Street Science (2017–…): Season 2, Episode 4 - Tension Demolition - full transcript
Kevin and his team of experts build a supersized mousetrap capable of destroying everything in its path. They'll also investigate whether the monster mousetrap can generate enough energy to power a car.
♪♪
YOU'VE BROUGHT ME TO A DARK PLACE, KEVIN.
Delaney: THEY SAY LIGHTNING
NEVER STRIKES TWICE.
WE HAVE SOME HOMEMADE LIGHTNING
BOLTS THAT PROVE OTHERWISE.
YOU WANT TO FIRE IT UP
AND SEE WHAT IT DOES?
AND MAYBE A LIGHT SABER OR TWO.
All: THREE, TWO, ONE.
THEY ALL WORK.
NOW, WHO WILL FACE A MILLION VOLTS?
-WHOA! -OH! IT'S 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.
THAT'S GNARLY.
THIS IS "STREET SCIENCE."
YOU CAN'T BOTTLE THIS KIND OF LIGHTNING,
BUT YOU CAN CREATE IT.
THAT'S WHY WE'VE COME TO THE HOME
OF TAMPA BAY'S PRO HOCKEY TEAM
TO CHECK OUT A MAGNIFICENT DISPLAY
OF ARTIFICIAL LIGHTNING.
YOU'VE BROUGHT ME TO A DARK PLACE, KEVIN.
YEAH, IT'S ONLY GOING
TO BE DARK FOR A SECOND.
WATCH OUT THERE.
♪♪
- THAT WAS REALLY COOL.
- YEAH, IT'S A BIG TESLA COIL.
THAT'S THE BIGGEST ONE AROUND.
WELL, WE'RE TALKING ABOUT LIGHTNING,
SO I FIGURED A TESLA COIL
WOULD BE A GOOD PLACE TO START.
SO, YEAH, I'VE HEARD OF NIKOLA TESLA.
YEAH, HE HAD DEVELOPMENTS
THAT LED TO A LOT OF THINGS.
ALTERNATING CURRENT ELECTRICITY,
FLUORESCENT LIGHT BULBS, X-RAYS,
ALL KINDS OF STUFF HE WORKED ON,
BUT HE'S MOST FAMOUS FOR THE TESLA COIL.
A TESLA COIL IS THE CLOSEST THING
TO CREATING DO-IT-YOURSELF LIGHTNING BOLTS.
IT'S ACTUALLY TWO GIANT COILS
OF WIRE THAT CONDUCT ELECTRICITY,
ONE CHARGING UP THE OTHER.
AS CURRENT FLOWS THROUGH THE PRIMARY COIL,
IT CREATES A VOLTAGE
ACROSS THE SECONDARY COIL
THAT SENDS ARCS OF
ELECTRICITY FLYING OUT OF THE TOP.
A TESLA COIL GENERATES THE
SAME KIND OF HIGH-VOLTAGE,
LOW-CURRENT ELECTRICITY
CALLED ALTERNATING CURRENT,
OR A.C., THE SAME POWER THAT
COMES OUT OF A WALL SOCKET.
THE ARENA'S TESLA COILS ARE
OFF-LIMITS FOR EXPERIMENTATION,
BUT, OF COURSE, THE BACKYARD
SCIENTIST, KEVIN KOHLER,
KNOWS HOW TO GET HIS HANDS ON ONE.
BACKYARD KEVIN WITH A TESLA COIL,
I DON'T KNOW IF I'M SCARED OR EXCITED.
THOSE ARE BOTH SENSIBLE
REACTIONS TO KEVIN KOHLER.
[ ELECTRICITY CRACKLING ]
WE'RE MEETING KEVIN KOHLER IN A PARK,
WHERE HIS HOMEMADE TESLA
COIL IS ALREADY SPARKING INTEREST.
DO Y'ALL KNOW HOW A TESLA COIL WORKS?
ANY THEORIES? -I FORGET.
[ LAUGHTER ]
SHOULD WE JUST FIRE IT UP?
YEAH, YOU WANT TO FIRE IT
UP AND SEE WHAT IT DOES?
-SURE. -ALL RIGHT.
YOU CAN FEEL IT LIKE THAT,
AND IT DOESN'T ACTUALLY FEEL LIKE A SHOCK.
Delaney: SO WHY ISN'T KEVIN
IN PAIN FROM BEING ZAPPED
BY THESE MINI LIGHTNING BOLTS?
THIS COIL GENERATES ABOUT 100,000 VOLTS.
IT DOESN'T FEEL LIKE A SHOCK,
BUT YOU SEE THE LITTLE ORANGE BITS?
WHAT IT ACTUALLY FEELS LIKE
IS MAYBE A SPARK FALLS ON YOU.
Delaney: IT MIGHT BE SURPRISING
THAT DESPITE THE HIGH
VOLTAGE OF A TESLA COIL,
IT USUALLY DOESN'T GIVE
A VERY PAINFUL SHOCK.
ELECTRICITY IS BASICALLY
ELECTRONS FLOWING THROUGH WIRES.
THE ELECTRONS MAKE UP THE CURRENT.
IT'S THE VOLTAGE THAT PUSHES
THE CURRENT THROUGH THE WIRE.
IT'S A BIG SPARK, BUT IT DOESN'T HURT YOU.
Delaney: THAT'S BECAUSE IT'S
HIGH VOLTAGE BUT LOW CURRENT,
AND HIGH CURRENT IS WHAT GIVES YOU A SHOCK.
IT DOES DEFINITELY HAVE
THE MAD-SCIENTIST VIBE.
Delaney: THE SMALL LIGHTNING
BOLT FROM A TESLA COIL
IS ACTUALLY ELECTRICITY
IN THE FORM OF ELECTRONS
BEING THROWN OFF INTO THE AIR.
REAL LIGHTNING IS BASICALLY THE SAME THING,
ONLY MUCH BIGGER AND STRONGER.
BUT NIKOLA TESLA WASN'T
TRYING TO MAKE WEAK LIGHTNING.
SO YOU CAN PROBABLY TELL THIS LIGHT BULB
IS NOT PLUGGED IN TO A LAMP.
PUT IT IN YOUR OTHER HAND.
NO MAGIC TRICKS, NO WIRES. -NO WIRES.
HIGH VOLTAGE, LOW CURRENT.
YEAH.
Delaney: THE WAY WIRELESS
POWER WORKS IS SIMILAR
TO WHAT HAPPENS IN AN ELECTRICAL STORM.
THE TESLA COIL CREATES AN ELECTRIC FIELD
IN THE AIR THAT PUSHES ELECTRONS
THROUGH THE BULB AND LIGHTS IT.
TESLA'S IDEA WAS TO
BUILD THESE TRANSMITTERS
SO YOU COULD, YOU KNOW,
POWER YOUR LIGHT BULBS
WITHOUT HAVING TO PAY ANYBODY.
-YEAH. -BUT UNFORTUNATELY,
IT DIDN'T WORK OUT TOO WELL.
-IT'S LIKE A FLASHLIGHT. -RIGHT.
YOU KNOW, YOU POINT IT AT SOMETHING,
THE FARTHER AWAY IT IS,
THERE'S NOT AS MUCH LIGHT ON IT.
SAME THING WITH THIS.
IT CAN LIGHT UP A LIGHT BULB CLOSE,
BUT ONCE YOU GO ACROSS
THE FIELD, THERE'S NOTHING.
WE HAVE BIGGER LIGHT BULBS,
WOULD Y'ALL LIKE TO TRY?
-YEAH. -SURE.
Delaney: THESE ARE STANDARD
FLUORESCENT TUBES.
WATCH WHAT HAPPENS NEAR OUR TESLA COIL.
DO YOU THINK THEY'RE ALL GOING TO LIGHT UP?
-WE'RE ALL GOING TO DIE. -YEAH.
WELL, MINE'S FOR SURE GOING TO LIGHT UP.
THE CLOSER ONES ARE GOING TO GRAB MORE.
OH, YOU THINK YOU'RE GOING TO STEAL IT
FROM THE PEOPLE BEHIND YOU?
All: THREE, TWO, ONE.
-WHOA. -THEY ALL WORK.
WHEN WE TURNED IT ON, EVERYTHING LIT UP.
-HERE. -OH, YOU SAW THAT.
WHOA!
YOU KNOW, PUTTING A HAND IN FRONT OF IT,
GOT TO BREAK THAT ENERGY PATH.
OH, YEAH, LOOK.
AND THAT WAS PRETTY FUN TO WATCH.
Delaney: THIS INTERRUPTED LIGHT
SHOW SHOWS ONE OF THE REASONS
TESLA'S WIRELESS POWER
SYSTEM NEVER REALLY TOOK OFF.
THE ENERGY FROM THE COIL SPREADS
OUT AND WEAKENS VERY RAPIDLY,
THE SAME WAY HEAT FROM A FIRE DECLINES
DRAMATICALLY AS YOU GET FURTHER AWAY.
Delaney: I'M GOING TO TURN IT OFF.
EVERYBODY READY TO SAY GOODBYE?
-BYE. -GOODBYE.
Delaney: TESLA BUILT MUCH LARGER COILS
AND KEVIN'S ALWAYS READY
TO SUPER-SIZE EXPERIMENTS.
NEXT, DARREN AND I HEAD TO THE BREW PUB
TO PUT THINGS AND PEOPLE UNDER PRESSURE.
Delaney: NICK AND I
WERE TALKING ABOUT VACUUM PACKING,
AND HE SAID HE HAD SOME
STUFF TO VACUUM PACK.
WORD.
ALL RIGHT, GUYS. SO WE'VE GOT A PLASTIC BAG
AND WE'VE GOT THREE BUNCHES OF GRAPES.
WHAT DO YOU THINK WE'RE GOING TO DO?
- MAKE SOME WINE.
- THAT'S WHAT I WAS THINKING.
Delaney: THAT SOUNDS
PRETTY GOOD. I HOPE SO.
VACUUM PACKING HAS BEEN AROUND FOR...
PEOPLE HAVE BEEN DOING IT FOR A WHILE.
IT'S A GOOD WAY TO PRESERVE FOOD.
Householder: WHAT IT'S
REALLY DOING IS IT'S TAKING
AS MUCH OXYGEN OUT OF THE BAG AS POSSIBLE.
SO WHY GRAPES, NICK?
BECAUSE I THINK THEY'LL LOOK INTERESTING
IN A VACUUM-PACKED BAG.
- THAT'S A GOOD REASON.
- THAT'S A GOOD REASON, YEAH.
Dyk: THERE IT GOES.
ONE OF THE REALLY INTERESTING THINGS TO ME
IS HOW SOLID IT IS. -SOLID IT IS, YEAH.
LIKE THEY'RE HARD TO MOVE AROUND.
YOU CAN'T REALLY MOVE THE
GRAPES AROUND INSIDE THERE.
ANYTHING THAT'S VACUUM
PACKED IS KIND OF STUCK IN PLACE.
YEAH, LIKE TRY TO MOVE AROUND
THE GRAPES ON THE INSIDE.
THEY WON'T MOVE.
WHEN I TOUCHED THE BAG, THERE
WAS MORE OF A DENSITY TO IT.
YOU KNOW, IT JUST SEEMED
LIKE IT WAS A HEAVIER PRODUCT
OR SOMETHING, BUT IT ACTUALLY WASN'T.
THIS IS ALL GOOD PREP THEN
FOR WHEN THE ZOMBIES COME.
[ LAUGHTER ]
Dyk: WORD.
Delaney: GRAPES ARE PRETTY SOLID,
BUT WHAT HAPPENS TO SOMETHING
LESS DENSE LIKE CUPCAKES?
SWEET, THIS WILL BE COLORFUL.
ALL RIGHT, WHAT DO YOU GUYS THINK?
WE'RE GOING TO HAVE SOME FLAT CUPCAKES.
THEY'RE GOING TO BE FLAT.
-NICE AND... -A PERFECT BALL.
Man: IT'S GOING TO GO
RIGHT TO THE MIDDLE...
I THINK THEY'RE ALL GOING
TO JUST LIKE PERFECTLY
JUST STICK IN PLACE.
IS IT A BALL OR IS IT A BIG FLAT PLAIN?
-A BIG FLAT... -FLAT.
♪♪
THEY GOT SQUISHED DOWN TO PANCAKES.
-RIGHT ON THE WALL. -CUPCAKE ART.
CUPCAKE ART, YEAH.
Delaney: THE SUCTION OF THE VACUUM
ISN'T STRONG ENOUGH TO SUCK IN THE CUPCAKES
BUT IS STRONG ENOUGH TO
SUCK THE AIR OUT OF THE BAG,
SO THE BAG SHRINKS AROUND THE CUPCAKES
AND HOLDS THEM IN PLACE.
-ALL RIGHT. -STILL SQUISHY.
Delaney: NEXT, BALLOONS AND SHARP SCREWS.
WILL THEY POP THE BALLOONS?
- THE WHOLE THING'S GONNA POP.
- WHOLE THING'S GONNA POP?
-WHOLE THING'S GONNA POP. -YEAH.
♪♪
-WHOLE THING'S GONNA POP. -YEAH.
ONE CLEAR PLASTIC BAG AT A TIME.
NOW HE'S THROWN SOME
SHARP OBJECTS INTO THE MIX.
♪♪
IT'S LIKE A FIREWORK THAT DIDN'T GO OFF.
ISN'T THAT INTERESTING? PRETTY GOOD.
-THAT IS... -LOOK HOW IT'S EMBEDDED.
Delaney: VACUUM PACKING REMOVES
ALL THE AIR AROUND THE BALLOONS,
BUT THE BALLOONS STAY FILLED
BECAUSE THE ATMOSPHERIC
PRESSURE HASN'T CHANGED.
Householder: THE SHARP PART'S
NOT POINTING AT ANYTHING.
RIGHT.
AND PLUS, IT'S KIND OF
DISTRIBUTING THAT FORCE
ACROSS THE BALLOON AT AN ANGLE
AS OPPOSED TO BEING POINTED DIRECTLY AT
AND BEING PRESSED INTO A BALLOON.
-RIGHT. -NICELY DONE.
-WOW. -THAT'S AN INTERESTING RESULT.
Delaney: ALMOST ANYTHING
CAN BE VACUUM PACKED.
SOUNDS LIKE HE'S IN PAIN.
SO WHY NOT PEOPLE?
IT'S COMPLETELY SAFE. I PROMISE.
-GUYS, YOU WANT TO VOLUNTEER? -ABSOLUTELY.
-WHY NOT? -ALL RIGHT.
Delaney: THIS COUPLE IS GAME TO TRY IT OUT.
SO MA'AM, IF YOU'D LIKE TO COME IN FIRST.
SLIP YOUR WAY IN THERE.
NICK IS CAREFUL TO MAKE SURE THE BAG
DOESN'T CONSTRICT THEIR
NECKS AND CHOKE THEM.
ALL RIGHT, NICK, WE READY? -YES, SIR.
ALL RIGHT, LET'S GO.
[ INDISTINCT CONVERSATIONS ]
OH, YEAH. WE GOOD?
YEAH, THAT IS TIGHT.
THAT IS REALLY TIGHT.
Man: I WILL TELL YOU THAT I'M
ON MY TIPPY TOES RIGHT NOW
BECAUSE IT'S SO TIGHT.
AND YOUR BUTT IS TOTALLY FLATTENING ON ME.
[ LAUGHTER ]
TRY TO MOVE YOUR ARMS.
-THAT AIN'T HAPPENING. -NOPE.
CAN ONE OF YOU WALK?
HERE WE GO. KEEP GOING.
[ LAUGHTER ]
Delaney: SO WHY ARE THEY
HAVING SO MUCH TROUBLE MOVING?
ATMOSPHERIC PRESSURE EXERTS
A FORCE OF ABOUT 14.7 POUNDS
OVER EVERY SQUARE INCH OF OUR BODIES.
WE'RE USED TO IT, SO WE DON'T FEEL IT.
THINGS GET INTERESTING WHEN THERE'S
AN IMBALANCE IN THAT PRESSURE.
WHEN NICK USES THE
VACUUM, HE CREATES AN AREA
OF LOW PRESSURE INSIDE THE BAG
AND HIGHER PRESSURE OUTSIDE THE BAG.
THIS OUTSIDE PRESSURE MOLDS
THE BAG TIGHTLY AROUND THE BODY,
MAKING IT ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE TO MOVE,
KIND OF LIKE BEING BURIED IN QUICKSAND.
-YOU GUYS FEEL CLOSER NOW? -ABSOLUTELY.
MORE THAN EVER.
YOU SAY YOU'VE BEEN MARRIED FOR...
Man: ALMOST FIVE YEARS.
ALMOST 5 YEARS BUT TOGETHER FOR 11.
WELL, YOU KNOW, THIS IS
THE KIND OF EXPERIENCE
THAT BUILDS A LONG SHELF LIFE.
I CAN'T WAIT UNTIL MY MOTHER
AND MOTHER-IN-LAW SEE THAT.
ONCE EVERYONE SAW HOW NON-LETHAL THAT WAS,
VOLUNTEERS WERE EASIER TO COME BY.
-KIND OF STUCK NOW, HUH? -LITTLE BIT.
-OH, IT'S GETTING TIGHT. -THERE IT IS.
-OH, YEAH, THERE WE GO. -OH, YEAH.
Man #2: WHEN THEY TURN THE VACUUM ON,
YOU IMMEDIATELY WENT FROM A NORMAL FEELING
TO ALL OF A SUDDEN,
EVERYTHING GOT REAL TIGHT.
IT FELT NORMAL, LIKE A LITTLE BIT,
AND THEN IT SUCKED IN AND YOU WERE TIGHT.
Dyk: ALL RIGHT, WE'RE GOING
TO TAKE YOU OVER, YOU READY?
YEAH.
LIKE A CATERPILLAR EMERGING AS A BUTTERFLY.
Delaney: EARLIER WE STARTED
EXPLORING TESLA COILS,
WHICH PRODUCE CURRENT ELECTRICITY,
BUT NOW WE'VE GOT ANOTHER MACHINE
WHICH MAKES A DIFFERENT KIND OF CHARGE.
SINCE WE'RE TALKING STATIC
ELECTRICITY, THE ENEMY OF HAIR,
WE'RE BACK AT THE SALON.
MAKES SENSE.
WE VISITED THIS SAME
SALON TO DO AN EXPERIMENT
WITH SUPER-SIZED ELEPHANT TOOTHPASTE,
SO WE KNOW THEY'RE ALWAYS UP FOR ANYTHING.
ALL RIGHT, EVERYBODY,
IT'S NICE TO BE BACK HERE.
-YEAH. -HAVE Y'ALL EVER...
RECOGNIZE THIS MACHINE?
WHAT DO YOU THINK IT MIGHT DO?
IT LOOKS LIKE A LOLLIPOP.
THIS IS A STATIC ELECTRICAL GENERATOR.
IT'S CALLED A VAN DE GRAAFF GENERATOR.
AND SINCE STATIC ELECTRICITY
AFFECTS HAIR SO MUCH,
I FELT LIKE
IT WOULD BE APPROPRIATE
TO TALK TO YOU ABOUT IT.
WHO WANTS TO BE OUR FIRST VOLUNTEER?
-I'LL TRY. -YEAH.
ALL RIGHT, OMAR, YOU
WANT TO PLACE YOUR HAND
ON TOP OF THE VAN DE GRAAFF GENERATOR.
SERIOUSLY?
ALL RIGHT, I'M GOING TO TURN IT ON.
YOU'RE FINE, YOU'RE FINE.
ALL RIGHT, THREE, TWO, ONE.
Omar: I FELT LIKE GOOSE
BUMPS FIRST STARTED IN MY ARM,
AND THEN I FELT LIKE A BODY GOOSE BUMP.
-OH, MY GOSH! -GOT HAIR.
Woman: THERE'S HIS HAIR.
IT'S GETTING FUZZY ALL OVER MY ARM.
SHAKE YOUR HEAD.
-THAT'S SO WEIRD. -OH, MY GOD!
-WHAT? -WHAT DOES THAT LOOK LIKE?
Woman #2: HIS EYEBROWS
STARTED TO STICK OUT.
HIS HAIR WENT ALL BIG,
AND HIS ARM HAIR TOO.
WOW, I GOT THE GOOSE BUMPS ALL THE SUDDEN.
OH, YOUR EYEBROWS TOO.
[ LAUGHTER ]
-WHOO! -SO DO YOU FEEL SUPERCHARGED?
YEAH, WELL, I FELT LIKE
GOOSE BUMPS GOING ALL OVER.
RIGHT, THE LITTLE HAIRS ON YOUR ARMS
ARE ALSO BECOMING
CHARGED, NEGATIVELY CHARGED.
WANT TO TRY IT? -I'LL TRY IT, YEAH.
-WANT TO PUT THE WIG ON? -SURE.
-ALL RIGHT. -OH, A BLOND?
♪♪
IS IT MOVING?
Omar: WOW!
Woman #2: IT STARTS AT YOUR FINGERTIPS,
AND THEN IT JUST KIND OF
WIGGLES ALL THE WAY DOWN.
YOU CAN FEEL YOUR ARM HAIR GOING,
AND THEN JUST TINGLY EVERYWHERE.
Omar: NOW, THAT'S THE
REAL TEST RIGHT THERE.
-ISN'T THAT CRAZY? -WOW.
I WAS HOPING THEY WOULD
STAY A LITTLE BIT LONGER
SO WE JUST KEEP GOING.
THAT'S SO WEIRD.
Delaney: SO THE WAY IT WORKS
IS THIS BELT RUNS AROUND AND AROUND
AND AROUND AND CREATES A LOT OF FRICTION,
SO ALL THOSE LITTLE ELECTRON PARTICLES
COLLECT UP HERE IN THE DOME
IN A STATIC ELECTRICAL FIELD.
Delaney: EVEN THOUGH THIS VAN
DE GRAAFF GENERATOR LOOKS A LOT
LIKE KEVIN KOHLER'S
TESLA COIL, IT'S DIFFERENT.
BOTH GENERATE FREE
ELECTRONS IN THEIR SILVER GLOBE,
BUT THE VAN DE GRAAFF GENERATOR
DOES IT USING FRICTION
CREATED BY A MOVING BELT.
CAN YOU GUYS JUST CUT
EVERYTHING THAT'S STICKING UP?
[ LAUGHTER ]
NOW ON TO A BREWERY, WHERE
CHEMISTRY GENIUS ANNE-LISE EMIG
IS CAREFULLY PREPARING
AN EXPLOSIVE BAR DRINK.
NITROGEN TRIIODIDE, ARE
Y'ALL FAMILIAR WITH THAT?
-NO. -NO.
NITROGEN TRIIODIDE IS MADE
FROM HOUSEHOLD INGREDIENTS.
THEY'RE FAIRLY BENIGN, BUT WHEN COMBINED,
THEY CAN CREATE SOMETHING QUITE SURPRISING.
SO WE'RE GOING TO GO
FROM HEAVIEST TO LIGHTEST
STARTING WITH THE HEAVIEST THING
THAT I COULD THINK OF, A WATER BALLOON.
DARREN, YOU READY?
-DEFINITELY READY. -ANNE-LISE.
-YEP, LET'S DO THIS. -LET'S DO IT.
OKAY.
THREE, TWO, ONE.
[ EXPLOSION ] WHOO!
E'VE GOT SOME THREE, EXPLOSIVE PLANS
FOR THESE BAR PATRONS
THANKS TO A PRANKSTER
FAVORITE, THE WATER BALLOON.
THREE, TWO, ONE.
[ EXPLOSION ] WHOO!
SO IT WORKS.
IN ITS WET FORM, NITROGEN
TRIIODIDE IS NOT THAT SENSITIVE,
THAT'S WHY ANNE-LISE WAS
ABLE TO HANDLE IT BEFORE.
BUT AS IT DRIES, THE CRYSTALLIZED FORM
BECOMES HIGHLY EXPLOSIVE
AND INCREASINGLY SENSITIVE
TO ANY DISTURBANCE LIKE THIS WATER BALLOON.
Emig: WHEN I SET IT OFF,
YOU SAW THAT PURPLE CLOUD,
AND THAT'S THE IODIDE VAPOR,
AND THEN NITROGEN GAS WAS ALSO PRODUCED.
YOU CAN'T SEE THAT, BUT
IT'S IN THE AIR ALL AROUND US.
- WE'RE GOING TO GO LIGHTER.
- WE'VE GOT A FEATHER.
-OH, OKAY. -WHO'S FEATHER IS THAT?
WHERE DID THAT COME FROM?
[ EXPLOSION ]
[ LAUGHTER ]
ALL RIGHT, SO WE HAVE ONE LAST THING,
AND WHAT IS LIGHTER THAN A FEATHER?
-AIR. -AIR.
NICK IS OUR AEROSPACE ENGINEER.
SO THIS IS GOING TO HOPEFULLY
SET OFF OUR REACTION.
- THIS IS GOING TO BE COOL.
- NICK, YOU READY?
[ EXPLOSION ]
[ LAUGHTER ]
AS YOU CAN SEE,
THIS IS NOT ANYTHING YOU
SHOULD EVER TRY AT HOME.
NICK'S SMALL TOY DRONE
STIRRED UP ENOUGH AIR
FROM JUST A FEW FEET AWAY TO DO THIS.
I HAD NO IDEA WHAT NITRO TRIIODIDE WAS,
AND IT WAS REALLY INTERESTING TO SEE
HOW JUST THE TINIEST BIT OF EXPOSURE
TO ANYTHING ELSE CAN MAKE IT ERUPT.
SO IT WAS REALLY COOL TO SEE.
Delaney: NITROGEN TRIIODIDE.
NICE PILOTING, NICK.
[ APPLAUSE ]
DARREN AND I ARE BACK ON THE STREET
HEADING TO MEET UP WITH
KEVIN AND A TESLA COIL,
BUT THIS ISN'T THAT
PINT-SIZED ONE FROM BEFORE.
WE NEED THE SAFETY OF
A GOLF COURSE THIS TIME.
THE X LABS TEAM FROM THE
UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH FLORIDA
IS SETTING UP A 12-FOOT TALL
TESLA COIL ON THE 9th GREEN.
THIS THING WILL PUT OUT
OVER A MILLION VOLTS,
THAT'S 10 TIMES MORE
THAN KEVIN'S TESLA COIL.
THIS IS DANGEROUS BECAUSE WE'RE
CREATING MUCH HIGHER CURRENT,
AND REMEMBER, HIGH CURRENT SHOCKS.
WE'RE LOOKING FOR AN AUDIENCE
RIGHT NOW JUST UP THE WAY.
IT'S GOING TO BE REALLY
FLASHY, KIND OF COOL.
YOU GUYS UP TO JOINING US FOR THIS?
- THAT SOUND GREAT.
- YEAH, THAT SOUNDS AWESOME.
DO Y'ALL EVER WORRY ABOUT
LIGHTNING WHEN YOU'RE OUT HERE?
-ALWAYS. -ALL THE TIME.
-THEN MEET US AT THE 9th HOLE. -ALL RIGHT.
-WE WILL BE THERE. -FOLLOW ME.
Delaney: WHY A GOLF COURSE?
WELL, GOLFERS ARE STRUCK
BY LIGHTNING IN HIGHER NUMBERS
THAN ALMOST EVERYONE ELSE EXCEPT FISHERS.
STANDING OUT IN WIDE-OPEN
SPACES DURING A STORM
MAKES YOU A PERFECT LIGHTNING ROD,
AS MORE THAN 2,000 UNLUCKY
PEOPLE DISCOVER EVERY YEAR.
SINCE LIGHTNING IS A COMMON OCCURRENCE
HERE AT THE GOLF COURSE,
WE'RE GOING TO SIMULATE LIGHTNING,
AND WE'RE GOING TO RUN A COUPLE
OF DIFFERENT TEST DOLLS IN IT.
THIS PERSON IS IN FISHING GEAR.
WE ALSO HAVE A SCUBA DIVER
TO SEE IF NEOPRENE RUBBER
MAKES ANY DIFFERENCE.
WE ALSO HAVE SOMEBODY IN CHAIN MAIL.
DO YOU GUYS THINK ANY OF
THESE GUYS WILL SURVIVE?
-NO. -NO.
Man: I'M GOING FOR RUBBER.
Man #2: YOU WOULD THINK THE RUBBER BOOTS
MIGHT HELP A LITTLE BIT.
THERE'S ONLY ONE WAY TO FIND OUT.
SO COYT, WHO FROM THE TEAM
IS GOING TO RUN THE TESLA COIL?
SO MYSELF AND A COUPLE
OF MY OTHER X LABS MEMBERS
WILL BE RUNNING THE TESLA COIL.
WHILE WE WAIT FOR DARK,
OUR TEAM GEARS UP TO
CREATE ARTIFICIAL LIGHTNING.
AN ACTUAL LIGHTNING BOLT
CAN BE 100 MILLION VOLTS.
OURS WILL BE ABOUT ONE MILLION.
WE'RE GOING TO PURPOSELY ZAP
DUMMIES IN DIFFERENT OUTFITS.
WE'LL TRY NYLON RAIN GEAR THAT
A FISHER OR GOLFER MIGHT WEAR,
A RUBBER NEOPRENE SUIT
WORN BY A SCUBA DIVER,
AND A METAL CHAIN MAIL SUIT.
SO WHICH ONE WILL PREVAIL?
COYT, YOU READY? -I'M READY.
ALL RIGHT, MAN.
OH, ANTICIPATION.
[ LAUGHTER ]
WHOA!
Y: WE'VE BROUGHT
LIGHTNING TO A GOLF COURSE.
WILL ANY OF THESE DUMMIES SURVIVE?
COYT, YOU READY? -I'M READY.
ALL RIGHT, MAN.
[ LAUGHTER ]
-REACHING OUT. -WHOA!
Delaney: OH, IT'S ON FIRE!
[ APPLAUSE ]
SMOKING!
THE JACKET'S ALL MELTED,
AND HE'S HAVING A BAD DAY.
Delaney: IF THIS HAD BEEN ACTUAL
LIGHTNING AND A REAL PERSON,
THE SITUATION COULD HAVE BEEN FATAL.
WE PUT AN EXPLOSIVE GAS, BUTANE,
INSIDE ALL OF THE DUMMIES TO SEE
IF THE BOLTS OF ELECTRICITY
CAN PENETRATE THE OUTFIT
AND SPARK THE FLAMMABLE GAS.
AND THIS TESLA COIL
IS DEFINITELY SENDING ENOUGH CURRENT
THROUGH THE AIR TO IGNITE IT.
Man: I KNEW THAT IT WAS POWERFUL,
BUT TO ACTUALLY SEE IT LIVE
WAS ABSOLUTELY AMAZING.
JUST FASCINATING.
Delaney: NEXT UP, A SCUBA DIVER.
WILL A MODERN NEOPRENE WET SUIT PROVIDE
ANYMORE PROTECTION THAN
TRADITIONAL RUBBER RAIN GEAR?
THERE IT IS. GET HIM.
REACH OUT AND BITE HIM! THERE IT IS!
THERE IT IS!
IT TOOK HIM OFF AT THE HEAD.
THAT WAS JUST SOMETHING AWESOME
THAT I'VE NEVER SEEN BEFORE.
WELL, I THINK THERE'S
ONLY ONE THING LEFT TO TRY.
-YEAH. -CHAIN MAIL.
ALL RIGHT, CHAIN MAIL,
WHAT DO YOU GUYS THINK?
-I DON'T KNOW. -NOT LOOKING GOOD, MAN.
-YEAH. -DOESN'T STAND A CHANCE.
- NOT SURE ABOUT METAL.
- I MEAN, METAL'S A CONDUCTOR.
IT'S GOING TO FRY HIM, I THINK.
Delaney: ALL RIGHT, COYT, YOU READY?
-I'M READY. -ALL RIGHT.
Delaney: METAL ATTRACTS ELECTRICITY LIKE,
WELL, LIKE A LIGHTNING ROD.
SEE IF IT'S GOING TO BITE HIM.
SO WE'LL SEE HOW THIS WORKS.
-OH! -OH, IT'S ZAPPING HIM GOOD.
I NEED MORE POWER!
IT'S FINE. IT'S NOT HOT
OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT.
WOW.
Delaney: SO LESSON LEARNED.
WHEN YOU'RE OUT IN A LIGHTNING
STORM, WEAR CHAIN MAIL.
THE CHAIN MAIL ACTS AS A FARADAY CAGE.
A FARADAY CAGE IS A METAL ENCLOSURE
THAT PROTECTS AGAINST
ELECTRIC CHARGES OF RADIATION.
THE WHOLE CAGE CONDUCTS ELECTRICITY
AND KEEPS IT OUTSIDE,
PROTECTING WHATEVER IS INSIDE.
TODAY, THEY ARE USED TO
PROTECT EXPENSIVE ELECTRONICS,
LIKE LAPTOPS OR CELLPHONES.
THE METAL SCREEN INSIDE THE
DOOR OF A MICROWAVE OVEN
IS A FARADAY CAGE.
IT KEEPS THE MICROWAVE
RADIATION INSIDE THE OVEN.
WELL, WE'LL GET OUT OF HERE
AND Y'ALL CAN PLAY THROUGH.
-ALL RIGHT. -THANKS.
Man: YOU KNOW, WHEN I'M OUT
ON THE COURSE AND I THINK,
"OH, YOU KNOW, THE STORM'S COMING IN
AND I'VE GOT A LITTLE MORE
TIME," I KNOW BETTER NOW.
Delaney: WHILE SHOOTING
LIGHTNING BOLTS IS COOL,
A TESLA COIL DOESN'T HAVE
MUCH PRACTICAL APPLICATION,
BUT THIS REVOLUTIONARY INVENTION
MAKES AN AMAZING LIGHT SHOW.
♪♪
♪♪
YOU'VE BROUGHT ME TO A DARK PLACE, KEVIN.
Delaney: THEY SAY LIGHTNING
NEVER STRIKES TWICE.
WE HAVE SOME HOMEMADE LIGHTNING
BOLTS THAT PROVE OTHERWISE.
YOU WANT TO FIRE IT UP
AND SEE WHAT IT DOES?
AND MAYBE A LIGHT SABER OR TWO.
All: THREE, TWO, ONE.
THEY ALL WORK.
NOW, WHO WILL FACE A MILLION VOLTS?
-WHOA! -OH! IT'S 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.
THAT'S GNARLY.
THIS IS "STREET SCIENCE."
YOU CAN'T BOTTLE THIS KIND OF LIGHTNING,
BUT YOU CAN CREATE IT.
THAT'S WHY WE'VE COME TO THE HOME
OF TAMPA BAY'S PRO HOCKEY TEAM
TO CHECK OUT A MAGNIFICENT DISPLAY
OF ARTIFICIAL LIGHTNING.
YOU'VE BROUGHT ME TO A DARK PLACE, KEVIN.
YEAH, IT'S ONLY GOING
TO BE DARK FOR A SECOND.
WATCH OUT THERE.
♪♪
- THAT WAS REALLY COOL.
- YEAH, IT'S A BIG TESLA COIL.
THAT'S THE BIGGEST ONE AROUND.
WELL, WE'RE TALKING ABOUT LIGHTNING,
SO I FIGURED A TESLA COIL
WOULD BE A GOOD PLACE TO START.
SO, YEAH, I'VE HEARD OF NIKOLA TESLA.
YEAH, HE HAD DEVELOPMENTS
THAT LED TO A LOT OF THINGS.
ALTERNATING CURRENT ELECTRICITY,
FLUORESCENT LIGHT BULBS, X-RAYS,
ALL KINDS OF STUFF HE WORKED ON,
BUT HE'S MOST FAMOUS FOR THE TESLA COIL.
A TESLA COIL IS THE CLOSEST THING
TO CREATING DO-IT-YOURSELF LIGHTNING BOLTS.
IT'S ACTUALLY TWO GIANT COILS
OF WIRE THAT CONDUCT ELECTRICITY,
ONE CHARGING UP THE OTHER.
AS CURRENT FLOWS THROUGH THE PRIMARY COIL,
IT CREATES A VOLTAGE
ACROSS THE SECONDARY COIL
THAT SENDS ARCS OF
ELECTRICITY FLYING OUT OF THE TOP.
A TESLA COIL GENERATES THE
SAME KIND OF HIGH-VOLTAGE,
LOW-CURRENT ELECTRICITY
CALLED ALTERNATING CURRENT,
OR A.C., THE SAME POWER THAT
COMES OUT OF A WALL SOCKET.
THE ARENA'S TESLA COILS ARE
OFF-LIMITS FOR EXPERIMENTATION,
BUT, OF COURSE, THE BACKYARD
SCIENTIST, KEVIN KOHLER,
KNOWS HOW TO GET HIS HANDS ON ONE.
BACKYARD KEVIN WITH A TESLA COIL,
I DON'T KNOW IF I'M SCARED OR EXCITED.
THOSE ARE BOTH SENSIBLE
REACTIONS TO KEVIN KOHLER.
[ ELECTRICITY CRACKLING ]
WE'RE MEETING KEVIN KOHLER IN A PARK,
WHERE HIS HOMEMADE TESLA
COIL IS ALREADY SPARKING INTEREST.
DO Y'ALL KNOW HOW A TESLA COIL WORKS?
ANY THEORIES? -I FORGET.
[ LAUGHTER ]
SHOULD WE JUST FIRE IT UP?
YEAH, YOU WANT TO FIRE IT
UP AND SEE WHAT IT DOES?
-SURE. -ALL RIGHT.
YOU CAN FEEL IT LIKE THAT,
AND IT DOESN'T ACTUALLY FEEL LIKE A SHOCK.
Delaney: SO WHY ISN'T KEVIN
IN PAIN FROM BEING ZAPPED
BY THESE MINI LIGHTNING BOLTS?
THIS COIL GENERATES ABOUT 100,000 VOLTS.
IT DOESN'T FEEL LIKE A SHOCK,
BUT YOU SEE THE LITTLE ORANGE BITS?
WHAT IT ACTUALLY FEELS LIKE
IS MAYBE A SPARK FALLS ON YOU.
Delaney: IT MIGHT BE SURPRISING
THAT DESPITE THE HIGH
VOLTAGE OF A TESLA COIL,
IT USUALLY DOESN'T GIVE
A VERY PAINFUL SHOCK.
ELECTRICITY IS BASICALLY
ELECTRONS FLOWING THROUGH WIRES.
THE ELECTRONS MAKE UP THE CURRENT.
IT'S THE VOLTAGE THAT PUSHES
THE CURRENT THROUGH THE WIRE.
IT'S A BIG SPARK, BUT IT DOESN'T HURT YOU.
Delaney: THAT'S BECAUSE IT'S
HIGH VOLTAGE BUT LOW CURRENT,
AND HIGH CURRENT IS WHAT GIVES YOU A SHOCK.
IT DOES DEFINITELY HAVE
THE MAD-SCIENTIST VIBE.
Delaney: THE SMALL LIGHTNING
BOLT FROM A TESLA COIL
IS ACTUALLY ELECTRICITY
IN THE FORM OF ELECTRONS
BEING THROWN OFF INTO THE AIR.
REAL LIGHTNING IS BASICALLY THE SAME THING,
ONLY MUCH BIGGER AND STRONGER.
BUT NIKOLA TESLA WASN'T
TRYING TO MAKE WEAK LIGHTNING.
SO YOU CAN PROBABLY TELL THIS LIGHT BULB
IS NOT PLUGGED IN TO A LAMP.
PUT IT IN YOUR OTHER HAND.
NO MAGIC TRICKS, NO WIRES. -NO WIRES.
HIGH VOLTAGE, LOW CURRENT.
YEAH.
Delaney: THE WAY WIRELESS
POWER WORKS IS SIMILAR
TO WHAT HAPPENS IN AN ELECTRICAL STORM.
THE TESLA COIL CREATES AN ELECTRIC FIELD
IN THE AIR THAT PUSHES ELECTRONS
THROUGH THE BULB AND LIGHTS IT.
TESLA'S IDEA WAS TO
BUILD THESE TRANSMITTERS
SO YOU COULD, YOU KNOW,
POWER YOUR LIGHT BULBS
WITHOUT HAVING TO PAY ANYBODY.
-YEAH. -BUT UNFORTUNATELY,
IT DIDN'T WORK OUT TOO WELL.
-IT'S LIKE A FLASHLIGHT. -RIGHT.
YOU KNOW, YOU POINT IT AT SOMETHING,
THE FARTHER AWAY IT IS,
THERE'S NOT AS MUCH LIGHT ON IT.
SAME THING WITH THIS.
IT CAN LIGHT UP A LIGHT BULB CLOSE,
BUT ONCE YOU GO ACROSS
THE FIELD, THERE'S NOTHING.
WE HAVE BIGGER LIGHT BULBS,
WOULD Y'ALL LIKE TO TRY?
-YEAH. -SURE.
Delaney: THESE ARE STANDARD
FLUORESCENT TUBES.
WATCH WHAT HAPPENS NEAR OUR TESLA COIL.
DO YOU THINK THEY'RE ALL GOING TO LIGHT UP?
-WE'RE ALL GOING TO DIE. -YEAH.
WELL, MINE'S FOR SURE GOING TO LIGHT UP.
THE CLOSER ONES ARE GOING TO GRAB MORE.
OH, YOU THINK YOU'RE GOING TO STEAL IT
FROM THE PEOPLE BEHIND YOU?
All: THREE, TWO, ONE.
-WHOA. -THEY ALL WORK.
WHEN WE TURNED IT ON, EVERYTHING LIT UP.
-HERE. -OH, YOU SAW THAT.
WHOA!
YOU KNOW, PUTTING A HAND IN FRONT OF IT,
GOT TO BREAK THAT ENERGY PATH.
OH, YEAH, LOOK.
AND THAT WAS PRETTY FUN TO WATCH.
Delaney: THIS INTERRUPTED LIGHT
SHOW SHOWS ONE OF THE REASONS
TESLA'S WIRELESS POWER
SYSTEM NEVER REALLY TOOK OFF.
THE ENERGY FROM THE COIL SPREADS
OUT AND WEAKENS VERY RAPIDLY,
THE SAME WAY HEAT FROM A FIRE DECLINES
DRAMATICALLY AS YOU GET FURTHER AWAY.
Delaney: I'M GOING TO TURN IT OFF.
EVERYBODY READY TO SAY GOODBYE?
-BYE. -GOODBYE.
Delaney: TESLA BUILT MUCH LARGER COILS
AND KEVIN'S ALWAYS READY
TO SUPER-SIZE EXPERIMENTS.
NEXT, DARREN AND I HEAD TO THE BREW PUB
TO PUT THINGS AND PEOPLE UNDER PRESSURE.
Delaney: NICK AND I
WERE TALKING ABOUT VACUUM PACKING,
AND HE SAID HE HAD SOME
STUFF TO VACUUM PACK.
WORD.
ALL RIGHT, GUYS. SO WE'VE GOT A PLASTIC BAG
AND WE'VE GOT THREE BUNCHES OF GRAPES.
WHAT DO YOU THINK WE'RE GOING TO DO?
- MAKE SOME WINE.
- THAT'S WHAT I WAS THINKING.
Delaney: THAT SOUNDS
PRETTY GOOD. I HOPE SO.
VACUUM PACKING HAS BEEN AROUND FOR...
PEOPLE HAVE BEEN DOING IT FOR A WHILE.
IT'S A GOOD WAY TO PRESERVE FOOD.
Householder: WHAT IT'S
REALLY DOING IS IT'S TAKING
AS MUCH OXYGEN OUT OF THE BAG AS POSSIBLE.
SO WHY GRAPES, NICK?
BECAUSE I THINK THEY'LL LOOK INTERESTING
IN A VACUUM-PACKED BAG.
- THAT'S A GOOD REASON.
- THAT'S A GOOD REASON, YEAH.
Dyk: THERE IT GOES.
ONE OF THE REALLY INTERESTING THINGS TO ME
IS HOW SOLID IT IS. -SOLID IT IS, YEAH.
LIKE THEY'RE HARD TO MOVE AROUND.
YOU CAN'T REALLY MOVE THE
GRAPES AROUND INSIDE THERE.
ANYTHING THAT'S VACUUM
PACKED IS KIND OF STUCK IN PLACE.
YEAH, LIKE TRY TO MOVE AROUND
THE GRAPES ON THE INSIDE.
THEY WON'T MOVE.
WHEN I TOUCHED THE BAG, THERE
WAS MORE OF A DENSITY TO IT.
YOU KNOW, IT JUST SEEMED
LIKE IT WAS A HEAVIER PRODUCT
OR SOMETHING, BUT IT ACTUALLY WASN'T.
THIS IS ALL GOOD PREP THEN
FOR WHEN THE ZOMBIES COME.
[ LAUGHTER ]
Dyk: WORD.
Delaney: GRAPES ARE PRETTY SOLID,
BUT WHAT HAPPENS TO SOMETHING
LESS DENSE LIKE CUPCAKES?
SWEET, THIS WILL BE COLORFUL.
ALL RIGHT, WHAT DO YOU GUYS THINK?
WE'RE GOING TO HAVE SOME FLAT CUPCAKES.
THEY'RE GOING TO BE FLAT.
-NICE AND... -A PERFECT BALL.
Man: IT'S GOING TO GO
RIGHT TO THE MIDDLE...
I THINK THEY'RE ALL GOING
TO JUST LIKE PERFECTLY
JUST STICK IN PLACE.
IS IT A BALL OR IS IT A BIG FLAT PLAIN?
-A BIG FLAT... -FLAT.
♪♪
THEY GOT SQUISHED DOWN TO PANCAKES.
-RIGHT ON THE WALL. -CUPCAKE ART.
CUPCAKE ART, YEAH.
Delaney: THE SUCTION OF THE VACUUM
ISN'T STRONG ENOUGH TO SUCK IN THE CUPCAKES
BUT IS STRONG ENOUGH TO
SUCK THE AIR OUT OF THE BAG,
SO THE BAG SHRINKS AROUND THE CUPCAKES
AND HOLDS THEM IN PLACE.
-ALL RIGHT. -STILL SQUISHY.
Delaney: NEXT, BALLOONS AND SHARP SCREWS.
WILL THEY POP THE BALLOONS?
- THE WHOLE THING'S GONNA POP.
- WHOLE THING'S GONNA POP?
-WHOLE THING'S GONNA POP. -YEAH.
♪♪
-WHOLE THING'S GONNA POP. -YEAH.
ONE CLEAR PLASTIC BAG AT A TIME.
NOW HE'S THROWN SOME
SHARP OBJECTS INTO THE MIX.
♪♪
IT'S LIKE A FIREWORK THAT DIDN'T GO OFF.
ISN'T THAT INTERESTING? PRETTY GOOD.
-THAT IS... -LOOK HOW IT'S EMBEDDED.
Delaney: VACUUM PACKING REMOVES
ALL THE AIR AROUND THE BALLOONS,
BUT THE BALLOONS STAY FILLED
BECAUSE THE ATMOSPHERIC
PRESSURE HASN'T CHANGED.
Householder: THE SHARP PART'S
NOT POINTING AT ANYTHING.
RIGHT.
AND PLUS, IT'S KIND OF
DISTRIBUTING THAT FORCE
ACROSS THE BALLOON AT AN ANGLE
AS OPPOSED TO BEING POINTED DIRECTLY AT
AND BEING PRESSED INTO A BALLOON.
-RIGHT. -NICELY DONE.
-WOW. -THAT'S AN INTERESTING RESULT.
Delaney: ALMOST ANYTHING
CAN BE VACUUM PACKED.
SOUNDS LIKE HE'S IN PAIN.
SO WHY NOT PEOPLE?
IT'S COMPLETELY SAFE. I PROMISE.
-GUYS, YOU WANT TO VOLUNTEER? -ABSOLUTELY.
-WHY NOT? -ALL RIGHT.
Delaney: THIS COUPLE IS GAME TO TRY IT OUT.
SO MA'AM, IF YOU'D LIKE TO COME IN FIRST.
SLIP YOUR WAY IN THERE.
NICK IS CAREFUL TO MAKE SURE THE BAG
DOESN'T CONSTRICT THEIR
NECKS AND CHOKE THEM.
ALL RIGHT, NICK, WE READY? -YES, SIR.
ALL RIGHT, LET'S GO.
[ INDISTINCT CONVERSATIONS ]
OH, YEAH. WE GOOD?
YEAH, THAT IS TIGHT.
THAT IS REALLY TIGHT.
Man: I WILL TELL YOU THAT I'M
ON MY TIPPY TOES RIGHT NOW
BECAUSE IT'S SO TIGHT.
AND YOUR BUTT IS TOTALLY FLATTENING ON ME.
[ LAUGHTER ]
TRY TO MOVE YOUR ARMS.
-THAT AIN'T HAPPENING. -NOPE.
CAN ONE OF YOU WALK?
HERE WE GO. KEEP GOING.
[ LAUGHTER ]
Delaney: SO WHY ARE THEY
HAVING SO MUCH TROUBLE MOVING?
ATMOSPHERIC PRESSURE EXERTS
A FORCE OF ABOUT 14.7 POUNDS
OVER EVERY SQUARE INCH OF OUR BODIES.
WE'RE USED TO IT, SO WE DON'T FEEL IT.
THINGS GET INTERESTING WHEN THERE'S
AN IMBALANCE IN THAT PRESSURE.
WHEN NICK USES THE
VACUUM, HE CREATES AN AREA
OF LOW PRESSURE INSIDE THE BAG
AND HIGHER PRESSURE OUTSIDE THE BAG.
THIS OUTSIDE PRESSURE MOLDS
THE BAG TIGHTLY AROUND THE BODY,
MAKING IT ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE TO MOVE,
KIND OF LIKE BEING BURIED IN QUICKSAND.
-YOU GUYS FEEL CLOSER NOW? -ABSOLUTELY.
MORE THAN EVER.
YOU SAY YOU'VE BEEN MARRIED FOR...
Man: ALMOST FIVE YEARS.
ALMOST 5 YEARS BUT TOGETHER FOR 11.
WELL, YOU KNOW, THIS IS
THE KIND OF EXPERIENCE
THAT BUILDS A LONG SHELF LIFE.
I CAN'T WAIT UNTIL MY MOTHER
AND MOTHER-IN-LAW SEE THAT.
ONCE EVERYONE SAW HOW NON-LETHAL THAT WAS,
VOLUNTEERS WERE EASIER TO COME BY.
-KIND OF STUCK NOW, HUH? -LITTLE BIT.
-OH, IT'S GETTING TIGHT. -THERE IT IS.
-OH, YEAH, THERE WE GO. -OH, YEAH.
Man #2: WHEN THEY TURN THE VACUUM ON,
YOU IMMEDIATELY WENT FROM A NORMAL FEELING
TO ALL OF A SUDDEN,
EVERYTHING GOT REAL TIGHT.
IT FELT NORMAL, LIKE A LITTLE BIT,
AND THEN IT SUCKED IN AND YOU WERE TIGHT.
Dyk: ALL RIGHT, WE'RE GOING
TO TAKE YOU OVER, YOU READY?
YEAH.
LIKE A CATERPILLAR EMERGING AS A BUTTERFLY.
Delaney: EARLIER WE STARTED
EXPLORING TESLA COILS,
WHICH PRODUCE CURRENT ELECTRICITY,
BUT NOW WE'VE GOT ANOTHER MACHINE
WHICH MAKES A DIFFERENT KIND OF CHARGE.
SINCE WE'RE TALKING STATIC
ELECTRICITY, THE ENEMY OF HAIR,
WE'RE BACK AT THE SALON.
MAKES SENSE.
WE VISITED THIS SAME
SALON TO DO AN EXPERIMENT
WITH SUPER-SIZED ELEPHANT TOOTHPASTE,
SO WE KNOW THEY'RE ALWAYS UP FOR ANYTHING.
ALL RIGHT, EVERYBODY,
IT'S NICE TO BE BACK HERE.
-YEAH. -HAVE Y'ALL EVER...
RECOGNIZE THIS MACHINE?
WHAT DO YOU THINK IT MIGHT DO?
IT LOOKS LIKE A LOLLIPOP.
THIS IS A STATIC ELECTRICAL GENERATOR.
IT'S CALLED A VAN DE GRAAFF GENERATOR.
AND SINCE STATIC ELECTRICITY
AFFECTS HAIR SO MUCH,
I FELT LIKE
IT WOULD BE APPROPRIATE
TO TALK TO YOU ABOUT IT.
WHO WANTS TO BE OUR FIRST VOLUNTEER?
-I'LL TRY. -YEAH.
ALL RIGHT, OMAR, YOU
WANT TO PLACE YOUR HAND
ON TOP OF THE VAN DE GRAAFF GENERATOR.
SERIOUSLY?
ALL RIGHT, I'M GOING TO TURN IT ON.
YOU'RE FINE, YOU'RE FINE.
ALL RIGHT, THREE, TWO, ONE.
Omar: I FELT LIKE GOOSE
BUMPS FIRST STARTED IN MY ARM,
AND THEN I FELT LIKE A BODY GOOSE BUMP.
-OH, MY GOSH! -GOT HAIR.
Woman: THERE'S HIS HAIR.
IT'S GETTING FUZZY ALL OVER MY ARM.
SHAKE YOUR HEAD.
-THAT'S SO WEIRD. -OH, MY GOD!
-WHAT? -WHAT DOES THAT LOOK LIKE?
Woman #2: HIS EYEBROWS
STARTED TO STICK OUT.
HIS HAIR WENT ALL BIG,
AND HIS ARM HAIR TOO.
WOW, I GOT THE GOOSE BUMPS ALL THE SUDDEN.
OH, YOUR EYEBROWS TOO.
[ LAUGHTER ]
-WHOO! -SO DO YOU FEEL SUPERCHARGED?
YEAH, WELL, I FELT LIKE
GOOSE BUMPS GOING ALL OVER.
RIGHT, THE LITTLE HAIRS ON YOUR ARMS
ARE ALSO BECOMING
CHARGED, NEGATIVELY CHARGED.
WANT TO TRY IT? -I'LL TRY IT, YEAH.
-WANT TO PUT THE WIG ON? -SURE.
-ALL RIGHT. -OH, A BLOND?
♪♪
IS IT MOVING?
Omar: WOW!
Woman #2: IT STARTS AT YOUR FINGERTIPS,
AND THEN IT JUST KIND OF
WIGGLES ALL THE WAY DOWN.
YOU CAN FEEL YOUR ARM HAIR GOING,
AND THEN JUST TINGLY EVERYWHERE.
Omar: NOW, THAT'S THE
REAL TEST RIGHT THERE.
-ISN'T THAT CRAZY? -WOW.
I WAS HOPING THEY WOULD
STAY A LITTLE BIT LONGER
SO WE JUST KEEP GOING.
THAT'S SO WEIRD.
Delaney: SO THE WAY IT WORKS
IS THIS BELT RUNS AROUND AND AROUND
AND AROUND AND CREATES A LOT OF FRICTION,
SO ALL THOSE LITTLE ELECTRON PARTICLES
COLLECT UP HERE IN THE DOME
IN A STATIC ELECTRICAL FIELD.
Delaney: EVEN THOUGH THIS VAN
DE GRAAFF GENERATOR LOOKS A LOT
LIKE KEVIN KOHLER'S
TESLA COIL, IT'S DIFFERENT.
BOTH GENERATE FREE
ELECTRONS IN THEIR SILVER GLOBE,
BUT THE VAN DE GRAAFF GENERATOR
DOES IT USING FRICTION
CREATED BY A MOVING BELT.
CAN YOU GUYS JUST CUT
EVERYTHING THAT'S STICKING UP?
[ LAUGHTER ]
NOW ON TO A BREWERY, WHERE
CHEMISTRY GENIUS ANNE-LISE EMIG
IS CAREFULLY PREPARING
AN EXPLOSIVE BAR DRINK.
NITROGEN TRIIODIDE, ARE
Y'ALL FAMILIAR WITH THAT?
-NO. -NO.
NITROGEN TRIIODIDE IS MADE
FROM HOUSEHOLD INGREDIENTS.
THEY'RE FAIRLY BENIGN, BUT WHEN COMBINED,
THEY CAN CREATE SOMETHING QUITE SURPRISING.
SO WE'RE GOING TO GO
FROM HEAVIEST TO LIGHTEST
STARTING WITH THE HEAVIEST THING
THAT I COULD THINK OF, A WATER BALLOON.
DARREN, YOU READY?
-DEFINITELY READY. -ANNE-LISE.
-YEP, LET'S DO THIS. -LET'S DO IT.
OKAY.
THREE, TWO, ONE.
[ EXPLOSION ] WHOO!
E'VE GOT SOME THREE, EXPLOSIVE PLANS
FOR THESE BAR PATRONS
THANKS TO A PRANKSTER
FAVORITE, THE WATER BALLOON.
THREE, TWO, ONE.
[ EXPLOSION ] WHOO!
SO IT WORKS.
IN ITS WET FORM, NITROGEN
TRIIODIDE IS NOT THAT SENSITIVE,
THAT'S WHY ANNE-LISE WAS
ABLE TO HANDLE IT BEFORE.
BUT AS IT DRIES, THE CRYSTALLIZED FORM
BECOMES HIGHLY EXPLOSIVE
AND INCREASINGLY SENSITIVE
TO ANY DISTURBANCE LIKE THIS WATER BALLOON.
Emig: WHEN I SET IT OFF,
YOU SAW THAT PURPLE CLOUD,
AND THAT'S THE IODIDE VAPOR,
AND THEN NITROGEN GAS WAS ALSO PRODUCED.
YOU CAN'T SEE THAT, BUT
IT'S IN THE AIR ALL AROUND US.
- WE'RE GOING TO GO LIGHTER.
- WE'VE GOT A FEATHER.
-OH, OKAY. -WHO'S FEATHER IS THAT?
WHERE DID THAT COME FROM?
[ EXPLOSION ]
[ LAUGHTER ]
ALL RIGHT, SO WE HAVE ONE LAST THING,
AND WHAT IS LIGHTER THAN A FEATHER?
-AIR. -AIR.
NICK IS OUR AEROSPACE ENGINEER.
SO THIS IS GOING TO HOPEFULLY
SET OFF OUR REACTION.
- THIS IS GOING TO BE COOL.
- NICK, YOU READY?
[ EXPLOSION ]
[ LAUGHTER ]
AS YOU CAN SEE,
THIS IS NOT ANYTHING YOU
SHOULD EVER TRY AT HOME.
NICK'S SMALL TOY DRONE
STIRRED UP ENOUGH AIR
FROM JUST A FEW FEET AWAY TO DO THIS.
I HAD NO IDEA WHAT NITRO TRIIODIDE WAS,
AND IT WAS REALLY INTERESTING TO SEE
HOW JUST THE TINIEST BIT OF EXPOSURE
TO ANYTHING ELSE CAN MAKE IT ERUPT.
SO IT WAS REALLY COOL TO SEE.
Delaney: NITROGEN TRIIODIDE.
NICE PILOTING, NICK.
[ APPLAUSE ]
DARREN AND I ARE BACK ON THE STREET
HEADING TO MEET UP WITH
KEVIN AND A TESLA COIL,
BUT THIS ISN'T THAT
PINT-SIZED ONE FROM BEFORE.
WE NEED THE SAFETY OF
A GOLF COURSE THIS TIME.
THE X LABS TEAM FROM THE
UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH FLORIDA
IS SETTING UP A 12-FOOT TALL
TESLA COIL ON THE 9th GREEN.
THIS THING WILL PUT OUT
OVER A MILLION VOLTS,
THAT'S 10 TIMES MORE
THAN KEVIN'S TESLA COIL.
THIS IS DANGEROUS BECAUSE WE'RE
CREATING MUCH HIGHER CURRENT,
AND REMEMBER, HIGH CURRENT SHOCKS.
WE'RE LOOKING FOR AN AUDIENCE
RIGHT NOW JUST UP THE WAY.
IT'S GOING TO BE REALLY
FLASHY, KIND OF COOL.
YOU GUYS UP TO JOINING US FOR THIS?
- THAT SOUND GREAT.
- YEAH, THAT SOUNDS AWESOME.
DO Y'ALL EVER WORRY ABOUT
LIGHTNING WHEN YOU'RE OUT HERE?
-ALWAYS. -ALL THE TIME.
-THEN MEET US AT THE 9th HOLE. -ALL RIGHT.
-WE WILL BE THERE. -FOLLOW ME.
Delaney: WHY A GOLF COURSE?
WELL, GOLFERS ARE STRUCK
BY LIGHTNING IN HIGHER NUMBERS
THAN ALMOST EVERYONE ELSE EXCEPT FISHERS.
STANDING OUT IN WIDE-OPEN
SPACES DURING A STORM
MAKES YOU A PERFECT LIGHTNING ROD,
AS MORE THAN 2,000 UNLUCKY
PEOPLE DISCOVER EVERY YEAR.
SINCE LIGHTNING IS A COMMON OCCURRENCE
HERE AT THE GOLF COURSE,
WE'RE GOING TO SIMULATE LIGHTNING,
AND WE'RE GOING TO RUN A COUPLE
OF DIFFERENT TEST DOLLS IN IT.
THIS PERSON IS IN FISHING GEAR.
WE ALSO HAVE A SCUBA DIVER
TO SEE IF NEOPRENE RUBBER
MAKES ANY DIFFERENCE.
WE ALSO HAVE SOMEBODY IN CHAIN MAIL.
DO YOU GUYS THINK ANY OF
THESE GUYS WILL SURVIVE?
-NO. -NO.
Man: I'M GOING FOR RUBBER.
Man #2: YOU WOULD THINK THE RUBBER BOOTS
MIGHT HELP A LITTLE BIT.
THERE'S ONLY ONE WAY TO FIND OUT.
SO COYT, WHO FROM THE TEAM
IS GOING TO RUN THE TESLA COIL?
SO MYSELF AND A COUPLE
OF MY OTHER X LABS MEMBERS
WILL BE RUNNING THE TESLA COIL.
WHILE WE WAIT FOR DARK,
OUR TEAM GEARS UP TO
CREATE ARTIFICIAL LIGHTNING.
AN ACTUAL LIGHTNING BOLT
CAN BE 100 MILLION VOLTS.
OURS WILL BE ABOUT ONE MILLION.
WE'RE GOING TO PURPOSELY ZAP
DUMMIES IN DIFFERENT OUTFITS.
WE'LL TRY NYLON RAIN GEAR THAT
A FISHER OR GOLFER MIGHT WEAR,
A RUBBER NEOPRENE SUIT
WORN BY A SCUBA DIVER,
AND A METAL CHAIN MAIL SUIT.
SO WHICH ONE WILL PREVAIL?
COYT, YOU READY? -I'M READY.
ALL RIGHT, MAN.
OH, ANTICIPATION.
[ LAUGHTER ]
WHOA!
Y: WE'VE BROUGHT
LIGHTNING TO A GOLF COURSE.
WILL ANY OF THESE DUMMIES SURVIVE?
COYT, YOU READY? -I'M READY.
ALL RIGHT, MAN.
[ LAUGHTER ]
-REACHING OUT. -WHOA!
Delaney: OH, IT'S ON FIRE!
[ APPLAUSE ]
SMOKING!
THE JACKET'S ALL MELTED,
AND HE'S HAVING A BAD DAY.
Delaney: IF THIS HAD BEEN ACTUAL
LIGHTNING AND A REAL PERSON,
THE SITUATION COULD HAVE BEEN FATAL.
WE PUT AN EXPLOSIVE GAS, BUTANE,
INSIDE ALL OF THE DUMMIES TO SEE
IF THE BOLTS OF ELECTRICITY
CAN PENETRATE THE OUTFIT
AND SPARK THE FLAMMABLE GAS.
AND THIS TESLA COIL
IS DEFINITELY SENDING ENOUGH CURRENT
THROUGH THE AIR TO IGNITE IT.
Man: I KNEW THAT IT WAS POWERFUL,
BUT TO ACTUALLY SEE IT LIVE
WAS ABSOLUTELY AMAZING.
JUST FASCINATING.
Delaney: NEXT UP, A SCUBA DIVER.
WILL A MODERN NEOPRENE WET SUIT PROVIDE
ANYMORE PROTECTION THAN
TRADITIONAL RUBBER RAIN GEAR?
THERE IT IS. GET HIM.
REACH OUT AND BITE HIM! THERE IT IS!
THERE IT IS!
IT TOOK HIM OFF AT THE HEAD.
THAT WAS JUST SOMETHING AWESOME
THAT I'VE NEVER SEEN BEFORE.
WELL, I THINK THERE'S
ONLY ONE THING LEFT TO TRY.
-YEAH. -CHAIN MAIL.
ALL RIGHT, CHAIN MAIL,
WHAT DO YOU GUYS THINK?
-I DON'T KNOW. -NOT LOOKING GOOD, MAN.
-YEAH. -DOESN'T STAND A CHANCE.
- NOT SURE ABOUT METAL.
- I MEAN, METAL'S A CONDUCTOR.
IT'S GOING TO FRY HIM, I THINK.
Delaney: ALL RIGHT, COYT, YOU READY?
-I'M READY. -ALL RIGHT.
Delaney: METAL ATTRACTS ELECTRICITY LIKE,
WELL, LIKE A LIGHTNING ROD.
SEE IF IT'S GOING TO BITE HIM.
SO WE'LL SEE HOW THIS WORKS.
-OH! -OH, IT'S ZAPPING HIM GOOD.
I NEED MORE POWER!
IT'S FINE. IT'S NOT HOT
OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT.
WOW.
Delaney: SO LESSON LEARNED.
WHEN YOU'RE OUT IN A LIGHTNING
STORM, WEAR CHAIN MAIL.
THE CHAIN MAIL ACTS AS A FARADAY CAGE.
A FARADAY CAGE IS A METAL ENCLOSURE
THAT PROTECTS AGAINST
ELECTRIC CHARGES OF RADIATION.
THE WHOLE CAGE CONDUCTS ELECTRICITY
AND KEEPS IT OUTSIDE,
PROTECTING WHATEVER IS INSIDE.
TODAY, THEY ARE USED TO
PROTECT EXPENSIVE ELECTRONICS,
LIKE LAPTOPS OR CELLPHONES.
THE METAL SCREEN INSIDE THE
DOOR OF A MICROWAVE OVEN
IS A FARADAY CAGE.
IT KEEPS THE MICROWAVE
RADIATION INSIDE THE OVEN.
WELL, WE'LL GET OUT OF HERE
AND Y'ALL CAN PLAY THROUGH.
-ALL RIGHT. -THANKS.
Man: YOU KNOW, WHEN I'M OUT
ON THE COURSE AND I THINK,
"OH, YOU KNOW, THE STORM'S COMING IN
AND I'VE GOT A LITTLE MORE
TIME," I KNOW BETTER NOW.
Delaney: WHILE SHOOTING
LIGHTNING BOLTS IS COOL,
A TESLA COIL DOESN'T HAVE
MUCH PRACTICAL APPLICATION,
BUT THIS REVOLUTIONARY INVENTION
MAKES AN AMAZING LIGHT SHOW.
♪♪
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