABLE

TO ACCOMPLISH THIS
WITH A COMPOUND BOW.

THIS IS TRUE.

AND I'M PRETTY SURE ODYSSEUS
WASN'T A ROBOT.

I HAVE TO AGREE WITH YOU
ON THAT ONE.

EVERY ARROW
THAT WE DID SHOOT

HAD OSCILLATION
AND WIGGLE TO IT.

BUT WE DID JUST SHOOT
THE STRAIGHTEST SHOT

THAT WE COULD EVER SHOOT.
-THAT'S TRUE.

AND EVEN IF WE USED
MODERN TECHNOLOGY IN THIS,

WE STILL WERE ABLE
TO ACCOMPLISH THIS FEAT.

ALL RIGHT.

I THINK THAT MAKES IT
OBVIOUSLY PLAUSIBLE?

PLAUSIBLE.

-ODYSSEUS WASN'T A ROBOT?
-NO!

-WHY WOULD HE BE A ROBOT?
-NO.