Street Science (2017–…): Season 2, Episode 2 - Fireball Launcher - full transcript
Kevin and his team of experts face off in a fireball launcher showdown to test the dangerous and awesome properties of fire. They also show how to make fireworks with ordinary candy and light up the night with everyday ingredients.
♪♪
Delaney: ZOMBIE TARGET PRACTICE...
NOT POSSIBLE, KEVIN.
...THE ULTIMATE FIERY FACE-OFF.
UGH.
[ LAUGHTER ]
YOU WANT TO HIT THE TARGET,
NOT JUST GET CLOSE TO IT.
EVER TRY FRIED GUMMY BEARS?
Woman: OH, MY GOD. OKAY.
I THINK IT'S SAFE TO SAY THAT
GUMMY BEAR'S MIND IS BLOWN.
PLUS, WHY WON'T THIS FIRE GO OUT?
-OOH. -WOW.
IT FIZZLED A LITTLE BIT.
FIZZLED A LITTLE BIT. ANYTHING ELSE?
I FEEL LIKE THOMAS EDISON.
OH, YEAH.
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.
THAT'S GNARLY.
THIS IS "STREET SCIENCE."
THERE'S A LOT OF CIGAR STORES AROUND HERE.
Y'ALL SMOKE CIGARS?
NEVER BEEN MY THING.
NICK?
YEAH, EVERY ONCE IN A WHILE
WITH FRIENDS, LIKE CELEBRATE SOMETHING.
DO YOU HAVE LIKE A SPECIAL CIGAR
LIGHTER THAT YOU USE OR YOU...
YOU JUST THROW FIRE FROM
YOUR HAND TO LIGHT THE CIGAR?
IT'S NOT POSSIBLE, KEVIN.
IT'S NOT?
NO.
♪♪
Delaney: THIS GIZMO STRAPS TO MY WRIST
AND EJECTS A PIECE OF
FLASH PAPER ABOUT TWO FEET.
IT WORKS WITH AN ELECTRIC PULSE
THAT IGNITES A SMALL PIECE OF FLASH PAPER
WHEN I EJECT IT, CREATING A BALL OF FIRE.
IT IS IMPRESSIVE, BUT WE'RE
INTERESTED IN GOING MUCH FURTHER
AND I KNOW JUST THE GUYS TO FIGURE IT OUT.
ENGINEER NICK HOUSEHOLDER AND
THE BACKYARD SCIENTIST HIMSELF,
KEVIN KOHLER.
♪♪
♪♪
SLO-MO GURU DARREN AND I HEAD OUT
TO CHECK OUT THE ENGINEER'S PROGRESS.
KEVIN, A.K.A. "THE BACKYARD SCIENTIST",
BECAME AN INTERNET STAR
DOING CRAZY EXPERIMENTS IN HIS BACKYARD.
I HEAR WE HAVE SOME
EXCITING STUFF TO DO TODAY?
YEAH, WE'VE GOT SOME COOL STUFF.
Delaney: THERE ARE ONLY TWO RULES
FOR THIS FRIENDLY COMPETITION.
THE FIREBALL NEEDS TO
HIT A TARGET 40 FEET AWAY
AND IT HAS TO SET THE TARGET ON FIRE.
I WAS TRYING TO FIGURE OUT
EXACTLY HOW TO DO THIS, RIGHT?
AT FIRST, I THOUGHT MAYBE
I'D USE COMPRESSED AIR
AND USE SOMETHING LIKE THIS.
IT SHOOTS A PING-PONG BALL.
TURNS OUT, THAT'S A LITTLE TOO MUCH KICK.
THEN I LANDED ON THESE.
SO THIS IS LIKE YOUR STANDARD
FLARE THAT YOU WOULD USE
IN AN EMERGENCY SITUATION ON A BOAT.
YEAH.
AND THESE THINGS'LL BURN FOR A LONG TIME,
AS WELL AS SET ANYTHING ON FIRE.
MY ONLY CONCERN WAS, HOW AM I
SUPPOSED TO THROW THIS THING?
SO I GOT A FLARE GUN
AND I MOUNTED IT ON THIS,
SO THIS TAKES FLARES.
THAT'S A GRENADE LAUNCHER.
YEAH, YOU KNOW, IT LOOKS PRETTY CLOSE.
SO WHAT DO YOU GOT GOING?
WELL, I GOT A LITTLE WRIST-MOUNTED CANNON.
I MOUNTED IT ONTO A GLOVE.
SO IT'S ELECTRONICALLY
TRIGGERED USING A SPARK PLUG
AND I'M USING LIKE A TASER MODULE,
AND YOU PUT IN A COUPLE BATTERIES
AND IT PUTS OUT A SPARK THAT'S AN INCH BIG.
IT USES BLACK POWDER PELLETS
FROM LIKE A MUZZLE-LOADING RIFLE.
THIS IS THE FUEL AND THIS
IS THE PROJECTILE ITSELF.
IT SHOOTS OUT UNDER ITS OWN POWER.
-NICE. -YOU WANT TO SEE HOW IT WORKS?
IT WAS GOING TO SAY, WE
NEED TO TRY THIS THING.
-YEAH, TOTALLY. -YEAH.
♪♪
3, 2, 1.
[ WHOOSHES ]
[ PELLET PLUNKS ]
[ LAUGHTER ]
[ WHOOSHES ]
♪♪
THAT WAS ACTUALLY KIND OF FUNNY.
THAT WAS WONDERFUL. I LOVE THE SOUND.
THAT WAS THE BEST SOUND THAT I'VE HEARD.
BLOOP.
[ PELLET PLUNKS ]
Delaney: PRETTY GOOD.
LET'S SEE WHAT HAPPENS
WITH A SPARK PLUG ADJUSTMENT.
ALL RIGHT, HERE WE GO. 3, 2, 1.
♪♪
THE ADJUSTMENT DEFINITELY ADDED MORE SPEED,
BUT IT'S NOT COVERING MUCH DISTANCE.
I THINK YOU NEED TO IMPROVE
THAT THING A LITTLE BIT.
THE TARGETS ARE GOING
TO BE LIKE 40 FEET AWAY.
DON'T WORRY, I CAN PACK SOME
MORE GUNPOWDER IN THIS THING.
KEVIN GETS BACK TO WORK,
AND WHEN HE'S CONCENTRATING,
IT'S BEST TO JUST LEAVE HIM ALONE.
♪♪
♪♪
MEANWHILE, DARREN AND
I GO SHOPPING FOR CANDY.
BUT OUR SUGAR CRAVING'S
NOT ENTIRELY INNOCENT,
WE'VE GOT SOME SERIOUS PLANS
FOR THESE POOR GUMMY BEARS
AND WE'VE GOT A LOT OF WITNESSES, TOO.
THE FATE OF THESE CANDY CREATURES
IS GOING TO BE DETERMINED
BY SOMETHING YOU'D FIND
IN HOUSEHOLD DISINFECTANTS AND FIREWORKS,
POTASSIUM CHLORATE.
MARIANNE, THANK YOU SO
MUCH FOR HAVING US HERE
TO YOUR CANDY STORE.
THIS IS AN AMAZING PLACE.
WELL, WELCOME. I'M GLAD YOU'RE HERE.
THANKS FOR HAVING US.
AND ALSO THANK YOU FOR LENDING
US SOME GUMMY BEARS FOR THIS...
I'M KIND OF CURIOUS.
WELL, YEAH, I IMAGINE SO.
SO ARE YOU GUYS READY? WE'RE READY.
THE FIRST THING I'M GOING
TO DO IS USE THIS TORCH
TO HEAT UP THE POTASSIUM CHLORATE
AS MUCH AS I CAN.
-ALL RIGHT, ARE WE READY? -WE'RE READY.
ALL RIGHT, HERE WE GO.
I'M GOING TO GRAB A RED GUMMY BEAR.
I'M ALSO GOING TO DIP IT IN
A LITTLE BIT OF CORN STARCH,
SINCE GUMMY BEARS ARE KIND OF STICKY.
I WANTED TO HELP IT SLIDE DOWN A TEST TUBE.
ALL RIGHT, HERE WE GO.
3, 2, 1.
-WHOA! -WHOA!
Delaney: WE'RE ABOUT TO SEE
WHAT HAPPENS WHEN YOU ADD
A GUMMY BEAR TO HEATED POTASSIUM CHLORATE.
HERE WE GO. 3, 2, 1.
-WHOA! -WHOA!
♪♪
♪♪
- OH, MY GOSH. POOR GUMMY BEAR.
- WHOA, LOOK AT THAT.
SO SEE ALL THAT ENERGY
BEING PRODUCED THERE?
♪♪
♪♪
AND UP HERE, WE JUST HAVE A LITTLE BIT
OF CARBON DIOXIDE AND WATER VAPOR.
SO IT KIND OF SMELLS LIKE
BURNT SUGAR, LIKE A CAMP FIRE.
-LIKE MARSHMALLOWS. -YEAH, MARSHMALLOWS.
♪♪
MY FIRST REACTION WAS TO GET BACK,
BECAUSE IT WAS A LOT OF SMOKE,
A LOT OF FLAMES. IT WAS GREAT.
WE'VE NEVER HAD ANY SORT OF
EXPLOSIONS IN THE STORE BEFORE.
THIS WAS A FIRST.
Dyk: WHAT'S INTERESTING ABOUT THIS REACTION
IS NOT ONLY HOW FAST IT
IS, BUT HOW BRIGHT IT IS.
IT'S A VERY QUICK, POWERFUL REACTION.
IT'S A VERY VIOLENT REACTION.
YOU CAN SEE THAT REALLY, REALLY
CLEARLY HERE IN THE HIGH SPEED.
GUMMY BEARS ARE MOSTLY SUGAR.
POTASSIUM CHLORATE IS A COMPOUND
THAT QUICKLY RELEASES OXYGEN
WHEN IT MEETS WITH A
COMBUSTIBLE FUEL, LIKE SUGAR.
OXYGEN FEEDS FIRE,
SO WHEN YOU HEAT THE MIXTURE
YOU GET EXPLOSIVE FLAMES.
YOU COULD SEE WHY POTASSIUM CHLORATE
IS USED IN FIREWORKS AND SMOKE GRENADES.
NOW HOW ABOUT A REAL SUGAR
HIGH WITH A GIANT GUMMY BEAR?
YOU KNOW THEY MAKE FIVE-POUND GUMMY BEARS?
WOW. I'D LOVE TO TRY THAT.
LET'S GO.
♪♪
WE NEED MORE SPACE FOR THIS ONE.
THIS STREET MARKET IS IN FOR A SURPRISE.
THEY HAVE NO IDEA WHAT WE CAN
DO WITH A MONSTER GUMMY BEAR,
A CONCRETE BLOCK, AND A BLOWTORCH.
-ALL RIGHT, LET'S GO. -OKAY, LET'S DO IT.
♪♪
I DON'T KNOW IF I COULD EAT
FIVE POUNDS OF GUMMY BEARS.
-I COULDN'T. -HOW MANY PEOPLE BUY THEM?
THEY BUY THEM AND I'VE HAD SOMEBODY COME IN
AND SAY THEY ATE THE WHOLE THING.
-WOW. -I CAN'T BELIEVE IT. YES.
♪♪
I'VE ACTUALLY EATEN A WHOLE
FIVE-POUND GUMMY BEAR.
-YOU HAVE? -HAVE YOU REALLY, DARREN?
I HAVE. IT WAS OVER A
PERIOD OF LIKE A WEEK,
BUT I DID EAT ONE, YES.
- A WEEK'S A SHORT...
I'M NOT TERRIBLY SURPRISED.
Delaney: SINCE THIS BEAR ISN'T
GOING TO FIT IN A TEST TUBE,
ANNE-LISE WILL USE A FUSE TO
IGNITE THE POTASSIUM CHLORATE.
ALL RIGHT, HERE WE GO, EVERYBODY.
♪♪
THERE IT GOES.
♪♪
-WHOA! -OH, COOL.
♪♪
-OH, MY GOD! -OKAY.
Delaney: [ LAUGHS ] THAT WAS INTENSE.
THAT WAS PRETTY COOL.
NOT TOO BAD.
I THINK IT'S SAFE TO SAY THAT
GUMMY BEAR'S MIND IS BLOWN.
[ LAUGHTER ]
AS DARREN'S THERMAL IMAGING CAMERA SHOWS,
THIS REACTION BURNS VERY HOT.
THIS BIG BEAR IS EQUAL
TO 1,400 MINI-GUMMIES
OR ABOUT 6,000 CALORIES.
THAT MEANS IT CONTAINS ABOUT AS
MUCH ENERGY AS WOULD BE RELEASED
BY SETTING OFF 20 POUNDS OF TNT.
THE BURNING SUGAR JUST RELEASES THE ENERGY
MUCH MORE GRADUALLY THAN TNT.
HEY, BUDDY. DID YOU GET SOME
GOOD GUMMY BEAR FOOTAGE?
IT'S PRETTY SWEET.
ALL RIGHT, SHOW IT TO ME.
WHOA.
IT LOOKS LIKE A NUKE GOING OUT OF ITS HEAD.
THAT'S INCREDIBLE.
LIKE A JUST INSANE EXPLOSION.
IT LOOKS LIKE IT HAS A GREAT IDEA.
MM-HMM.
♪♪
THAT'S AMAZING.
I THINK MY FAVORITE PART, THOUGH, IS JUST
A LITTLE BIT FORWARD HERE.
RIGHT THERE, RIGHT THERE.
WHOA.
YEAH, IT'S LIKE SUGAR METEORITES
RAINING DOWN ON THE GROUND.
IT'S LIKE AN APOCALYPSE
AROUND THE SMALL AREA
THAT THE GUMMY BEAR LIVES.
THAT'S A VERY GRIM
DESCRIPTION OF IT, BUT ACCURATE.
IT'S... IT'S NOT UNTRUE.
♪♪
Delaney: NOW, THE MOMENT
EVERYONE'S BEEN WAITING FOR,
THE FIREBALL LAUNCHER
SHOWDOWN BETWEEN NICK AND KEVIN.
THIS CONTEST IS SO
DANGEROUS THAT WE'VE COME TO
THE HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY FIRE
DEPARTMENT'S TRAINING CENTER
FOR SUPERVISION.
-NICE. -MOMENT OF TRUTH, HUH?
YEAH.
GET TO SEE HOW THESE THINGS FINALLY WORK.
-HI, EVERYBODY. -HEY.
IT'S GOOD TO SEE Y'ALL AGAIN.
THANKS FOR HAVING US BACK.
THANKS FOR COMING OUT.
Y'ALL READY TO GET STARTED?
ABSOLUTELY. YOU KNOW WE LOVE FIRE, SO...
I KNOW YOU DO.
BEFORE WE GET STARTED, THESE THINGS,
THEY LOOK A LITTLE INTIMIDATING.
-OKAY. -KIND OF TELL US ABOUT 'EM.
SO WHAT I BUILT WAS A MODIFIED FLARE GUN.
THIS FIRES A FIREWORK FLARE.
THE ROUNDS THEMSELVES ARE
KIND OF A STARBURST ROUND,
SO WHEN THEY COME OUT,
THEY SHOWER A LOT OF SPARKS
AS THEY'RE FLYING THROUGH
THE AIR AND IN THE END,
BURNS LIKE A TYPICAL ROADSIDE FLARE.
SO OUR GOAL THERE WAS TO HAVE SOMETHING
THAT LOOKED REALLY NICE WHILE
IT WAS FLYING THROUGH THE AIR
AND ALSO WOULD BURN LONG ENOUGH
TO CATCH SOMETHING ON FIRE ONCE IT HIT IT.
AND FOR TRIGGERING IT,
I'VE GOT THIS CABLE SYSTEM
ATTACHED TO A HANDLE IN MY OFF HAND,
WHICH I CAN SQUEEZE TO PULL THE TRIGGER.
THING LOOKS INCREDIBLE.
LOOKS SCARY, RIGHT? LITTLE INTIMIDATING.
A LITTLE BIT. A LITTLE BIT.
I'D LIKE TO SEE THAT ONE RIGHT THERE.
COULD YOU STEP DOWN HERE, PLEASE?
THE WIRES AND ELECTRODES.
YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE TO EXPLAIN THAT TO ME.
IT'S BUILT ON A LACROSSE
GLOVE AND MOTORCYCLE ARMOR.
AND THIS IS A BARREL MADE OUT OF STEEL,
SPARK PLUG FOR ELECTRONIC IGNITION,
AND THESE ARE TASER MODULES.
AND THEN UNDER HERE, I CONTROL
IT WITH A MOMENTARY SWITCH.
WHEN I PUSH THE BUTTON,
YOU CAN HEAR THE TASER GO.
[ MODULES CRACKLING ]
YEAH, YEAH, YEAH.
THE PURPOSE OF IT IS TO
SHOOT A FIREBALL LIKE THAT
AND WHAT I'M SHOOTING IS A
COMPRESSED GUNPOWDER PELLET
THAT'S USED IN BLACK POWDER RIFLES
AND IT SHOOTS ITSELF UNDER ITS OWN POWER.
Delaney: WHILE BOTH FIREBALL
LAUNCHERS SHOOT A FLAMING PROJECTILE,
NICK'S DESIGN IS A FLARE GUN
THAT SHOOTS A SPARKING FIREWORK,
WHILE KEVIN KOHLER'S
LAUNCHES A FAST-BURNING
BLACK POWDER PELLET.
ALL RIGHT, GUYS. SO I
LIKE WHAT YOU GOT HERE,
AND IT LOOKS VERY STRAIGHTFORWARD.
WHENEVER YOU'RE READY, YOU
CAN GO AHEAD AND GIVE 'EM A RUN.
ALL RIGHT, SOUNDS GOOD.
♪♪
Delaney: WHILE NICK AND KEVIN SUIT UP,
OUR BUILD TEAM ASSEMBLES THE TARGETS.
THEY'RE COMING TO GET YOU, NICK AND KEVIN.
ALL RIGHT, SO BECAUSE WE NEED
A TARGET, WE HAVE THESE GUYS.
YEAH, THEY LOOK LIKE
THEY'RE READY TO BE LIT UP.
A FLIP OF THE COIN
SAYS KEVIN'S GOING FIRST.
ALL RIGHT.
-GOOD LUCK. -HE'LL NEED IT.
ALL RIGHT, LET'S ALL GO TO A SAFE PLACE
AND LET THEM LIGHT THESE GUYS UP.
-ALL RIGHT, LET'S DO IT. -READY... AIM...
FIRE!
Delaney: THE FIREBALL
THROWING CONTEST IS STARTING.
REMEMBER, THE FIREBALL NEEDS
TO HIT THE TARGETS FROM 40 FEET
AND IT HAS TO SET THE TARGETS ABLAZE.
KEVIN KOHLER, THE BACKYARD
SCIENTIST, IS UP FIRST.
ALL RIGHT. READY... AIM... FIRE!
[ ALL GROANING, LAUGHTER ]
WHAT WAS THAT?
Kohler: HOLD ON, LET ME
RELOAD, LET ME RELOAD.
- WAH, WAH, WAH!
- THAT WAS REALLY INTIMIDATING,
KEVIN. I'M AFRAID FOR MY LIFE.
-AW, MAN. -YEAH, YEAH, YEAH.
RELOAD.
I THINK I'M GOING TO CHANGE
MY BET TO THE ZOMBIES.
ALL RIGHT, SECOND CHANCE.
READY... AIM... FIRE.
[ MODULES CRACKLING ]
♪♪
-OHH! -SO CLOSE.
NICE TRY.
Householder: HOW MANY TRIES YOU
THINK YOU'RE GONNA NEED, KEVIN?
YOU WANT TO HIT THE TARGET,
NOT JUST GET CLOSE TO IT.
[ LAUGHTER ]
-NOT HIT THE TARGET. -WHOO! YEAH.
[ LAUGHTER ]
CLEARLY, KEVIN'S PELLET-PROPELLING
TASER SPARK PLUG GIZMO NEEDS ADJUSTING.
I SHOULD'VE SET A LIMIT
ON THE NUMBER OF TRIES.
ANOTHER ADJUSTMENT OR TWO OR THREE OR FOUR
AND HE'S READY TO FIRE AGAIN.
-KEVIN, YOU READY? -YES.
ALL RIGHT, HERE WE GO.
READY... AIM... FIRE!
[ MODULES CRACKLE ]
♪♪
[ CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ]
ALL RIGHT!
♪♪
ALL RIGHT!
[ LAUGHTER ]
YEAH!
FEELS GOOD.
♪♪
WHILE THE CREW SETS
UP NEW TARGETS FOR NICK,
ANNE-LISE AND I ARE ASKING THE
AGE-OLD QUESTION, WILL IT BURN?
WE HAVE A STASH OF POTASSIUM,
A MINERAL FOUND IN PLAIN
OLD POTATOES AND BANANAS.
HI, GUYS. THANK YOU SO
MUCH FOR HELPING US OUT.
SO WE'RE GOING TO TAKE OUR
POTASSIUM AND WE'RE GOING TO
DROP IT IN A LITTLE BIT OF WATER
AND WE'RE GOING TO SEE WHAT HAPPENS.
-LET'S FIND OUT. -ANNE-LISE, ARE WE READY?
YEAH. LET'S DO IT.
ALL RIGHT.
♪♪
ALL RIGHT, HERE WE GO.
3, 2, 1.
-OOH. -OOH.
-OOH. -[ LAUGHS ]
OOH, LOOK AT THE PURPLE.
YEAH, IT'S COOL.
IT FIZZLED A LITTLE BIT. I WAS RIGHT.
FIZZLED A LITTLE BIT?
THE WATER CHANGING COLOR, THE PURPLE.
YEAH, THERE WAS A LITTLE
BIT OF A COLOR CHANGE.
Delaney: WHEN THE POTASSIUM HITS THE WATER,
THERE'S A VIOLENT CHEMICAL REACTION.
THIS CREATES HYDROGEN GAS, WHICH IGNITES.
♪♪
PSHOO! [ LAUGHS ]
TAKE A LOOK AT THESE THERMAL IMAGING SHOTS
OF THE EXPLODING POTASSIUM.
THE WHITE COLOR SHOWS THE EXTREME HEAT
CREATED BY THE EXPLODING HYDROGEN.
THAT'S RIGHT... POTASSIUM PLUS
WATER EQUALS A PRETTY BIG BURN.
ARE YOU GUYS READY FOR SOMETHING ELSE?
-OH, YEAH. -YES.
-OKAY. -DEFINITELY.
NEXT UP, WE'RE GOING TO SEE WHAT HAPPENS
WHEN A LIGHT BULB MEETS LIQUID NITROGEN.
HOW MANY KEVINS DOES IT TAKE
TO SCREW IN A LIGHT BULB, KEVIN?
APPARENTLY, JUST TWO.
I'LL BREAK THE BULB, YOU POUR THE NITROGEN.
OKAY, GO AHEAD AND FILL IT UP, YEP.
FIRST, I BREAK THE BULB,
SAVING THE FILAMENT.
THEN I PUT THE FILAMENT
DIRECTLY IN LIQUID NITROGEN.
JUST GOING TO GET A NICE, GOOD AMOUNT
OF LIQUID NITROGEN IN THERE.
THAT'S REALLY PLENTY.
I'M GOING TO VERY, VERY CAREFULLY...
YES, YOU'VE GOT TO BE CAREFULLY.
OH, MY GOD.
READY? 3, 2, 1.
[ SWITCH CLICKS ON ]
-OKAY. -OOH.
-WHOA. -WOW.
-HOW ABOUT THAT? -OH, MY GOD.
SO WE TOOK OUR BROKEN LIGHT
BULB AND WE MADE IT WORK AGAIN.
WOW.
I FEEL LIKE THOMAS EDISON.
[ LAUGHTER ]
GIVE ME YOUR MONEY!
AND I'LL GIVE YOU LIGHT BULBS.
I'M THOMAS EDISON.
WHAT DO YOU GUYS THINK IS GOING
TO HAPPEN WHEN WE TAKE IT OUT?
YOU'RE MAKING ME NERVOUS.
OH, DON'T WORRY. IT'S GOING TO GO OUT.
ME, TOO. UH-OH.
-OOH. -OOH.
-WHAT'S WRONG? -THERE IT GOES.
WOW.
SO WHY DID IT GO OUT?
IT'S ALL ABOUT THE FILAMENT.
INCANDESCENT LIGHT BULBS ARE MANUFACTURED
AND FILED WITH NONREACTIVE
GASES LIKE ARGON.
IT WON'T BURN OR REACT.
THE FILAMENT INSIDE ONE OF THESE BULBS
CAN REACH 5,000 DEGREES FAHRENHEIT,
SO ANY EXPOSURE TO
OXYGEN WILL CAUSE IT TO MELT
AND BURN MUCH FASTER.
BUT AS LONG AS WE KEEP OUR
FILAMENT IN THE LIQUID NITROGEN
AND KEEP THE OXYGEN OUT, WE'RE STAYING LIT,
JUST LIKE EDISON DREAMED OF,
AS HE SLEPT ON PILES OF MONEY.
NOW, A COOL REACTION WHEN DRY ICE MEETS
ONE OF THE MOST COMMON
ELEMENTS IN THE UNIVERSE, MAGNESIUM.
IT'S IN THE STARS,
MEDICINE, AND BATH SALTS.
THIS IS GOING TO REQUIRE SAFETY GLASSES.
READY WHEN YOU ARE.
Delaney: ALL RIGHT, HERE,
LET ME PUT THIS IN THERE,
ALL THE PIECES.
[ CHUCKLES ]
ALL RIGHT, LET'S GO.
OKAY.
♪♪
-THERE WE GO. -WHOO.
WOW!
Delaney: WE'RE IN A RESTAURANT
MAKING A MAGNESIUM AND DRY ICE SANDWICH.
-WHOA! -WOW.
♪♪
♪♪
♪♪
THE DRY ICE SURROUNDING
THE IGNITED MAGNESIUM ACTS
LIKE A KIND OF LIGHT BULB.
AS IT MELTS, IT BECOMES
CARBON DIOXIDE GAS AND BURNS
BECAUSE IT RELEASES OXYGEN FROM THE GAS.
Delaney: SO ONE OF THE
PROPERTIES OF MAGNESIUM,
IT HAPPENS TO BURN A
LITTLE BIT MORE VIGOROUSLY
IN A CO2-RICH ENVIRONMENT.
SO ALL WE DID WAS GIVE IT THAT
ENVIRONMENT AND WE'VE MADE
A DRY ICE KIND OF A LIGHT BULB.
MM-HMM.
Delaney: IRONICALLY, CARBON DIOXIDE IS USED
IN FIRE EXTINGUISHERS TO PUT FIRES OUT.
JUST MAKE SURE YOU'RE NOT TRYING TO USE ONE
TO EXTINGUISH BURNING MAGNESIUM.
IT'S KIND OF A NEAT REACTION
AND WE APPRECIATE YOU GUYS HELPING US OUT.
-OH, THANK YOU SO MUCH. -THANK YOU SO MUCH.
-THANK YOU. -THAT WAS AWESOME.
♪♪
Delaney: WE'RE READY TO
SEE SOMETHING ELSE BURN.
BACK AT THE FIRE
DEPARTMENT TRAINING FACILITY,
OUR BUILD TEAM IS POSITIONING
A SECOND SET OF EVIL-LOOKING TARGETS.
KEVIN KOHLER HAD A FEW MISFIRES
WITH HIS FIREBALL THROWING ATTEMPTS.
Kohler: HOLD ON, LET ME
RELOAD, LET ME RELOAD.
[ ALL GROANING ]
BUT HE WAS SUCCESSFUL ON THE THIRD TRY.
[ CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ]
[ LAUGHTER ]
NOW IT'S NICK'S TURN TO SEE
IF HIS FIREBALL THROWING THING
WORKS ANY BETTER AGAINST
THESE MENACING ZOMBIES.
ALL RIGHT, NICK, YOUR FIRST SHOT.
READY... AIM... FIRE!
[ CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ]
-THERE WE GO. -ALL RIGHT!
Man: THAT'S AWESOME! ALL RIGHT!
-WOW. -WOW.
YOU CAN FEEL THE HEAT BACK HERE.
HOLY COW.
-THAT'S GREAT. -ALL RIGHT.
HOLY... THAT'S AWESOME.
-AND HE JUST WALKS AWAY. -OKAY.
[ LAUGHTER ]
♪♪
♪♪
♪♪
- THAT WAS PRETTY SICK, MAN.
- THAT WAS AWESOME.
Kohler: IT LIKE, BOUNCED OFF HIS
ARM, BOUNCED OFF THE GROUND,
AND RIGHT IN THERE.
♪♪
♪♪
Householder: DO YOU FEEL LIKE A SUPERHERO?
-ABSOLUTELY. -ME, TOO.
Delaney: IN THE END, NICK
AND HIS GRENADE-STYLE
FIREBALL LAUNCHER KILLED IT.
BUT BOTH DESIGNS MET THE CHALLENGE
AND DECIMATED THE ZOMBIES.
TURNS OUT THE FIREFIGHTERS
HAVEN'T SEEN ENOUGH.
THEY WANT KEVIN AND NICK TO TAKE
AIM AT THEIR CAR FIRE SIMULATOR.
IT'S FUELED BY PROPANE,
BUT IT NEEDS A LIGHT.
-Y'ALL READY? -YEP.
CHRIS, YOU READY?
ALL RIGHT, 3, 2, 1.
♪♪
♪♪
♪♪
I THINK WE'VE BURNED ENOUGH FOR ONE DAY.
ALL RIGHT, I THINK IT'S TIME TO GO HOME.
I'D SAY THAT'S A SAFE BET.
♪♪
Delaney: ZOMBIE TARGET PRACTICE...
NOT POSSIBLE, KEVIN.
...THE ULTIMATE FIERY FACE-OFF.
UGH.
[ LAUGHTER ]
YOU WANT TO HIT THE TARGET,
NOT JUST GET CLOSE TO IT.
EVER TRY FRIED GUMMY BEARS?
Woman: OH, MY GOD. OKAY.
I THINK IT'S SAFE TO SAY THAT
GUMMY BEAR'S MIND IS BLOWN.
PLUS, WHY WON'T THIS FIRE GO OUT?
-OOH. -WOW.
IT FIZZLED A LITTLE BIT.
FIZZLED A LITTLE BIT. ANYTHING ELSE?
I FEEL LIKE THOMAS EDISON.
OH, YEAH.
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.
THAT'S GNARLY.
THIS IS "STREET SCIENCE."
THERE'S A LOT OF CIGAR STORES AROUND HERE.
Y'ALL SMOKE CIGARS?
NEVER BEEN MY THING.
NICK?
YEAH, EVERY ONCE IN A WHILE
WITH FRIENDS, LIKE CELEBRATE SOMETHING.
DO YOU HAVE LIKE A SPECIAL CIGAR
LIGHTER THAT YOU USE OR YOU...
YOU JUST THROW FIRE FROM
YOUR HAND TO LIGHT THE CIGAR?
IT'S NOT POSSIBLE, KEVIN.
IT'S NOT?
NO.
♪♪
Delaney: THIS GIZMO STRAPS TO MY WRIST
AND EJECTS A PIECE OF
FLASH PAPER ABOUT TWO FEET.
IT WORKS WITH AN ELECTRIC PULSE
THAT IGNITES A SMALL PIECE OF FLASH PAPER
WHEN I EJECT IT, CREATING A BALL OF FIRE.
IT IS IMPRESSIVE, BUT WE'RE
INTERESTED IN GOING MUCH FURTHER
AND I KNOW JUST THE GUYS TO FIGURE IT OUT.
ENGINEER NICK HOUSEHOLDER AND
THE BACKYARD SCIENTIST HIMSELF,
KEVIN KOHLER.
♪♪
♪♪
SLO-MO GURU DARREN AND I HEAD OUT
TO CHECK OUT THE ENGINEER'S PROGRESS.
KEVIN, A.K.A. "THE BACKYARD SCIENTIST",
BECAME AN INTERNET STAR
DOING CRAZY EXPERIMENTS IN HIS BACKYARD.
I HEAR WE HAVE SOME
EXCITING STUFF TO DO TODAY?
YEAH, WE'VE GOT SOME COOL STUFF.
Delaney: THERE ARE ONLY TWO RULES
FOR THIS FRIENDLY COMPETITION.
THE FIREBALL NEEDS TO
HIT A TARGET 40 FEET AWAY
AND IT HAS TO SET THE TARGET ON FIRE.
I WAS TRYING TO FIGURE OUT
EXACTLY HOW TO DO THIS, RIGHT?
AT FIRST, I THOUGHT MAYBE
I'D USE COMPRESSED AIR
AND USE SOMETHING LIKE THIS.
IT SHOOTS A PING-PONG BALL.
TURNS OUT, THAT'S A LITTLE TOO MUCH KICK.
THEN I LANDED ON THESE.
SO THIS IS LIKE YOUR STANDARD
FLARE THAT YOU WOULD USE
IN AN EMERGENCY SITUATION ON A BOAT.
YEAH.
AND THESE THINGS'LL BURN FOR A LONG TIME,
AS WELL AS SET ANYTHING ON FIRE.
MY ONLY CONCERN WAS, HOW AM I
SUPPOSED TO THROW THIS THING?
SO I GOT A FLARE GUN
AND I MOUNTED IT ON THIS,
SO THIS TAKES FLARES.
THAT'S A GRENADE LAUNCHER.
YEAH, YOU KNOW, IT LOOKS PRETTY CLOSE.
SO WHAT DO YOU GOT GOING?
WELL, I GOT A LITTLE WRIST-MOUNTED CANNON.
I MOUNTED IT ONTO A GLOVE.
SO IT'S ELECTRONICALLY
TRIGGERED USING A SPARK PLUG
AND I'M USING LIKE A TASER MODULE,
AND YOU PUT IN A COUPLE BATTERIES
AND IT PUTS OUT A SPARK THAT'S AN INCH BIG.
IT USES BLACK POWDER PELLETS
FROM LIKE A MUZZLE-LOADING RIFLE.
THIS IS THE FUEL AND THIS
IS THE PROJECTILE ITSELF.
IT SHOOTS OUT UNDER ITS OWN POWER.
-NICE. -YOU WANT TO SEE HOW IT WORKS?
IT WAS GOING TO SAY, WE
NEED TO TRY THIS THING.
-YEAH, TOTALLY. -YEAH.
♪♪
3, 2, 1.
[ WHOOSHES ]
[ PELLET PLUNKS ]
[ LAUGHTER ]
[ WHOOSHES ]
♪♪
THAT WAS ACTUALLY KIND OF FUNNY.
THAT WAS WONDERFUL. I LOVE THE SOUND.
THAT WAS THE BEST SOUND THAT I'VE HEARD.
BLOOP.
[ PELLET PLUNKS ]
Delaney: PRETTY GOOD.
LET'S SEE WHAT HAPPENS
WITH A SPARK PLUG ADJUSTMENT.
ALL RIGHT, HERE WE GO. 3, 2, 1.
♪♪
THE ADJUSTMENT DEFINITELY ADDED MORE SPEED,
BUT IT'S NOT COVERING MUCH DISTANCE.
I THINK YOU NEED TO IMPROVE
THAT THING A LITTLE BIT.
THE TARGETS ARE GOING
TO BE LIKE 40 FEET AWAY.
DON'T WORRY, I CAN PACK SOME
MORE GUNPOWDER IN THIS THING.
KEVIN GETS BACK TO WORK,
AND WHEN HE'S CONCENTRATING,
IT'S BEST TO JUST LEAVE HIM ALONE.
♪♪
♪♪
MEANWHILE, DARREN AND
I GO SHOPPING FOR CANDY.
BUT OUR SUGAR CRAVING'S
NOT ENTIRELY INNOCENT,
WE'VE GOT SOME SERIOUS PLANS
FOR THESE POOR GUMMY BEARS
AND WE'VE GOT A LOT OF WITNESSES, TOO.
THE FATE OF THESE CANDY CREATURES
IS GOING TO BE DETERMINED
BY SOMETHING YOU'D FIND
IN HOUSEHOLD DISINFECTANTS AND FIREWORKS,
POTASSIUM CHLORATE.
MARIANNE, THANK YOU SO
MUCH FOR HAVING US HERE
TO YOUR CANDY STORE.
THIS IS AN AMAZING PLACE.
WELL, WELCOME. I'M GLAD YOU'RE HERE.
THANKS FOR HAVING US.
AND ALSO THANK YOU FOR LENDING
US SOME GUMMY BEARS FOR THIS...
I'M KIND OF CURIOUS.
WELL, YEAH, I IMAGINE SO.
SO ARE YOU GUYS READY? WE'RE READY.
THE FIRST THING I'M GOING
TO DO IS USE THIS TORCH
TO HEAT UP THE POTASSIUM CHLORATE
AS MUCH AS I CAN.
-ALL RIGHT, ARE WE READY? -WE'RE READY.
ALL RIGHT, HERE WE GO.
I'M GOING TO GRAB A RED GUMMY BEAR.
I'M ALSO GOING TO DIP IT IN
A LITTLE BIT OF CORN STARCH,
SINCE GUMMY BEARS ARE KIND OF STICKY.
I WANTED TO HELP IT SLIDE DOWN A TEST TUBE.
ALL RIGHT, HERE WE GO.
3, 2, 1.
-WHOA! -WHOA!
Delaney: WE'RE ABOUT TO SEE
WHAT HAPPENS WHEN YOU ADD
A GUMMY BEAR TO HEATED POTASSIUM CHLORATE.
HERE WE GO. 3, 2, 1.
-WHOA! -WHOA!
♪♪
♪♪
- OH, MY GOSH. POOR GUMMY BEAR.
- WHOA, LOOK AT THAT.
SO SEE ALL THAT ENERGY
BEING PRODUCED THERE?
♪♪
♪♪
AND UP HERE, WE JUST HAVE A LITTLE BIT
OF CARBON DIOXIDE AND WATER VAPOR.
SO IT KIND OF SMELLS LIKE
BURNT SUGAR, LIKE A CAMP FIRE.
-LIKE MARSHMALLOWS. -YEAH, MARSHMALLOWS.
♪♪
MY FIRST REACTION WAS TO GET BACK,
BECAUSE IT WAS A LOT OF SMOKE,
A LOT OF FLAMES. IT WAS GREAT.
WE'VE NEVER HAD ANY SORT OF
EXPLOSIONS IN THE STORE BEFORE.
THIS WAS A FIRST.
Dyk: WHAT'S INTERESTING ABOUT THIS REACTION
IS NOT ONLY HOW FAST IT
IS, BUT HOW BRIGHT IT IS.
IT'S A VERY QUICK, POWERFUL REACTION.
IT'S A VERY VIOLENT REACTION.
YOU CAN SEE THAT REALLY, REALLY
CLEARLY HERE IN THE HIGH SPEED.
GUMMY BEARS ARE MOSTLY SUGAR.
POTASSIUM CHLORATE IS A COMPOUND
THAT QUICKLY RELEASES OXYGEN
WHEN IT MEETS WITH A
COMBUSTIBLE FUEL, LIKE SUGAR.
OXYGEN FEEDS FIRE,
SO WHEN YOU HEAT THE MIXTURE
YOU GET EXPLOSIVE FLAMES.
YOU COULD SEE WHY POTASSIUM CHLORATE
IS USED IN FIREWORKS AND SMOKE GRENADES.
NOW HOW ABOUT A REAL SUGAR
HIGH WITH A GIANT GUMMY BEAR?
YOU KNOW THEY MAKE FIVE-POUND GUMMY BEARS?
WOW. I'D LOVE TO TRY THAT.
LET'S GO.
♪♪
WE NEED MORE SPACE FOR THIS ONE.
THIS STREET MARKET IS IN FOR A SURPRISE.
THEY HAVE NO IDEA WHAT WE CAN
DO WITH A MONSTER GUMMY BEAR,
A CONCRETE BLOCK, AND A BLOWTORCH.
-ALL RIGHT, LET'S GO. -OKAY, LET'S DO IT.
♪♪
I DON'T KNOW IF I COULD EAT
FIVE POUNDS OF GUMMY BEARS.
-I COULDN'T. -HOW MANY PEOPLE BUY THEM?
THEY BUY THEM AND I'VE HAD SOMEBODY COME IN
AND SAY THEY ATE THE WHOLE THING.
-WOW. -I CAN'T BELIEVE IT. YES.
♪♪
I'VE ACTUALLY EATEN A WHOLE
FIVE-POUND GUMMY BEAR.
-YOU HAVE? -HAVE YOU REALLY, DARREN?
I HAVE. IT WAS OVER A
PERIOD OF LIKE A WEEK,
BUT I DID EAT ONE, YES.
- A WEEK'S A SHORT...
I'M NOT TERRIBLY SURPRISED.
Delaney: SINCE THIS BEAR ISN'T
GOING TO FIT IN A TEST TUBE,
ANNE-LISE WILL USE A FUSE TO
IGNITE THE POTASSIUM CHLORATE.
ALL RIGHT, HERE WE GO, EVERYBODY.
♪♪
THERE IT GOES.
♪♪
-WHOA! -OH, COOL.
♪♪
-OH, MY GOD! -OKAY.
Delaney: [ LAUGHS ] THAT WAS INTENSE.
THAT WAS PRETTY COOL.
NOT TOO BAD.
I THINK IT'S SAFE TO SAY THAT
GUMMY BEAR'S MIND IS BLOWN.
[ LAUGHTER ]
AS DARREN'S THERMAL IMAGING CAMERA SHOWS,
THIS REACTION BURNS VERY HOT.
THIS BIG BEAR IS EQUAL
TO 1,400 MINI-GUMMIES
OR ABOUT 6,000 CALORIES.
THAT MEANS IT CONTAINS ABOUT AS
MUCH ENERGY AS WOULD BE RELEASED
BY SETTING OFF 20 POUNDS OF TNT.
THE BURNING SUGAR JUST RELEASES THE ENERGY
MUCH MORE GRADUALLY THAN TNT.
HEY, BUDDY. DID YOU GET SOME
GOOD GUMMY BEAR FOOTAGE?
IT'S PRETTY SWEET.
ALL RIGHT, SHOW IT TO ME.
WHOA.
IT LOOKS LIKE A NUKE GOING OUT OF ITS HEAD.
THAT'S INCREDIBLE.
LIKE A JUST INSANE EXPLOSION.
IT LOOKS LIKE IT HAS A GREAT IDEA.
MM-HMM.
♪♪
THAT'S AMAZING.
I THINK MY FAVORITE PART, THOUGH, IS JUST
A LITTLE BIT FORWARD HERE.
RIGHT THERE, RIGHT THERE.
WHOA.
YEAH, IT'S LIKE SUGAR METEORITES
RAINING DOWN ON THE GROUND.
IT'S LIKE AN APOCALYPSE
AROUND THE SMALL AREA
THAT THE GUMMY BEAR LIVES.
THAT'S A VERY GRIM
DESCRIPTION OF IT, BUT ACCURATE.
IT'S... IT'S NOT UNTRUE.
♪♪
Delaney: NOW, THE MOMENT
EVERYONE'S BEEN WAITING FOR,
THE FIREBALL LAUNCHER
SHOWDOWN BETWEEN NICK AND KEVIN.
THIS CONTEST IS SO
DANGEROUS THAT WE'VE COME TO
THE HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY FIRE
DEPARTMENT'S TRAINING CENTER
FOR SUPERVISION.
-NICE. -MOMENT OF TRUTH, HUH?
YEAH.
GET TO SEE HOW THESE THINGS FINALLY WORK.
-HI, EVERYBODY. -HEY.
IT'S GOOD TO SEE Y'ALL AGAIN.
THANKS FOR HAVING US BACK.
THANKS FOR COMING OUT.
Y'ALL READY TO GET STARTED?
ABSOLUTELY. YOU KNOW WE LOVE FIRE, SO...
I KNOW YOU DO.
BEFORE WE GET STARTED, THESE THINGS,
THEY LOOK A LITTLE INTIMIDATING.
-OKAY. -KIND OF TELL US ABOUT 'EM.
SO WHAT I BUILT WAS A MODIFIED FLARE GUN.
THIS FIRES A FIREWORK FLARE.
THE ROUNDS THEMSELVES ARE
KIND OF A STARBURST ROUND,
SO WHEN THEY COME OUT,
THEY SHOWER A LOT OF SPARKS
AS THEY'RE FLYING THROUGH
THE AIR AND IN THE END,
BURNS LIKE A TYPICAL ROADSIDE FLARE.
SO OUR GOAL THERE WAS TO HAVE SOMETHING
THAT LOOKED REALLY NICE WHILE
IT WAS FLYING THROUGH THE AIR
AND ALSO WOULD BURN LONG ENOUGH
TO CATCH SOMETHING ON FIRE ONCE IT HIT IT.
AND FOR TRIGGERING IT,
I'VE GOT THIS CABLE SYSTEM
ATTACHED TO A HANDLE IN MY OFF HAND,
WHICH I CAN SQUEEZE TO PULL THE TRIGGER.
THING LOOKS INCREDIBLE.
LOOKS SCARY, RIGHT? LITTLE INTIMIDATING.
A LITTLE BIT. A LITTLE BIT.
I'D LIKE TO SEE THAT ONE RIGHT THERE.
COULD YOU STEP DOWN HERE, PLEASE?
THE WIRES AND ELECTRODES.
YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE TO EXPLAIN THAT TO ME.
IT'S BUILT ON A LACROSSE
GLOVE AND MOTORCYCLE ARMOR.
AND THIS IS A BARREL MADE OUT OF STEEL,
SPARK PLUG FOR ELECTRONIC IGNITION,
AND THESE ARE TASER MODULES.
AND THEN UNDER HERE, I CONTROL
IT WITH A MOMENTARY SWITCH.
WHEN I PUSH THE BUTTON,
YOU CAN HEAR THE TASER GO.
[ MODULES CRACKLING ]
YEAH, YEAH, YEAH.
THE PURPOSE OF IT IS TO
SHOOT A FIREBALL LIKE THAT
AND WHAT I'M SHOOTING IS A
COMPRESSED GUNPOWDER PELLET
THAT'S USED IN BLACK POWDER RIFLES
AND IT SHOOTS ITSELF UNDER ITS OWN POWER.
Delaney: WHILE BOTH FIREBALL
LAUNCHERS SHOOT A FLAMING PROJECTILE,
NICK'S DESIGN IS A FLARE GUN
THAT SHOOTS A SPARKING FIREWORK,
WHILE KEVIN KOHLER'S
LAUNCHES A FAST-BURNING
BLACK POWDER PELLET.
ALL RIGHT, GUYS. SO I
LIKE WHAT YOU GOT HERE,
AND IT LOOKS VERY STRAIGHTFORWARD.
WHENEVER YOU'RE READY, YOU
CAN GO AHEAD AND GIVE 'EM A RUN.
ALL RIGHT, SOUNDS GOOD.
♪♪
Delaney: WHILE NICK AND KEVIN SUIT UP,
OUR BUILD TEAM ASSEMBLES THE TARGETS.
THEY'RE COMING TO GET YOU, NICK AND KEVIN.
ALL RIGHT, SO BECAUSE WE NEED
A TARGET, WE HAVE THESE GUYS.
YEAH, THEY LOOK LIKE
THEY'RE READY TO BE LIT UP.
A FLIP OF THE COIN
SAYS KEVIN'S GOING FIRST.
ALL RIGHT.
-GOOD LUCK. -HE'LL NEED IT.
ALL RIGHT, LET'S ALL GO TO A SAFE PLACE
AND LET THEM LIGHT THESE GUYS UP.
-ALL RIGHT, LET'S DO IT. -READY... AIM...
FIRE!
Delaney: THE FIREBALL
THROWING CONTEST IS STARTING.
REMEMBER, THE FIREBALL NEEDS
TO HIT THE TARGETS FROM 40 FEET
AND IT HAS TO SET THE TARGETS ABLAZE.
KEVIN KOHLER, THE BACKYARD
SCIENTIST, IS UP FIRST.
ALL RIGHT. READY... AIM... FIRE!
[ ALL GROANING, LAUGHTER ]
WHAT WAS THAT?
Kohler: HOLD ON, LET ME
RELOAD, LET ME RELOAD.
- WAH, WAH, WAH!
- THAT WAS REALLY INTIMIDATING,
KEVIN. I'M AFRAID FOR MY LIFE.
-AW, MAN. -YEAH, YEAH, YEAH.
RELOAD.
I THINK I'M GOING TO CHANGE
MY BET TO THE ZOMBIES.
ALL RIGHT, SECOND CHANCE.
READY... AIM... FIRE.
[ MODULES CRACKLING ]
♪♪
-OHH! -SO CLOSE.
NICE TRY.
Householder: HOW MANY TRIES YOU
THINK YOU'RE GONNA NEED, KEVIN?
YOU WANT TO HIT THE TARGET,
NOT JUST GET CLOSE TO IT.
[ LAUGHTER ]
-NOT HIT THE TARGET. -WHOO! YEAH.
[ LAUGHTER ]
CLEARLY, KEVIN'S PELLET-PROPELLING
TASER SPARK PLUG GIZMO NEEDS ADJUSTING.
I SHOULD'VE SET A LIMIT
ON THE NUMBER OF TRIES.
ANOTHER ADJUSTMENT OR TWO OR THREE OR FOUR
AND HE'S READY TO FIRE AGAIN.
-KEVIN, YOU READY? -YES.
ALL RIGHT, HERE WE GO.
READY... AIM... FIRE!
[ MODULES CRACKLE ]
♪♪
[ CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ]
ALL RIGHT!
♪♪
ALL RIGHT!
[ LAUGHTER ]
YEAH!
FEELS GOOD.
♪♪
WHILE THE CREW SETS
UP NEW TARGETS FOR NICK,
ANNE-LISE AND I ARE ASKING THE
AGE-OLD QUESTION, WILL IT BURN?
WE HAVE A STASH OF POTASSIUM,
A MINERAL FOUND IN PLAIN
OLD POTATOES AND BANANAS.
HI, GUYS. THANK YOU SO
MUCH FOR HELPING US OUT.
SO WE'RE GOING TO TAKE OUR
POTASSIUM AND WE'RE GOING TO
DROP IT IN A LITTLE BIT OF WATER
AND WE'RE GOING TO SEE WHAT HAPPENS.
-LET'S FIND OUT. -ANNE-LISE, ARE WE READY?
YEAH. LET'S DO IT.
ALL RIGHT.
♪♪
ALL RIGHT, HERE WE GO.
3, 2, 1.
-OOH. -OOH.
-OOH. -[ LAUGHS ]
OOH, LOOK AT THE PURPLE.
YEAH, IT'S COOL.
IT FIZZLED A LITTLE BIT. I WAS RIGHT.
FIZZLED A LITTLE BIT?
THE WATER CHANGING COLOR, THE PURPLE.
YEAH, THERE WAS A LITTLE
BIT OF A COLOR CHANGE.
Delaney: WHEN THE POTASSIUM HITS THE WATER,
THERE'S A VIOLENT CHEMICAL REACTION.
THIS CREATES HYDROGEN GAS, WHICH IGNITES.
♪♪
PSHOO! [ LAUGHS ]
TAKE A LOOK AT THESE THERMAL IMAGING SHOTS
OF THE EXPLODING POTASSIUM.
THE WHITE COLOR SHOWS THE EXTREME HEAT
CREATED BY THE EXPLODING HYDROGEN.
THAT'S RIGHT... POTASSIUM PLUS
WATER EQUALS A PRETTY BIG BURN.
ARE YOU GUYS READY FOR SOMETHING ELSE?
-OH, YEAH. -YES.
-OKAY. -DEFINITELY.
NEXT UP, WE'RE GOING TO SEE WHAT HAPPENS
WHEN A LIGHT BULB MEETS LIQUID NITROGEN.
HOW MANY KEVINS DOES IT TAKE
TO SCREW IN A LIGHT BULB, KEVIN?
APPARENTLY, JUST TWO.
I'LL BREAK THE BULB, YOU POUR THE NITROGEN.
OKAY, GO AHEAD AND FILL IT UP, YEP.
FIRST, I BREAK THE BULB,
SAVING THE FILAMENT.
THEN I PUT THE FILAMENT
DIRECTLY IN LIQUID NITROGEN.
JUST GOING TO GET A NICE, GOOD AMOUNT
OF LIQUID NITROGEN IN THERE.
THAT'S REALLY PLENTY.
I'M GOING TO VERY, VERY CAREFULLY...
YES, YOU'VE GOT TO BE CAREFULLY.
OH, MY GOD.
READY? 3, 2, 1.
[ SWITCH CLICKS ON ]
-OKAY. -OOH.
-WHOA. -WOW.
-HOW ABOUT THAT? -OH, MY GOD.
SO WE TOOK OUR BROKEN LIGHT
BULB AND WE MADE IT WORK AGAIN.
WOW.
I FEEL LIKE THOMAS EDISON.
[ LAUGHTER ]
GIVE ME YOUR MONEY!
AND I'LL GIVE YOU LIGHT BULBS.
I'M THOMAS EDISON.
WHAT DO YOU GUYS THINK IS GOING
TO HAPPEN WHEN WE TAKE IT OUT?
YOU'RE MAKING ME NERVOUS.
OH, DON'T WORRY. IT'S GOING TO GO OUT.
ME, TOO. UH-OH.
-OOH. -OOH.
-WHAT'S WRONG? -THERE IT GOES.
WOW.
SO WHY DID IT GO OUT?
IT'S ALL ABOUT THE FILAMENT.
INCANDESCENT LIGHT BULBS ARE MANUFACTURED
AND FILED WITH NONREACTIVE
GASES LIKE ARGON.
IT WON'T BURN OR REACT.
THE FILAMENT INSIDE ONE OF THESE BULBS
CAN REACH 5,000 DEGREES FAHRENHEIT,
SO ANY EXPOSURE TO
OXYGEN WILL CAUSE IT TO MELT
AND BURN MUCH FASTER.
BUT AS LONG AS WE KEEP OUR
FILAMENT IN THE LIQUID NITROGEN
AND KEEP THE OXYGEN OUT, WE'RE STAYING LIT,
JUST LIKE EDISON DREAMED OF,
AS HE SLEPT ON PILES OF MONEY.
NOW, A COOL REACTION WHEN DRY ICE MEETS
ONE OF THE MOST COMMON
ELEMENTS IN THE UNIVERSE, MAGNESIUM.
IT'S IN THE STARS,
MEDICINE, AND BATH SALTS.
THIS IS GOING TO REQUIRE SAFETY GLASSES.
READY WHEN YOU ARE.
Delaney: ALL RIGHT, HERE,
LET ME PUT THIS IN THERE,
ALL THE PIECES.
[ CHUCKLES ]
ALL RIGHT, LET'S GO.
OKAY.
♪♪
-THERE WE GO. -WHOO.
WOW!
Delaney: WE'RE IN A RESTAURANT
MAKING A MAGNESIUM AND DRY ICE SANDWICH.
-WHOA! -WOW.
♪♪
♪♪
♪♪
THE DRY ICE SURROUNDING
THE IGNITED MAGNESIUM ACTS
LIKE A KIND OF LIGHT BULB.
AS IT MELTS, IT BECOMES
CARBON DIOXIDE GAS AND BURNS
BECAUSE IT RELEASES OXYGEN FROM THE GAS.
Delaney: SO ONE OF THE
PROPERTIES OF MAGNESIUM,
IT HAPPENS TO BURN A
LITTLE BIT MORE VIGOROUSLY
IN A CO2-RICH ENVIRONMENT.
SO ALL WE DID WAS GIVE IT THAT
ENVIRONMENT AND WE'VE MADE
A DRY ICE KIND OF A LIGHT BULB.
MM-HMM.
Delaney: IRONICALLY, CARBON DIOXIDE IS USED
IN FIRE EXTINGUISHERS TO PUT FIRES OUT.
JUST MAKE SURE YOU'RE NOT TRYING TO USE ONE
TO EXTINGUISH BURNING MAGNESIUM.
IT'S KIND OF A NEAT REACTION
AND WE APPRECIATE YOU GUYS HELPING US OUT.
-OH, THANK YOU SO MUCH. -THANK YOU SO MUCH.
-THANK YOU. -THAT WAS AWESOME.
♪♪
Delaney: WE'RE READY TO
SEE SOMETHING ELSE BURN.
BACK AT THE FIRE
DEPARTMENT TRAINING FACILITY,
OUR BUILD TEAM IS POSITIONING
A SECOND SET OF EVIL-LOOKING TARGETS.
KEVIN KOHLER HAD A FEW MISFIRES
WITH HIS FIREBALL THROWING ATTEMPTS.
Kohler: HOLD ON, LET ME
RELOAD, LET ME RELOAD.
[ ALL GROANING ]
BUT HE WAS SUCCESSFUL ON THE THIRD TRY.
[ CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ]
[ LAUGHTER ]
NOW IT'S NICK'S TURN TO SEE
IF HIS FIREBALL THROWING THING
WORKS ANY BETTER AGAINST
THESE MENACING ZOMBIES.
ALL RIGHT, NICK, YOUR FIRST SHOT.
READY... AIM... FIRE!
[ CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ]
-THERE WE GO. -ALL RIGHT!
Man: THAT'S AWESOME! ALL RIGHT!
-WOW. -WOW.
YOU CAN FEEL THE HEAT BACK HERE.
HOLY COW.
-THAT'S GREAT. -ALL RIGHT.
HOLY... THAT'S AWESOME.
-AND HE JUST WALKS AWAY. -OKAY.
[ LAUGHTER ]
♪♪
♪♪
♪♪
- THAT WAS PRETTY SICK, MAN.
- THAT WAS AWESOME.
Kohler: IT LIKE, BOUNCED OFF HIS
ARM, BOUNCED OFF THE GROUND,
AND RIGHT IN THERE.
♪♪
♪♪
Householder: DO YOU FEEL LIKE A SUPERHERO?
-ABSOLUTELY. -ME, TOO.
Delaney: IN THE END, NICK
AND HIS GRENADE-STYLE
FIREBALL LAUNCHER KILLED IT.
BUT BOTH DESIGNS MET THE CHALLENGE
AND DECIMATED THE ZOMBIES.
TURNS OUT THE FIREFIGHTERS
HAVEN'T SEEN ENOUGH.
THEY WANT KEVIN AND NICK TO TAKE
AIM AT THEIR CAR FIRE SIMULATOR.
IT'S FUELED BY PROPANE,
BUT IT NEEDS A LIGHT.
-Y'ALL READY? -YEP.
CHRIS, YOU READY?
ALL RIGHT, 3, 2, 1.
♪♪
♪♪
♪♪
I THINK WE'VE BURNED ENOUGH FOR ONE DAY.
ALL RIGHT, I THINK IT'S TIME TO GO HOME.
I'D SAY THAT'S A SAFE BET.
♪♪