I've been enjoying some TiVoed episodes of MythBusters, a show run periodically on Discovery Channel. Two special effects pros test those urban legends and conspiracy theories that make the rounds. Their method: they re-enact the stories, trying their darnedest to get the results in the legend. Only very rarely do they succeed. In the last few episodes I've caught, they've graphically proven:
Nothing in your house, when poured into the toilet, will explode with enough force to eject the occupant of the seat when a lit cigarette is dropped in the bowl. If a half can of black powder or gasoline wouldn't do it, your household cleaners won't.
A cell phone will not ignite a gas-air mixture, even under optimal conditions. Static electricity generated from getting in and out of your seat will, so ground yourself on the car body before you go for the nozzle.
A bullet that would melt inside a human body would not make it out of the gun.
Pressure conditions under which silicone implants might explode would have killed you long before your implants ruptured.
A firecracker in a trombone will not propel a mute with sufficient force to knock the conductor down. Elie pointed out that their demo on this was slightly flawed, as they used a cup mute when most orchestral works use straight mutes.
Walking in the rain really does keep you drier than running.
If you have Discovery Channel, it's a show worth checking out. I await the rerun of the episode in which they answer the musical question, "Is your goldfish bored, or just stupid?"
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