Street Science (2017–…): Season 2, Episode 10 - Masters of Fire - full transcript
Kevin and his team of experts take on the ultimate fire challenge. Using cutting-edge science experiments, they investigate how a person can eat fire, walk on fire, and be set on fire. They'll also show how everyday ingredients ca...
YOU READY TO SEE SOMETHING KIND OF COOL?
-YEAH. -ALL RIGHT, LOOK OVER THERE.
Delaney: WE'RE PITTING
HUMANS AGAINST FIRE...
WHOO!
...EATING FIRE...
THAT WOULDN'T BE MY
FIRST INSTINCT, BUT OKAY.
...WALKING ON FIRE... IT IS FIRE.
NICK, YOU VOLUNTEER, RIGHT?
Delaney: ...AND SETTING SOMEONE ON FIRE.
♪♪
MY NAME IS KEVIN DELANEY.
I'VE BEEN SHOWING OFF THE
MAGIC OF SCIENCE FOR YEARS,
FROM MUSEUMS TO TALK SHOWS.
WE'RE TAKING SCIENCE TO THE STREETS
AND COMBINING EVERYDAY ELEMENTS
IN WAYS THAT WILL BLOW YOUR MIND.
I'VE GOT A TALENTED TEAM
OF ENGINEERS AND EXPERTS,
INCLUDING THE BACKYARD SCIENTIST HIMSELF...
WAIT. THAT WAS A TWIST-OFF?
...AND OUR CINEMATOGRAPHER, DARREN,
WHO USES HIGH-TECH CAMERAS
TO REVEAL THE SCIENCE THAT SURROUNDS US
IN WAYS YOU'VE NEVER SEEN BEFORE.
Dyk: THAT'S GNARLY.
THIS IS "STREET SCIENCE."
FIRE... LIFE IS TOUGH WITHOUT IT,
BUT DON'T GET TOO CLOSE.
EVEN THOUGH SOME PEOPLE ARE
ALWAYS TEMPTED TO PUSH THE EDGE,
DO NOT TRY ANY OF THIS AT HOME.
♪♪
Delaney: SO, WE'RE GOING
TO MEET THIS GUY, NOAH.
NOAH HAS A VERY INTERESTING SET OF SKILLS.
-OH, AWESOME. -SOUNDS FUN.
ALL RIGHT. THERE'S NOAH. HEY, MAN.
AND, DARREN, HE'S GOT YOUR FAVORITE THING.
OOH.
WELL, THAT'S A LITTLE BIT INTENSE.
-VERY, VERY COOL. -AHH!
♪♪
IT'S VERY SIMPLE, BUT IT LOOKS INCREDIBLE.
I WONDER IF ANYBODY ELSE WANTS TO TRY.
HEY, EXCUSE ME, Y'ALL. DO
YOU WANT TO TRY SOMETHING?
-YEAH! -COME ON OVER.
HELLO. SO, MY FRIEND NOAH
HAS A VERY INTERESTING SKILL SET.
NOAH, GO AHEAD AND SHOW THEM.
♪♪
♪♪
SO, HOW DO YOU THINK HE DOES THAT?
IS IT THE SALIVA IN THE MOUTH?
THE SALIVA HELPS A LOT.
IT CREATES KIND OF A
LITTLE BIT OF A BARRIER.
BUT ALSO, IT'S THE OXYGEN.
♪♪
Noah: I PUT THE FIRE INSIDE MY MOUTH,
AND I CLOSE MY LIPS AROUND THE TORCH,
AND THAT EXTINGUISHES THE FLAME.
YOU TAKE AWAY OXYGEN, THERE'S NO FIRE.
Delaney: YOU WANT TO TRY IT?
-YEAH. -SURE.
-ALL RIGHT. -HERE YOU GO.
THE ALCOHOL IN MY MOUTH WON'T...?
Delaney: NO. I THINK YOU'RE OKAY.
YEAH, WILL THAT LIGHT ON FIRE?
Delaney: ONLY A PRO
SHOULD DO WHAT NOAH DOES.
FOR THESE VOLUNTEERS,
WE'VE GOT SOMETHING SAFER...
A SMALL PIECE OF 100% COTTON.
BASICALLY, YOU'LL LIGHT IT
UP. AS SOON AS YOU SEE FIRE...
Woman: PUT IT IN YOUR MOUTH.
THAT WOULDN'T BE MY
FIRST INSTINCT, BUT OKAY.
ONTO THE TONGUE, CLOSE YOUR MOUTH,
WAIT A HALF A BEAT.
NOAH, ANY TIPS?
-ANY TIPS? -DO IT QUICKLY.
[ LAUGHTER ]
Woman: DON'T MAKE THAT FACE!
♪♪
-OH. -NICELY DONE.
NICELY DONE. THERE YOU GO.
CAN YOU GUYS DO THAT? YEAH.
I'VE GOT A LITTLE BIT OF
COTTON HERE AND A LIGHTER.
YOU WANT TO GO FIRST? -SURE.
♪♪
Delaney: NO ONE IS GETTING BURNED
BECAUSE COTTON IS A POOR CONDUCTOR OF HEAT
AND THEIR MOUTHS ARE FULL OF SALIVA.
GIVE IT A SHOT?
SO, THIS IS THE SIMPLE
WAY TO EAT FIRE, RIGHT?
♪♪
-NICE. HOW DOES THAT TASTE? -NOT GOOD.
IT TASTES LIKE COTTON THAT'S BURNT.
♪♪
Delaney: AFTER EATING FIRE,
THE LOGICAL NEXT STEP
IS WALKING ON FIRE, RIGHT?
♪♪
BUT FIRST, WE NEED TO MAKE HOT EMBERS.
IT'LL BE A FEW HOURS.
♪♪
MEANWHILE, NICK AND I HEAD TO THE STREET
TO PROPOSE A CHALLENGE.
CAN A 1-OUNCE SHEET OF PAPER
HOLD UP A HEAVY DINNER PLATE...
MAYBE EVEN A WHOLE STACK OF THEM?
EACH ONE OF YOU HAS A
PLATE AND A PIECE OF PAPER,
AND Y'ALL HAVE ACCESS
TO THE TAPE IN THE CENTER,
AND SO WE WANT YOU TO DO
IS PUT TOGETHER A STRUCTURE
THAT CAN SUPPORT THE PLATE OFF THE TABLE.
THE PLATE CANNOT BE TOUCHING THE TABLE.
-SURE. -ALL RIGHT.
- SO, YOU THINK YOU'RE UP FOR IT?
- I GOT THIS.
MAKE SURE IT'S STABLE.
YOU DON'T WANT THAT
PLATE FALLING AND BREAKING.
-OF COURSE. -ALL RIGHT.
ALL RIGHT, GUYS. HAVE AT IT.
YOU TAKE THAT ONE. I'M GETTING THIS ONE.
Ben: OKAY.
Delaney: THE DINNER PLATE WEIGHS 1 POUND.
THE PAPER IS VERY THIN CARD STOCK.
ALL RIGHT. I GOT AN IDEA. I BET YOU DO.
Delaney: EVERY OPTION IS ON THE TABLE.
I'M FINE.
IT'S NOT WORKING.
THAT WAS A GOOD EFFORT, THOUGH.
SO, WHAT WAS YOUR IDEA THERE?
TO FOLD THE FOUR PIECES OF CORNERS
SO THEY'RE TALL ENOUGH
TO SUPPORT FOUR CORNERS.
-NICE. -PRETTY GOOD IDEA.
YEAH, I WAS GOING TO DO A CUBE.
A CUBE.
Delaney: JARREN'S FOUR-LEG
IDEA DIDN'T WORK TOO WELL,
BUT BEN HAS ANOTHER IDEA.
Delaney: HEY!
WE HAVE A WINNER. -BEAST.
Delaney: A CYLINDER.
SO, NICK, WHAT DO YOU THINK?
SO, WHAT'S REALLY INTERESTING ABOUT THIS
IS THAT A COLUMN OR CYLINDER LIKE THAT
HAS BEEN USED FOR STRUCTURES
FOR MANY, MANY YEARS
BECAUSE OF ITS INHERENT STRENGTH.
THINK OF THE COLUMNS IN THE COLOSSEUM
OR ANY OF THE OTHER OLD ROMAN STRUCTURES.
THEY'RE ALL USING COLUMNS.
IT'S THE EASIEST THING TO
BUILD OUT OF A PIECE OF PAPER,
AND IT'LL DEFINITELY HOLD IT,
AND I'LL BET IT'LL HOLD A LOT MORE WEIGHT
THAN JUST THAT ONE PLATE.
♪♪
THAT'S A LOT OF STUFF, MAN.
I WANT TO PUT IT TO THE TEST.
I WANT TO SEE HOW MUCH IT CAN HANDLE.
ALL RIGHT.
Householder: YEAH, GET
THE BIGGEST BASE YOU CAN
AND TRY YOUR BEST TO CENTER IT ON THERE.
OKAY.
Jarren: WAIT A MINUTE.
SEEMS LIKE HE'S DONE THIS.
Erin: YEAH, IT'S WOBBLY.
-YEAH. -AND THEN A BIG BOWL.
Jarren: I GOT THIS ONE OVER HERE.
-NICE. -WE GOT THIS.
Householder: YOU CAN DO THIS.
Delaney: AND THE PAPER
COLUMN IS STILL HOLDING.
I'M GOING TO BE THE ONE TO MAKE IT FALL.
JUST SET IT DOWN NICE AND SLOW.
THIS LAST CUP WILL TAKE THE
TOTAL PLATE WEIGHT TO 14 POUNDS.
SO FAR, SO GOOD.
THAT'S BECAUSE CYLINDERS ARE SUPERSTRONG
NO MATTER WHAT MATERIAL THEY'RE MADE OF.
CYLINDERS SPREAD THE LOAD
THROUGHOUT THEIR ENTIRE STRUCTURE,
VERSUS CUBES, THAT ARE
WEAKER ON THEIR CORNERS.
ALL RIGHT. HERE WE GO.
-EVERYBODY SPEEDY? -LET'S DO THIS.
Householder: HERE WE
GO. LET'S SEE IF IT'LL STAY.
♪♪
Delaney: CAN A SINGLE SHEET OF PAPER
SUPPORT OVER 10 POUNDS OF DISHWARE?
SO FAR, IT'S HOLDING, BUT
THE WEIGHT IS GROWING.
WHY DID YOU GUYS MAKE ME DO IT?
HERE WE GO. LET'S SEE IF IT'LL STAY.
WHOA!
IT WAS GOOD UNTIL THE LAST CUP.
IT WOULD'VE BEEN PERFECTLY FINE.
AND THAT'S THE CATCHPHRASE FOR THE GAME...
"GOOD TO THE LAST CUP. IN STORES SOON."
[ LAUGHS ]
Householder: WHOA!
Ben: I ONLY THOUGHT
THERE WAS ONLY GOING TO BE
ABOUT FOUR OR FIVE PLATES
GOING TO BE ABLE TO STAND ON IT,
BUT IT WITHSTOOD ALL OF IT,
AND IT WAS PRETTY IMPRESSIVE.
WHOA!
Delaney: THE WEIGHT OF ALL THAT DISHWARE
FINALLY STARTED TO
CRUSH THE PAPER CYLINDER,
CAUSING IT TO TIP AND...
♪♪
THE CYLINDER WAS A VERY SIMPLE STRUCTURE,
BUT THIS NEXT BUILDING CHALLENGE
IS A LOT MORE COMPLICATED.
-BUILD A BRIDGE. -ALL RIGHT.
SO, ALL YOU NEED IS THESE MATERIALS
AND YOUR HANDS.
WHAT'S REALLY SPECIAL
ABOUT THIS BRIDGE IS THAT
EVERY ONE OF THESE SEGMENTS
SUPPORTS ALL THE OTHER ONES,
AND YOU DON'T NEED WOOD,
NAILS, GLUE, ROPE... ANYTHING...
AND IT'S REALLY EASY TO MAKE.
I CAN SHOW YOU THE FIRST COUPLE
OF STEPS. ALL RIGHT, COME ON.
Ben: I DIDN'T SEE HOW IT'D BE POSSIBLE
TO ACTUALLY CONSTRUCT A
BRIDGE WITH JUST 2x4s AND DOWELS,
WITHOUT ANY NAILS OR SCREWS.
GRAB ONE OF THOSE DOWELS.
THIS BOARD GOES ACROSS HERE.
NOW YOU GRAB THE NEXT TWO.
ALL RIGHT. SO, NOW, BOTH OF
YOU, PICK UP THOSE SAME BOARDS.
YEP.
NOW, ERIN, GO THROUGH.
Ben: SHE'LL BE PULLING THERE.
AND, YOU GUYS, SET IT BACK DOWN...
JUST LIKE THAT.
-THERE YOU GO. -OHH!
MAGIC... TRULY MAGIC.
♪♪
NICE WORK, GUYS. YOU BUILT A BRIDGE.
HOW MUCH WEIGHT DO
YOU THINK THIS COULD HOLD?
WELL, I HAVEN'T TRIED IT YET,
BUT THERE'S ONE WAY TO FIND OUT.
♪♪
♪♪
EVERYBODY'S ON A BRIDGE.
Ben: I HONESTLY THOUGHT IT
WOULD JUST HOLD MAYBE TWO OF US...
NOT ALL OF US AT THE SAME TIME.
NO ROPES, NO NAILS, NO GLUE.
SO, THIS IS CALLED A DA VINCI BRIDGE,
NAMED AFTER LEONARDO DA VINCI.
HOW DOES IT WORK?
WELL, THE WAY THAT IT
WORKS IS THAT THESE DOWELS
ARE IN THE MIDDLE OF EACH BOARD.
SO IF YOU LOOK DOWN THE LENGTH
OF THE BRIDGE, YOU'LL NOTICE
THAT THE DOWEL IS RESTING ON
TOP OF THE CENTER OF A BOARD.
MM-HMM.
SO WHAT'S HAPPENING IS
THE WEIGHT OF THIS BOARD
IS BEING PUT INTO THE
DOWELS BEFORE AND AFTER IT,
WHICH ARE TRANSFERRING THAT WEIGHT
INTO EACH SUCCESSIVE BOARD
ALL THE WAY DOWN THE LINE.
SO IT'S THIS SELF-SUPPORTING ARCH.
♪♪
♪♪
Delaney: NOW BACK TO THE ANCIENT
PRACTICE OF WALKING ON FIRE.
WE'VE ENLISTED DAVE
WILLEY, A FIREWALKING EXPERT.
WILLEY HAS WALKED ON
HOT COALS OVER 1,000 TIMES.
HE SPENT FOUR HOURS
BURNING A 3-FOOT-HIGH STACK OF CHERRYWOOD
INTO A BED OF HOT COALS.
I REALLY NEED TO SEE THIS HAPPEN LIVE.
I NEED TO SEE IT FOR MYSELF.
♪♪
Willey: ON AVERAGE, USUALLY,
A FIREWALK IS ABOUT 1,000
OR SO DEGREES FAHRENHEIT.
ALL RIGHT. Y'ALL READY?
-YOU READY? -YEP.
ALL RIGHT. HAVE A GOOD TIME.
Householder: THANKS. [ LAUGHTER ]
♪♪
Delaney: IT'S AN ANCIENT CHALLENGE...
CROSSING A BED OF HOT
COALS AND NOT GETTING BURNED.
DOES IT REQUIRE SOME MYSTICAL
"MIND OVER MATTER" SECRET?
THE TEAM IS ABOUT TO FIND OUT.
DAVID, THANK YOU SO MUCH
FOR DOING THIS FOR US.
-YOU'RE WELCOME. -THIS IS REALLY COOL.
SO, PEOPLE HAVE BEEN DOING
THIS FOR A VERY LONG TIME.
IS THAT RIGHT? -OH, AT LEAST 2,000 YEARS.
AND THERE TENDS TO BE
A KIND OF, LIKE, SPIRITUAL,
MYSTICAL, YOU KNOW, VIBE ATTACHED TO IT.
YES, YOU CAN MAKE MONEY OFF IT THAT WAY.
WELL, I KNOW THE TEAM IS
INTERESTED IN GIVING IT A SHOT.
Delaney: THESE COALS
ARE ALMOST 1,000 DEGREES,
AND THE BED IS OVER 20 FEET LONG.
SKIN BURNS AT TEMPERATURES AS
LOW AS 110 DEGREES FAHRENHEIT,
SO YOU CAN SEE WHY THE
TEAM MIGHT BE A LITTLE NERVOUS.
Woman: I'VE SEEN IT HAPPEN ON TV BEFORE,
BUT I'VE NEVER SEEN IT LIVE,
SO I WAS LIKE, "I REALLY
NEED TO SEE THIS HAPPEN LIVE."
♪♪
-WELL, THERE YOU GO. -MAKES IT LOOK EASY.
[ CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ]
Delaney: DAVID MAKES IT LOOK
EASY, BUT HE'S DONE THIS BEFORE,
AND THIS IS ANNE-LISE'S
FIRST TIME OVER THE COALS.
-OKAY. -YOU CAN DO IT.
Emig: [ SIGHS ] OH, GOODNESS.
Willey: TAKING THAT VERY FIRST STEP
TAKES A CERTAIN STRENGTH OF MIND TO DO IT.
♪♪
[ CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ]
-OH, WOW! -WIPE YOUR FEET OFF.
ANNE-LISE, YOU'RE MY HERO.
-THERE YOU GO. -ALL RIGHT.
Willey: THAT'S WORDS OF ENCOURAGEMENT.
[ EXHALES DEEPLY ]
Willey: WHEN PEOPLE
WANT TO DO THIS WITH ME,
I TELL THEM THAT THEY NEED TO WALK BRISKLY,
KEEP THEIR FEET FLAT...
DON'T CURL THEIR TOES UP
'CAUSE THAT WILL TEND TO PICK UP COALS...
AND HAVE IN YOUR MIND
GETTING OFF THE FAR END
WHEN YOU GET ON THIS END.
GO, NICK!
[ CHEERING ]
[ CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ]
I THOUGHT NICK AND
ANNE-LISE WERE REALLY BRAVE
BECAUSE I THOUGHT IT
WAS GOING TO BE SUPER HOT.
I MEAN, IT IS FIRE.
HOW ARE YOU GUYS DOING? DID IT HURT AT ALL?
PAINLESS... COMPLETELY PAINLESS.
I THINK MY HEART IS RACING
MORE THAN IT AFFECTED MY FEET.
[ LAUGHTER ]
♪♪
Delaney: DAVID HAS SOME INSIGHTS
ON WHY OUR VOLUNTEERS
DIDN'T FLASH-FRY THEIR FEET.
-IT'S JUST PHYSICS. -PHYSICS.
THAT'S ALL THAT'S GOING TO KEEP YOU SAFE.
RIGHT. EXACTLY.
Willey: THE REASON THAT YOU
CAN FIREWALK ON BURNING WOOD
IS BECAUSE WOOD IS A VERY,
VERY POOR CONDUCTOR OF HEAT...
ABOUT 1/1,000th AS GOOD AS A METAL.
WOOD THAT HOT... YOU CAN WALK ON IT.
YOU TOUCH METAL THAT
HOT, YOU'RE GOING TO BURN.
Delaney: WOOD IS A POOR CONDUCTOR OF HEAT,
WHICH IS ALSO WHY YOU CAN
HOLD A LIT WOODEN MATCH
AND NOT FEEL THE HEAT IN YOUR FINGERS.
ANYBODY ELSE WANT TO GIVE IT A SHOT?
THERE WE GO.
JUST KIND OF PSYCHING MYSELF UP, LIKE,
"THIS IS GOING TO BE OKAY. I'M A SUPERHERO.
I CAN DO THIS."
[ CHEERING ]
IN MY HEAD, I WAS LIKE,
"NO, YOU NEED TO GO FAST.
YOU NEED TO DO THIS REALLY QUICKLY.
GO, GO, GO, GO, GO."
Delaney: THERMAL IMAGING SHOWS
THE SURFACE OF THE BED OF COALS
IS COOLER THAN THE COALS UNDERNEATH.
THAT'S BECAUSE A LAYER OF ASH FORMS ON TOP.
THIS HELPS PREVENT HEAT
TRANSFERRING TO EVERYONE'S FEET.
CONGRATULATIONS.
-THANK YOU, FOLKS. -GOOD JOB, EVERYBODY.
-AND A BIG HAND FOR PHYSICS. -THERE YOU GO.
[ CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ]
♪♪
Delaney: WE'VE ALL HEARD THE SAYING
THAT SOMEONE IS BURNING
A CANDLE AT BOTH ENDS,
BUT WHAT HAPPENS WHEN
A REAL CANDLE DOES THIS?
DAN, GO AHEAD AND GRAB THAT LIGHTER
AND LIGHT THAT CANDLE ON THE BOTTOM THERE.
ALL RIGHT.
NOW, DANIEL, GO AHEAD AND
YOU LIGHT THE TOP THERE.
-ALL RIGHT. -OBSERVE WHAT HAPPENS.
OH, HERE WE GO. HERE WE GO.
Delaney: OUR CANDLE BECOMES A
SEESAW PIVOTING ON A STATIONARY POINT.
IT MOVES BECAUSE AS IT BURNS,
THE CANDLE'S MASS CHANGES.
AS THE HEAVIER END OF THE
CANDLE MOVES DOWNWARDS,
THE ANGLE CAUSES THE WAX
TO MELT FASTER AND DRIP MORE,
INCREASING THE SPEED
OF THE SEESAWING ACTION.
I WILL NEVER THINK YOU
CAN DO THAT WITH A CANDLE.
IT'S PRETTY COOL.
♪♪
SO, IT'S A NICE ILLUSTRATION
OF THAT METAPHOR, YOU KNOW...
MAKES YOU FEEL CRAZY, YOU'RE
BURNING A CANDLE AT BOTH ENDS,
GOING BACK AND FORTH.
-WOW. -YEAH.
Delaney: WHILE THAT BURN
SEEMS RELATIVELY HARMLESS,
OUR CHEMIST, ANNE-LISE,
IS MIXING UP SOMETHING
THAT'S A BIT MORE EXPLOSIVE.
I'VE GOT SOME DRAIN CLEANER
HERE AND SOME ALUMINUM FOIL,
SO THE FIRST THING THAT I NEED
IS THIS ALUMINUM FOIL
TORN INTO SMALL PIECES,
AND THEN, WHILE ALL OF
YOU GUYS ARE DOING THAT,
I'M JUST GOING TO GO AHEAD
AND PUT A LITTLE BIT INTO OUR WINE BOTTLE.
AND THIS JUST HAS PLAIN WATER IN IT
FOR THE REACTION TO HAPPEN IN.
Delaney: AND DRAIN CLEANER
IS SODIUM HYDROXIDE, RIGHT?
YES, EXACTLY.
SO, NOW I'M JUST GOING TO
DUMP THESE PIECES OF ALUMINUM
INTO OUR SOLUTION.
OOPS.
AND THEN I'M GOING TO PUT
THIS BALLOON OVER THE TOP.
Delaney: BUBBLES FORM AND RELEASE GAS.
♪♪
-ALL RIGHT. SO, YOU READY? -YEP.
GOING TO PUT THE BALLOON OVER THE CANDLE.
♪♪
[BLEEP]
Delaney: ANNE-LISE MIXED SODIUM
HYDROXIDE AND ALUMINUM FOIL
TO FILL A BALLOON WITH GAS.
NOW SHE ADDS A FLAME AND... [BLEEP]
SORRY.
♪♪
♪♪
Delaney: THE SODIUM HYDROXIDE
REACTS TO THE ALUMINUM FOIL,
PRODUCING ALUMINUM
HYDROXIDE AND HYDROGEN GAS,
WHICH FILLS THE BALLOON.
Emig: YEAH, IT'S DEFINITELY PRETTY WARM.
SO, NOW, ANNE-LISE,
WE'VE GOT A BALLOON FULL OF HYDROGEN GAS.
MM-HMM.
Dyk: EXPLOSIVE GASES CAN
OFTEN BE SUPER FLASHY,
BUT FROM A VISUAL PERSPECTIVE,
I THINK WHAT WAS MOST INTERESTING TO ME
IS THAT IT WAS A SPHERICAL EXPLOSION.
SO, THE BALLOON HAS A
FAIRLY CONSISTENT SHAPE,
SO WHEN IT EXPLODES,
IT LOOKED PRETTY IN A
CIRCULAR FORM AS IT EXPLODED.
Delaney: THE BALLOON'S ENTIRE VOLUME OF GAS
BURNS AT A FRACTION OF A SECOND,
CREATING A SHOCK WAVE THROUGH THE AIR
AND A LOUD, EXPLOSIVE BANG.
WELL, THANK YOU VERY MUCH,
ANNE-LISE. THAT WAS AMAZING.
[ LAUGHS ]
TOO MUCH FOR ONE DAY.
THANK YOU. THAT WAS AMAZING. I LOVE THAT.
Delaney: IT'S THE ULTIMATE
FIRE CHALLENGE...
LIGHTING A HUMAN BEING ON FIRE.
BUT HOW IS IT DONE?
PLEASE DON'T EVEN THINK
OF TRYING THIS AT HOME.
WE'VE ENLISTED T.J., A
PROFESSIONAL STUNT PERFORMER,
AND WE HAVE THE FIRE
DEPARTMENT ON HAND JUST IN CASE.
WE'RE THE FIRE DEPARTMENT.
WE'RE USED TO PUTTING FIRE
OUT, NOT SETTING PEOPLE ON FIRE.
Delaney: TO MAKE T.J.'s
RIDE MORE CHALLENGING,
WE'RE LIGHTING UP A WALL OF BOXES.
YOU READY TO SEE SOMETHING KIND OF COOL?
-YEAH. -ALL RIGHT, LOOK OVER THERE.
♪♪
♪♪
Delaney: REMEMBER, T.J. IS A
PROFESSIONAL STUNT PERFORMER.
♪♪
♪♪
Man: WOW.
[ APPLAUSE ]
-NOT BAD. -THAT WAS AMAZING.
-HAS TO BE HOT. -YEAH, IT DOES.
SO, WHAT DO Y'ALL THINK?
Woman: IT WAS SO COOL.
I CAN'T EVEN IMAGINE.
CRAZY. CRAZY TO SEE.
T.J.: JUST A MATTER OF BEING
CALM, GET UP, RUN AROUND,
DON'T RUN BACK IN THE
FIRE, AND HAVE A GOOD TIME.
SO, HOW DO YOU DO THAT? THAT'S RIDICULOUS.
IT'S ONE THING TO EXPLAIN IT.
IT'S A LITTLE DIFFICULT TO
KIND OF MAKE SENSE OF IT.
BUT IF WE HAVE A VOLUNTEER,
WE COULD MAYBE SHOW YOU.
YEAH, ALL RIGHT. NICK,
YOU VOLUNTEER, RIGHT?
WHAT?
Delaney: BRENT WORKS WITH T.J.,
AND HE'S ALSO A LONGTIME STUNT PERFORMER.
WHEN IT STARTS TO FEEL WARM,
YOU GOT TO GET IT OUT RIGHT AWAY.
WHEN YOU START TO FEEL IT, IT'S TOO LATE.
EVERYBODY READY?
ALL RIGHT. SO YOU'RE ON FIRE.
HOW YOU FEELING? -FEELING FINE.
I'M A SUPERHERO! -YOU ARE.
YOU ARE ON FIRE. YOU'RE A STUNTMAN TODAY.
ALL RIGHT.
ALL RIGHT. LET'S PUT HIM OUT.
-ISN'T THAT CRAZY? -WATCH YOUR HEAD.
...TWO, ONE.
Delaney: WHY DIDN'T NICK FEEL THE BURN?
UNDER HIS COSTUME, NICK'S
ARM IS WRAPPED IN ALUMINUM FOIL.
IT ACTS AS A VAPOR BARRIER
AND PHYSICAL BARRIER.
UNDER THE FOIL, THERE'S A LAYER OF NOMEX,
A FIRE-RESISTANT MATERIAL
THAT'S USED IN PROFESSIONAL STUNT GEAR.
UNDER THE NOMEX, THERE'S FIRE-RESISTANT GEL
AND THEN ANOTHER LAYER OF NOMEX.
AFTER THAT, IT'S ALL NICK.
Householder: THE WHOLE IDEA IS THAT
YOU'VE GOT ALL THESE COOL LAYERS
ABSORBING ALL OF THE ENERGY FROM THE FIRE
INSTEAD OF IT GOING INTO MY ARM.
Delaney: IT'S THE EXACT
SAME LAYERING THAT T.J. USES
TO PROTECT HIMSELF FROM BURNING.
Householder: BRENT, THANK YOU
SO MUCH. THAT WAS AWESOME.
BUT WHAT ARE THE LIMITS TO
BEING ON FIRE AND SURVIVING?
NOW ANDREW, ANOTHER MEMBER OF THE TEAM,
WANTS TO TRY A STUNT THAT'S
NEVER BEEN DONE SUCCESSFULLY.
Delaney: SO, HOW LONG IS
HE GOING TO BE ON FIRE?
30 SECONDS TO A MINUTE,
WHICH IS ACTUALLY A VERY LONG TIME ON FIRE.
♪♪
♪♪
Delaney: HE IS USING A WATER-PROPELLED
JETPACK CALLED A FLYBOARD
TO DO STUNTS HIGH IN THE AIR WHILE ON FIRE.
-WHOOOOO! -YEAH!
Delaney: WOW. VERY COOL, MAN.
YOU KNOW, JUST SEEING THAT, IT'S... WHAT?
...
LESS THAN A MINUTE OF FIRE AND EXCITEMENT,
BUT REALLY, THE AMOUNT
OF PLANNING AND SCIENCE
AND COORDINATION AND SAFETY PLANNING
THAT GOES INTO THAT IS JUST INSANE.
TO MAKE SOMETHING LIKE THAT HAPPEN
AND HAVE EVERYBODY COME OUT OKAY,
IT'S REALLY IMPRESSIVE, BRENT.
GOOD JOB. -THANK YOU. THEY DID GREAT.
ALL RIGHT, NICK. YOU SEE HOW IT'S DONE?
NOW IT'S YOUR TURN.
I THOUGHT WE WERE JUST DOING THE ARM THING.
NOPE. GET OUT THERE!
BRENT?
-YEAH. -ALL RIGHT, LOOK OVER THERE.
Delaney: WE'RE PITTING
HUMANS AGAINST FIRE...
WHOO!
...EATING FIRE...
THAT WOULDN'T BE MY
FIRST INSTINCT, BUT OKAY.
...WALKING ON FIRE... IT IS FIRE.
NICK, YOU VOLUNTEER, RIGHT?
Delaney: ...AND SETTING SOMEONE ON FIRE.
♪♪
MY NAME IS KEVIN DELANEY.
I'VE BEEN SHOWING OFF THE
MAGIC OF SCIENCE FOR YEARS,
FROM MUSEUMS TO TALK SHOWS.
WE'RE TAKING SCIENCE TO THE STREETS
AND COMBINING EVERYDAY ELEMENTS
IN WAYS THAT WILL BLOW YOUR MIND.
I'VE GOT A TALENTED TEAM
OF ENGINEERS AND EXPERTS,
INCLUDING THE BACKYARD SCIENTIST HIMSELF...
WAIT. THAT WAS A TWIST-OFF?
...AND OUR CINEMATOGRAPHER, DARREN,
WHO USES HIGH-TECH CAMERAS
TO REVEAL THE SCIENCE THAT SURROUNDS US
IN WAYS YOU'VE NEVER SEEN BEFORE.
Dyk: THAT'S GNARLY.
THIS IS "STREET SCIENCE."
FIRE... LIFE IS TOUGH WITHOUT IT,
BUT DON'T GET TOO CLOSE.
EVEN THOUGH SOME PEOPLE ARE
ALWAYS TEMPTED TO PUSH THE EDGE,
DO NOT TRY ANY OF THIS AT HOME.
♪♪
Delaney: SO, WE'RE GOING
TO MEET THIS GUY, NOAH.
NOAH HAS A VERY INTERESTING SET OF SKILLS.
-OH, AWESOME. -SOUNDS FUN.
ALL RIGHT. THERE'S NOAH. HEY, MAN.
AND, DARREN, HE'S GOT YOUR FAVORITE THING.
OOH.
WELL, THAT'S A LITTLE BIT INTENSE.
-VERY, VERY COOL. -AHH!
♪♪
IT'S VERY SIMPLE, BUT IT LOOKS INCREDIBLE.
I WONDER IF ANYBODY ELSE WANTS TO TRY.
HEY, EXCUSE ME, Y'ALL. DO
YOU WANT TO TRY SOMETHING?
-YEAH! -COME ON OVER.
HELLO. SO, MY FRIEND NOAH
HAS A VERY INTERESTING SKILL SET.
NOAH, GO AHEAD AND SHOW THEM.
♪♪
♪♪
SO, HOW DO YOU THINK HE DOES THAT?
IS IT THE SALIVA IN THE MOUTH?
THE SALIVA HELPS A LOT.
IT CREATES KIND OF A
LITTLE BIT OF A BARRIER.
BUT ALSO, IT'S THE OXYGEN.
♪♪
Noah: I PUT THE FIRE INSIDE MY MOUTH,
AND I CLOSE MY LIPS AROUND THE TORCH,
AND THAT EXTINGUISHES THE FLAME.
YOU TAKE AWAY OXYGEN, THERE'S NO FIRE.
Delaney: YOU WANT TO TRY IT?
-YEAH. -SURE.
-ALL RIGHT. -HERE YOU GO.
THE ALCOHOL IN MY MOUTH WON'T...?
Delaney: NO. I THINK YOU'RE OKAY.
YEAH, WILL THAT LIGHT ON FIRE?
Delaney: ONLY A PRO
SHOULD DO WHAT NOAH DOES.
FOR THESE VOLUNTEERS,
WE'VE GOT SOMETHING SAFER...
A SMALL PIECE OF 100% COTTON.
BASICALLY, YOU'LL LIGHT IT
UP. AS SOON AS YOU SEE FIRE...
Woman: PUT IT IN YOUR MOUTH.
THAT WOULDN'T BE MY
FIRST INSTINCT, BUT OKAY.
ONTO THE TONGUE, CLOSE YOUR MOUTH,
WAIT A HALF A BEAT.
NOAH, ANY TIPS?
-ANY TIPS? -DO IT QUICKLY.
[ LAUGHTER ]
Woman: DON'T MAKE THAT FACE!
♪♪
-OH. -NICELY DONE.
NICELY DONE. THERE YOU GO.
CAN YOU GUYS DO THAT? YEAH.
I'VE GOT A LITTLE BIT OF
COTTON HERE AND A LIGHTER.
YOU WANT TO GO FIRST? -SURE.
♪♪
Delaney: NO ONE IS GETTING BURNED
BECAUSE COTTON IS A POOR CONDUCTOR OF HEAT
AND THEIR MOUTHS ARE FULL OF SALIVA.
GIVE IT A SHOT?
SO, THIS IS THE SIMPLE
WAY TO EAT FIRE, RIGHT?
♪♪
-NICE. HOW DOES THAT TASTE? -NOT GOOD.
IT TASTES LIKE COTTON THAT'S BURNT.
♪♪
Delaney: AFTER EATING FIRE,
THE LOGICAL NEXT STEP
IS WALKING ON FIRE, RIGHT?
♪♪
BUT FIRST, WE NEED TO MAKE HOT EMBERS.
IT'LL BE A FEW HOURS.
♪♪
MEANWHILE, NICK AND I HEAD TO THE STREET
TO PROPOSE A CHALLENGE.
CAN A 1-OUNCE SHEET OF PAPER
HOLD UP A HEAVY DINNER PLATE...
MAYBE EVEN A WHOLE STACK OF THEM?
EACH ONE OF YOU HAS A
PLATE AND A PIECE OF PAPER,
AND Y'ALL HAVE ACCESS
TO THE TAPE IN THE CENTER,
AND SO WE WANT YOU TO DO
IS PUT TOGETHER A STRUCTURE
THAT CAN SUPPORT THE PLATE OFF THE TABLE.
THE PLATE CANNOT BE TOUCHING THE TABLE.
-SURE. -ALL RIGHT.
- SO, YOU THINK YOU'RE UP FOR IT?
- I GOT THIS.
MAKE SURE IT'S STABLE.
YOU DON'T WANT THAT
PLATE FALLING AND BREAKING.
-OF COURSE. -ALL RIGHT.
ALL RIGHT, GUYS. HAVE AT IT.
YOU TAKE THAT ONE. I'M GETTING THIS ONE.
Ben: OKAY.
Delaney: THE DINNER PLATE WEIGHS 1 POUND.
THE PAPER IS VERY THIN CARD STOCK.
ALL RIGHT. I GOT AN IDEA. I BET YOU DO.
Delaney: EVERY OPTION IS ON THE TABLE.
I'M FINE.
IT'S NOT WORKING.
THAT WAS A GOOD EFFORT, THOUGH.
SO, WHAT WAS YOUR IDEA THERE?
TO FOLD THE FOUR PIECES OF CORNERS
SO THEY'RE TALL ENOUGH
TO SUPPORT FOUR CORNERS.
-NICE. -PRETTY GOOD IDEA.
YEAH, I WAS GOING TO DO A CUBE.
A CUBE.
Delaney: JARREN'S FOUR-LEG
IDEA DIDN'T WORK TOO WELL,
BUT BEN HAS ANOTHER IDEA.
Delaney: HEY!
WE HAVE A WINNER. -BEAST.
Delaney: A CYLINDER.
SO, NICK, WHAT DO YOU THINK?
SO, WHAT'S REALLY INTERESTING ABOUT THIS
IS THAT A COLUMN OR CYLINDER LIKE THAT
HAS BEEN USED FOR STRUCTURES
FOR MANY, MANY YEARS
BECAUSE OF ITS INHERENT STRENGTH.
THINK OF THE COLUMNS IN THE COLOSSEUM
OR ANY OF THE OTHER OLD ROMAN STRUCTURES.
THEY'RE ALL USING COLUMNS.
IT'S THE EASIEST THING TO
BUILD OUT OF A PIECE OF PAPER,
AND IT'LL DEFINITELY HOLD IT,
AND I'LL BET IT'LL HOLD A LOT MORE WEIGHT
THAN JUST THAT ONE PLATE.
♪♪
THAT'S A LOT OF STUFF, MAN.
I WANT TO PUT IT TO THE TEST.
I WANT TO SEE HOW MUCH IT CAN HANDLE.
ALL RIGHT.
Householder: YEAH, GET
THE BIGGEST BASE YOU CAN
AND TRY YOUR BEST TO CENTER IT ON THERE.
OKAY.
Jarren: WAIT A MINUTE.
SEEMS LIKE HE'S DONE THIS.
Erin: YEAH, IT'S WOBBLY.
-YEAH. -AND THEN A BIG BOWL.
Jarren: I GOT THIS ONE OVER HERE.
-NICE. -WE GOT THIS.
Householder: YOU CAN DO THIS.
Delaney: AND THE PAPER
COLUMN IS STILL HOLDING.
I'M GOING TO BE THE ONE TO MAKE IT FALL.
JUST SET IT DOWN NICE AND SLOW.
THIS LAST CUP WILL TAKE THE
TOTAL PLATE WEIGHT TO 14 POUNDS.
SO FAR, SO GOOD.
THAT'S BECAUSE CYLINDERS ARE SUPERSTRONG
NO MATTER WHAT MATERIAL THEY'RE MADE OF.
CYLINDERS SPREAD THE LOAD
THROUGHOUT THEIR ENTIRE STRUCTURE,
VERSUS CUBES, THAT ARE
WEAKER ON THEIR CORNERS.
ALL RIGHT. HERE WE GO.
-EVERYBODY SPEEDY? -LET'S DO THIS.
Householder: HERE WE
GO. LET'S SEE IF IT'LL STAY.
♪♪
Delaney: CAN A SINGLE SHEET OF PAPER
SUPPORT OVER 10 POUNDS OF DISHWARE?
SO FAR, IT'S HOLDING, BUT
THE WEIGHT IS GROWING.
WHY DID YOU GUYS MAKE ME DO IT?
HERE WE GO. LET'S SEE IF IT'LL STAY.
WHOA!
IT WAS GOOD UNTIL THE LAST CUP.
IT WOULD'VE BEEN PERFECTLY FINE.
AND THAT'S THE CATCHPHRASE FOR THE GAME...
"GOOD TO THE LAST CUP. IN STORES SOON."
[ LAUGHS ]
Householder: WHOA!
Ben: I ONLY THOUGHT
THERE WAS ONLY GOING TO BE
ABOUT FOUR OR FIVE PLATES
GOING TO BE ABLE TO STAND ON IT,
BUT IT WITHSTOOD ALL OF IT,
AND IT WAS PRETTY IMPRESSIVE.
WHOA!
Delaney: THE WEIGHT OF ALL THAT DISHWARE
FINALLY STARTED TO
CRUSH THE PAPER CYLINDER,
CAUSING IT TO TIP AND...
♪♪
THE CYLINDER WAS A VERY SIMPLE STRUCTURE,
BUT THIS NEXT BUILDING CHALLENGE
IS A LOT MORE COMPLICATED.
-BUILD A BRIDGE. -ALL RIGHT.
SO, ALL YOU NEED IS THESE MATERIALS
AND YOUR HANDS.
WHAT'S REALLY SPECIAL
ABOUT THIS BRIDGE IS THAT
EVERY ONE OF THESE SEGMENTS
SUPPORTS ALL THE OTHER ONES,
AND YOU DON'T NEED WOOD,
NAILS, GLUE, ROPE... ANYTHING...
AND IT'S REALLY EASY TO MAKE.
I CAN SHOW YOU THE FIRST COUPLE
OF STEPS. ALL RIGHT, COME ON.
Ben: I DIDN'T SEE HOW IT'D BE POSSIBLE
TO ACTUALLY CONSTRUCT A
BRIDGE WITH JUST 2x4s AND DOWELS,
WITHOUT ANY NAILS OR SCREWS.
GRAB ONE OF THOSE DOWELS.
THIS BOARD GOES ACROSS HERE.
NOW YOU GRAB THE NEXT TWO.
ALL RIGHT. SO, NOW, BOTH OF
YOU, PICK UP THOSE SAME BOARDS.
YEP.
NOW, ERIN, GO THROUGH.
Ben: SHE'LL BE PULLING THERE.
AND, YOU GUYS, SET IT BACK DOWN...
JUST LIKE THAT.
-THERE YOU GO. -OHH!
MAGIC... TRULY MAGIC.
♪♪
NICE WORK, GUYS. YOU BUILT A BRIDGE.
HOW MUCH WEIGHT DO
YOU THINK THIS COULD HOLD?
WELL, I HAVEN'T TRIED IT YET,
BUT THERE'S ONE WAY TO FIND OUT.
♪♪
♪♪
EVERYBODY'S ON A BRIDGE.
Ben: I HONESTLY THOUGHT IT
WOULD JUST HOLD MAYBE TWO OF US...
NOT ALL OF US AT THE SAME TIME.
NO ROPES, NO NAILS, NO GLUE.
SO, THIS IS CALLED A DA VINCI BRIDGE,
NAMED AFTER LEONARDO DA VINCI.
HOW DOES IT WORK?
WELL, THE WAY THAT IT
WORKS IS THAT THESE DOWELS
ARE IN THE MIDDLE OF EACH BOARD.
SO IF YOU LOOK DOWN THE LENGTH
OF THE BRIDGE, YOU'LL NOTICE
THAT THE DOWEL IS RESTING ON
TOP OF THE CENTER OF A BOARD.
MM-HMM.
SO WHAT'S HAPPENING IS
THE WEIGHT OF THIS BOARD
IS BEING PUT INTO THE
DOWELS BEFORE AND AFTER IT,
WHICH ARE TRANSFERRING THAT WEIGHT
INTO EACH SUCCESSIVE BOARD
ALL THE WAY DOWN THE LINE.
SO IT'S THIS SELF-SUPPORTING ARCH.
♪♪
♪♪
Delaney: NOW BACK TO THE ANCIENT
PRACTICE OF WALKING ON FIRE.
WE'VE ENLISTED DAVE
WILLEY, A FIREWALKING EXPERT.
WILLEY HAS WALKED ON
HOT COALS OVER 1,000 TIMES.
HE SPENT FOUR HOURS
BURNING A 3-FOOT-HIGH STACK OF CHERRYWOOD
INTO A BED OF HOT COALS.
I REALLY NEED TO SEE THIS HAPPEN LIVE.
I NEED TO SEE IT FOR MYSELF.
♪♪
Willey: ON AVERAGE, USUALLY,
A FIREWALK IS ABOUT 1,000
OR SO DEGREES FAHRENHEIT.
ALL RIGHT. Y'ALL READY?
-YOU READY? -YEP.
ALL RIGHT. HAVE A GOOD TIME.
Householder: THANKS. [ LAUGHTER ]
♪♪
Delaney: IT'S AN ANCIENT CHALLENGE...
CROSSING A BED OF HOT
COALS AND NOT GETTING BURNED.
DOES IT REQUIRE SOME MYSTICAL
"MIND OVER MATTER" SECRET?
THE TEAM IS ABOUT TO FIND OUT.
DAVID, THANK YOU SO MUCH
FOR DOING THIS FOR US.
-YOU'RE WELCOME. -THIS IS REALLY COOL.
SO, PEOPLE HAVE BEEN DOING
THIS FOR A VERY LONG TIME.
IS THAT RIGHT? -OH, AT LEAST 2,000 YEARS.
AND THERE TENDS TO BE
A KIND OF, LIKE, SPIRITUAL,
MYSTICAL, YOU KNOW, VIBE ATTACHED TO IT.
YES, YOU CAN MAKE MONEY OFF IT THAT WAY.
WELL, I KNOW THE TEAM IS
INTERESTED IN GIVING IT A SHOT.
Delaney: THESE COALS
ARE ALMOST 1,000 DEGREES,
AND THE BED IS OVER 20 FEET LONG.
SKIN BURNS AT TEMPERATURES AS
LOW AS 110 DEGREES FAHRENHEIT,
SO YOU CAN SEE WHY THE
TEAM MIGHT BE A LITTLE NERVOUS.
Woman: I'VE SEEN IT HAPPEN ON TV BEFORE,
BUT I'VE NEVER SEEN IT LIVE,
SO I WAS LIKE, "I REALLY
NEED TO SEE THIS HAPPEN LIVE."
♪♪
-WELL, THERE YOU GO. -MAKES IT LOOK EASY.
[ CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ]
Delaney: DAVID MAKES IT LOOK
EASY, BUT HE'S DONE THIS BEFORE,
AND THIS IS ANNE-LISE'S
FIRST TIME OVER THE COALS.
-OKAY. -YOU CAN DO IT.
Emig: [ SIGHS ] OH, GOODNESS.
Willey: TAKING THAT VERY FIRST STEP
TAKES A CERTAIN STRENGTH OF MIND TO DO IT.
♪♪
[ CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ]
-OH, WOW! -WIPE YOUR FEET OFF.
ANNE-LISE, YOU'RE MY HERO.
-THERE YOU GO. -ALL RIGHT.
Willey: THAT'S WORDS OF ENCOURAGEMENT.
[ EXHALES DEEPLY ]
Willey: WHEN PEOPLE
WANT TO DO THIS WITH ME,
I TELL THEM THAT THEY NEED TO WALK BRISKLY,
KEEP THEIR FEET FLAT...
DON'T CURL THEIR TOES UP
'CAUSE THAT WILL TEND TO PICK UP COALS...
AND HAVE IN YOUR MIND
GETTING OFF THE FAR END
WHEN YOU GET ON THIS END.
GO, NICK!
[ CHEERING ]
[ CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ]
I THOUGHT NICK AND
ANNE-LISE WERE REALLY BRAVE
BECAUSE I THOUGHT IT
WAS GOING TO BE SUPER HOT.
I MEAN, IT IS FIRE.
HOW ARE YOU GUYS DOING? DID IT HURT AT ALL?
PAINLESS... COMPLETELY PAINLESS.
I THINK MY HEART IS RACING
MORE THAN IT AFFECTED MY FEET.
[ LAUGHTER ]
♪♪
Delaney: DAVID HAS SOME INSIGHTS
ON WHY OUR VOLUNTEERS
DIDN'T FLASH-FRY THEIR FEET.
-IT'S JUST PHYSICS. -PHYSICS.
THAT'S ALL THAT'S GOING TO KEEP YOU SAFE.
RIGHT. EXACTLY.
Willey: THE REASON THAT YOU
CAN FIREWALK ON BURNING WOOD
IS BECAUSE WOOD IS A VERY,
VERY POOR CONDUCTOR OF HEAT...
ABOUT 1/1,000th AS GOOD AS A METAL.
WOOD THAT HOT... YOU CAN WALK ON IT.
YOU TOUCH METAL THAT
HOT, YOU'RE GOING TO BURN.
Delaney: WOOD IS A POOR CONDUCTOR OF HEAT,
WHICH IS ALSO WHY YOU CAN
HOLD A LIT WOODEN MATCH
AND NOT FEEL THE HEAT IN YOUR FINGERS.
ANYBODY ELSE WANT TO GIVE IT A SHOT?
THERE WE GO.
JUST KIND OF PSYCHING MYSELF UP, LIKE,
"THIS IS GOING TO BE OKAY. I'M A SUPERHERO.
I CAN DO THIS."
[ CHEERING ]
IN MY HEAD, I WAS LIKE,
"NO, YOU NEED TO GO FAST.
YOU NEED TO DO THIS REALLY QUICKLY.
GO, GO, GO, GO, GO."
Delaney: THERMAL IMAGING SHOWS
THE SURFACE OF THE BED OF COALS
IS COOLER THAN THE COALS UNDERNEATH.
THAT'S BECAUSE A LAYER OF ASH FORMS ON TOP.
THIS HELPS PREVENT HEAT
TRANSFERRING TO EVERYONE'S FEET.
CONGRATULATIONS.
-THANK YOU, FOLKS. -GOOD JOB, EVERYBODY.
-AND A BIG HAND FOR PHYSICS. -THERE YOU GO.
[ CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ]
♪♪
Delaney: WE'VE ALL HEARD THE SAYING
THAT SOMEONE IS BURNING
A CANDLE AT BOTH ENDS,
BUT WHAT HAPPENS WHEN
A REAL CANDLE DOES THIS?
DAN, GO AHEAD AND GRAB THAT LIGHTER
AND LIGHT THAT CANDLE ON THE BOTTOM THERE.
ALL RIGHT.
NOW, DANIEL, GO AHEAD AND
YOU LIGHT THE TOP THERE.
-ALL RIGHT. -OBSERVE WHAT HAPPENS.
OH, HERE WE GO. HERE WE GO.
Delaney: OUR CANDLE BECOMES A
SEESAW PIVOTING ON A STATIONARY POINT.
IT MOVES BECAUSE AS IT BURNS,
THE CANDLE'S MASS CHANGES.
AS THE HEAVIER END OF THE
CANDLE MOVES DOWNWARDS,
THE ANGLE CAUSES THE WAX
TO MELT FASTER AND DRIP MORE,
INCREASING THE SPEED
OF THE SEESAWING ACTION.
I WILL NEVER THINK YOU
CAN DO THAT WITH A CANDLE.
IT'S PRETTY COOL.
♪♪
SO, IT'S A NICE ILLUSTRATION
OF THAT METAPHOR, YOU KNOW...
MAKES YOU FEEL CRAZY, YOU'RE
BURNING A CANDLE AT BOTH ENDS,
GOING BACK AND FORTH.
-WOW. -YEAH.
Delaney: WHILE THAT BURN
SEEMS RELATIVELY HARMLESS,
OUR CHEMIST, ANNE-LISE,
IS MIXING UP SOMETHING
THAT'S A BIT MORE EXPLOSIVE.
I'VE GOT SOME DRAIN CLEANER
HERE AND SOME ALUMINUM FOIL,
SO THE FIRST THING THAT I NEED
IS THIS ALUMINUM FOIL
TORN INTO SMALL PIECES,
AND THEN, WHILE ALL OF
YOU GUYS ARE DOING THAT,
I'M JUST GOING TO GO AHEAD
AND PUT A LITTLE BIT INTO OUR WINE BOTTLE.
AND THIS JUST HAS PLAIN WATER IN IT
FOR THE REACTION TO HAPPEN IN.
Delaney: AND DRAIN CLEANER
IS SODIUM HYDROXIDE, RIGHT?
YES, EXACTLY.
SO, NOW I'M JUST GOING TO
DUMP THESE PIECES OF ALUMINUM
INTO OUR SOLUTION.
OOPS.
AND THEN I'M GOING TO PUT
THIS BALLOON OVER THE TOP.
Delaney: BUBBLES FORM AND RELEASE GAS.
♪♪
-ALL RIGHT. SO, YOU READY? -YEP.
GOING TO PUT THE BALLOON OVER THE CANDLE.
♪♪
[BLEEP]
Delaney: ANNE-LISE MIXED SODIUM
HYDROXIDE AND ALUMINUM FOIL
TO FILL A BALLOON WITH GAS.
NOW SHE ADDS A FLAME AND... [BLEEP]
SORRY.
♪♪
♪♪
Delaney: THE SODIUM HYDROXIDE
REACTS TO THE ALUMINUM FOIL,
PRODUCING ALUMINUM
HYDROXIDE AND HYDROGEN GAS,
WHICH FILLS THE BALLOON.
Emig: YEAH, IT'S DEFINITELY PRETTY WARM.
SO, NOW, ANNE-LISE,
WE'VE GOT A BALLOON FULL OF HYDROGEN GAS.
MM-HMM.
Dyk: EXPLOSIVE GASES CAN
OFTEN BE SUPER FLASHY,
BUT FROM A VISUAL PERSPECTIVE,
I THINK WHAT WAS MOST INTERESTING TO ME
IS THAT IT WAS A SPHERICAL EXPLOSION.
SO, THE BALLOON HAS A
FAIRLY CONSISTENT SHAPE,
SO WHEN IT EXPLODES,
IT LOOKED PRETTY IN A
CIRCULAR FORM AS IT EXPLODED.
Delaney: THE BALLOON'S ENTIRE VOLUME OF GAS
BURNS AT A FRACTION OF A SECOND,
CREATING A SHOCK WAVE THROUGH THE AIR
AND A LOUD, EXPLOSIVE BANG.
WELL, THANK YOU VERY MUCH,
ANNE-LISE. THAT WAS AMAZING.
[ LAUGHS ]
TOO MUCH FOR ONE DAY.
THANK YOU. THAT WAS AMAZING. I LOVE THAT.
Delaney: IT'S THE ULTIMATE
FIRE CHALLENGE...
LIGHTING A HUMAN BEING ON FIRE.
BUT HOW IS IT DONE?
PLEASE DON'T EVEN THINK
OF TRYING THIS AT HOME.
WE'VE ENLISTED T.J., A
PROFESSIONAL STUNT PERFORMER,
AND WE HAVE THE FIRE
DEPARTMENT ON HAND JUST IN CASE.
WE'RE THE FIRE DEPARTMENT.
WE'RE USED TO PUTTING FIRE
OUT, NOT SETTING PEOPLE ON FIRE.
Delaney: TO MAKE T.J.'s
RIDE MORE CHALLENGING,
WE'RE LIGHTING UP A WALL OF BOXES.
YOU READY TO SEE SOMETHING KIND OF COOL?
-YEAH. -ALL RIGHT, LOOK OVER THERE.
♪♪
♪♪
Delaney: REMEMBER, T.J. IS A
PROFESSIONAL STUNT PERFORMER.
♪♪
♪♪
Man: WOW.
[ APPLAUSE ]
-NOT BAD. -THAT WAS AMAZING.
-HAS TO BE HOT. -YEAH, IT DOES.
SO, WHAT DO Y'ALL THINK?
Woman: IT WAS SO COOL.
I CAN'T EVEN IMAGINE.
CRAZY. CRAZY TO SEE.
T.J.: JUST A MATTER OF BEING
CALM, GET UP, RUN AROUND,
DON'T RUN BACK IN THE
FIRE, AND HAVE A GOOD TIME.
SO, HOW DO YOU DO THAT? THAT'S RIDICULOUS.
IT'S ONE THING TO EXPLAIN IT.
IT'S A LITTLE DIFFICULT TO
KIND OF MAKE SENSE OF IT.
BUT IF WE HAVE A VOLUNTEER,
WE COULD MAYBE SHOW YOU.
YEAH, ALL RIGHT. NICK,
YOU VOLUNTEER, RIGHT?
WHAT?
Delaney: BRENT WORKS WITH T.J.,
AND HE'S ALSO A LONGTIME STUNT PERFORMER.
WHEN IT STARTS TO FEEL WARM,
YOU GOT TO GET IT OUT RIGHT AWAY.
WHEN YOU START TO FEEL IT, IT'S TOO LATE.
EVERYBODY READY?
ALL RIGHT. SO YOU'RE ON FIRE.
HOW YOU FEELING? -FEELING FINE.
I'M A SUPERHERO! -YOU ARE.
YOU ARE ON FIRE. YOU'RE A STUNTMAN TODAY.
ALL RIGHT.
ALL RIGHT. LET'S PUT HIM OUT.
-ISN'T THAT CRAZY? -WATCH YOUR HEAD.
...TWO, ONE.
Delaney: WHY DIDN'T NICK FEEL THE BURN?
UNDER HIS COSTUME, NICK'S
ARM IS WRAPPED IN ALUMINUM FOIL.
IT ACTS AS A VAPOR BARRIER
AND PHYSICAL BARRIER.
UNDER THE FOIL, THERE'S A LAYER OF NOMEX,
A FIRE-RESISTANT MATERIAL
THAT'S USED IN PROFESSIONAL STUNT GEAR.
UNDER THE NOMEX, THERE'S FIRE-RESISTANT GEL
AND THEN ANOTHER LAYER OF NOMEX.
AFTER THAT, IT'S ALL NICK.
Householder: THE WHOLE IDEA IS THAT
YOU'VE GOT ALL THESE COOL LAYERS
ABSORBING ALL OF THE ENERGY FROM THE FIRE
INSTEAD OF IT GOING INTO MY ARM.
Delaney: IT'S THE EXACT
SAME LAYERING THAT T.J. USES
TO PROTECT HIMSELF FROM BURNING.
Householder: BRENT, THANK YOU
SO MUCH. THAT WAS AWESOME.
BUT WHAT ARE THE LIMITS TO
BEING ON FIRE AND SURVIVING?
NOW ANDREW, ANOTHER MEMBER OF THE TEAM,
WANTS TO TRY A STUNT THAT'S
NEVER BEEN DONE SUCCESSFULLY.
Delaney: SO, HOW LONG IS
HE GOING TO BE ON FIRE?
30 SECONDS TO A MINUTE,
WHICH IS ACTUALLY A VERY LONG TIME ON FIRE.
♪♪
♪♪
Delaney: HE IS USING A WATER-PROPELLED
JETPACK CALLED A FLYBOARD
TO DO STUNTS HIGH IN THE AIR WHILE ON FIRE.
-WHOOOOO! -YEAH!
Delaney: WOW. VERY COOL, MAN.
YOU KNOW, JUST SEEING THAT, IT'S... WHAT?
...
LESS THAN A MINUTE OF FIRE AND EXCITEMENT,
BUT REALLY, THE AMOUNT
OF PLANNING AND SCIENCE
AND COORDINATION AND SAFETY PLANNING
THAT GOES INTO THAT IS JUST INSANE.
TO MAKE SOMETHING LIKE THAT HAPPEN
AND HAVE EVERYBODY COME OUT OKAY,
IT'S REALLY IMPRESSIVE, BRENT.
GOOD JOB. -THANK YOU. THEY DID GREAT.
ALL RIGHT, NICK. YOU SEE HOW IT'S DONE?
NOW IT'S YOUR TURN.
I THOUGHT WE WERE JUST DOING THE ARM THING.
NOPE. GET OUT THERE!
BRENT?