1 00:00:00,000 --> 00:00:07,000 Please, don't try anything that you're about to see us do at home. 2 00:00:07,000 --> 00:00:09,000 Ever. 3 00:00:09,000 --> 00:00:16,120 On this episode of MythBusters, it's a botanical bonanza when Jamie and Adam shoot wind at 4 00:00:16,120 --> 00:00:26,360 record speeds to test the myth that in a storm a piece of straw can slice clean through a 5 00:00:26,360 --> 00:00:27,360 palm tree trunk. 6 00:00:27,360 --> 00:00:31,280 That is the coolest thing I've ever seen. 7 00:00:31,280 --> 00:00:36,720 And meanwhile, to find out if plants have feelings, Grant and Tori embrace their inner 8 00:00:36,720 --> 00:00:43,000 sadist and convert the workshop into a horticultural house of horrors. 9 00:00:43,000 --> 00:00:44,680 You hear it screaming? 10 00:00:44,680 --> 00:00:47,080 Science isn't always pretty. 11 00:00:47,080 --> 00:00:49,680 Who are the MythBusters? 12 00:00:49,680 --> 00:00:53,680 Adam Savage. 13 00:00:53,680 --> 00:00:54,680 And Jamie Heinemann. 14 00:00:54,680 --> 00:00:57,840 Aren't Tracer rounds illegal? 15 00:00:57,840 --> 00:01:01,360 Between them over 30 years special effects experience. 16 00:01:01,360 --> 00:01:03,600 That's what I'm talking about. 17 00:01:03,600 --> 00:01:06,120 Joining them, Tori Bellachy. 18 00:01:06,120 --> 00:01:07,120 What could go wrong? 19 00:01:07,120 --> 00:01:08,120 Carrie Byron. 20 00:01:08,120 --> 00:01:09,800 We're going for total annihilation. 21 00:01:09,800 --> 00:01:10,800 And Grant Imahara. 22 00:01:10,800 --> 00:01:13,040 I'm pooping as fast as I can. 23 00:01:13,040 --> 00:01:16,000 They don't just tell the myths. 24 00:01:16,000 --> 00:01:21,240 They put them to the test. 25 00:01:21,240 --> 00:01:30,840 What's the myth? 26 00:01:30,840 --> 00:01:33,440 This is what I've been wanting to do since we started doing this show. 27 00:01:33,440 --> 00:01:37,840 It is that in a tropical storm the winds can become so powerful that they'll take a piece 28 00:01:37,840 --> 00:01:42,520 of straw and give it enough energy to drive it right through a palm tree. 29 00:01:42,520 --> 00:01:44,680 That sounds like it's right down our alley. 30 00:01:44,680 --> 00:01:48,800 Small objects accelerated to really, really high speeds and see what they do, what kind 31 00:01:48,800 --> 00:01:50,320 of damage we can achieve. 32 00:01:50,320 --> 00:01:54,200 I can barely wait. 33 00:01:54,200 --> 00:01:59,600 Storms can be incredibly powerful, but can they propel a fragile piece of straw so fast 34 00:01:59,600 --> 00:02:01,840 it becomes a flying missile? 35 00:02:01,840 --> 00:02:05,600 At the wind speeds they reach, anything is possible. 36 00:02:05,600 --> 00:02:07,600 Any guesses? 37 00:02:07,600 --> 00:02:09,160 200 miles an hour. 38 00:02:09,160 --> 00:02:10,160 Keep going. 39 00:02:10,160 --> 00:02:12,160 250 miles per hour? 40 00:02:12,160 --> 00:02:13,160 Nope. 41 00:02:13,160 --> 00:02:14,160 You got to keep going. 42 00:02:14,320 --> 00:02:21,480 The highest ever recorded wind speed was taken using Doppler radar in Oklahoma City in 1999 43 00:02:21,480 --> 00:02:25,200 and they got 318 miles an hour. 44 00:02:25,200 --> 00:02:26,200 No way. 45 00:02:26,200 --> 00:02:27,560 I don't know how we're going to do that. 46 00:02:27,560 --> 00:02:31,680 We could use a jet, but it would burn everything to ash while we tried to use it. 47 00:02:31,680 --> 00:02:32,680 No, it's simpler than that. 48 00:02:32,680 --> 00:02:38,440 I have a trick up my sleeve and it involves a really big air gun. 49 00:02:38,440 --> 00:02:39,920 I like it. 50 00:02:39,920 --> 00:02:45,040 The plan is to get an air compressor, attach it to a metal tank with a release valve, attach 51 00:02:45,040 --> 00:02:50,320 that to a very long pipe that will act as the barrel and at the end of it all place 52 00:02:50,320 --> 00:02:51,320 the target. 53 00:02:51,320 --> 00:02:55,600 A very tall, swaying palm. 54 00:02:55,600 --> 00:02:59,800 Jamie lays out a 5 foot long 4 inch diameter metal pipe. 55 00:02:59,800 --> 00:03:04,120 This will be the main body of the shooter that will contain the compressed air just before 56 00:03:04,120 --> 00:03:06,440 it's released. 57 00:03:06,440 --> 00:03:11,400 Then he screws on a device that will tell them what PSI or pounds per square inch of 58 00:03:11,400 --> 00:03:13,440 pressure they're at. 59 00:03:13,440 --> 00:03:15,920 We have to have a gauge on it to measure the pressure. 60 00:03:15,920 --> 00:03:21,480 That will be this device right here which will attach to the pipe. 61 00:03:21,480 --> 00:03:26,480 Adam fashions a simple loader for the ammo by cutting a slot into a piece of pipe and 62 00:03:26,480 --> 00:03:32,520 fitting a cylindrical plastic tube over the top that simply slides back and forth. 63 00:03:32,520 --> 00:03:34,520 I'm making what's called a breach loader. 64 00:03:34,520 --> 00:03:38,120 Basically it will allow us to pop in whatever we're going to fire out of it whether it's 65 00:03:38,120 --> 00:03:42,880 straw or toothpicks or anything and close it back up. 66 00:03:42,880 --> 00:03:47,760 With Adam stuck in the breach, Jamie adds a release valve that has a lightning fast 67 00:03:47,760 --> 00:03:49,360 electronic trigger. 68 00:03:49,360 --> 00:03:53,160 It's one of his most loved toys and has a very long name. 69 00:03:53,160 --> 00:03:56,840 This particular thing is one of my favorite gadgets and it's called a pilot assisted 70 00:03:56,840 --> 00:04:02,440 diaphragm valve and that means that it's kind of in a state of almost being ready to 71 00:04:02,440 --> 00:04:06,200 trip and then when you hit the trigger all of a sudden it goes pop and all the air goes 72 00:04:06,200 --> 00:04:07,320 through. 73 00:04:07,320 --> 00:04:10,640 Air pressure alone won't give the straw the thrust it needs. 74 00:04:10,640 --> 00:04:16,440 To get enough momentum going it's going to need a really good run up on a very long track, 75 00:04:16,440 --> 00:04:17,440 the barrel. 76 00:04:17,440 --> 00:04:21,400 Unfortunately we're limited to about 150 PSI here in the shop. 77 00:04:21,400 --> 00:04:27,120 Our solution to that is to have a massively long barrel and that will give us the velocity 78 00:04:27,120 --> 00:04:31,240 that we need by the time we get to the end of the barrel it should be going quite fast. 79 00:04:31,240 --> 00:04:36,760 Jamie and Adam start to connect lengths of half inch diameter copper pipe end to end. 80 00:04:36,760 --> 00:04:40,360 Piece by piece they solder on down the workshop floor. 81 00:04:40,360 --> 00:04:45,080 But just how long does this super stretched out straw airstrip need to be? 82 00:04:45,080 --> 00:04:46,680 Hey that's enough. 83 00:04:46,680 --> 00:04:47,680 One more. 84 00:04:47,680 --> 00:04:48,680 No come on. 85 00:04:48,680 --> 00:04:50,440 This is, we got 60 feet here. 86 00:04:50,440 --> 00:04:52,080 We're going to go for the max sooner or later. 87 00:04:52,080 --> 00:04:53,800 Might as well do it now. 88 00:04:53,800 --> 00:04:54,800 Okay. 89 00:04:54,800 --> 00:04:56,400 What the hey? 90 00:04:56,400 --> 00:05:01,200 They extended out even more and take it all the way to 80 feet. 91 00:05:01,200 --> 00:05:06,920 With a barrel this size the straw may streak down the middle so fast it breaks some records. 92 00:05:06,920 --> 00:05:12,840 I'm a little nervous to say this right now but I think we might exceed Mach 1 on this. 93 00:05:12,840 --> 00:05:15,840 Now they've got the length they have to make it straight. 94 00:05:15,840 --> 00:05:19,920 The more we can eliminate any bends in the system the more efficiency we'll get out of 95 00:05:19,920 --> 00:05:23,800 it and by efficiency I mean insane amounts of speed. 96 00:05:23,800 --> 00:05:26,000 Here's my laser. 97 00:05:26,000 --> 00:05:30,520 To get the pipe to line up just right they're going to use one of Adam's favorite toys 98 00:05:30,520 --> 00:05:31,520 now, a laser. 99 00:05:31,520 --> 00:05:34,400 You need to go up just a tiny bit. 100 00:05:34,400 --> 00:05:35,400 Stop. 101 00:05:35,400 --> 00:05:36,400 Wow. 102 00:05:36,400 --> 00:05:37,400 Stop. 103 00:05:37,400 --> 00:05:40,000 That looks just about right. 104 00:05:40,000 --> 00:05:43,640 That is pretty darn good. 105 00:05:43,640 --> 00:05:48,320 With the kinks all ironed out all that's left to do is cement it into place. 106 00:05:48,320 --> 00:05:53,080 While Jamie gets gluing Adam goes to fetch the target, the palm tree. 107 00:05:53,080 --> 00:05:54,080 Hi. 108 00:05:54,080 --> 00:05:55,080 Hi Dale. 109 00:05:55,080 --> 00:05:56,080 Yes sir. 110 00:05:56,080 --> 00:05:58,080 Adam Savage, nice to meet you. 111 00:05:58,080 --> 00:05:59,080 Pleased to meet you. 112 00:05:59,080 --> 00:06:04,320 Owner of the Neon Palm Nursery, Dale Matizka has been fascinated by the exotic allure 113 00:06:04,320 --> 00:06:09,840 of these tropical plants for 30 years and is an oasis of information. 114 00:06:09,840 --> 00:06:15,840 There's a myth going around that in a strong enough wind a piece of straw can be driven 115 00:06:15,880 --> 00:06:18,440 right through the trunk of a palm tree. 116 00:06:18,440 --> 00:06:19,440 Have you ever heard this? 117 00:06:19,440 --> 00:06:20,680 I believe it's true. 118 00:06:20,680 --> 00:06:21,680 Really? 119 00:06:21,680 --> 00:06:22,680 Oh yes. 120 00:06:22,680 --> 00:06:24,480 It's a different kind of trunk than most trees. 121 00:06:24,480 --> 00:06:29,000 They have what's called vascular bundles of fibers and they're sort of if you can imagine 122 00:06:29,000 --> 00:06:30,680 like a braided cable. 123 00:06:30,680 --> 00:06:35,560 So you're saying it's actually a property of the palm trunk that perhaps makes it more 124 00:06:35,560 --> 00:06:38,040 permeable than we think of a normal tree trunk? 125 00:06:38,040 --> 00:06:39,040 This is correct. 126 00:06:39,040 --> 00:06:40,360 Let's check this one out. 127 00:06:40,360 --> 00:06:42,160 It's Washingtonia Robusta. 128 00:06:42,160 --> 00:06:45,080 Is this the one you're actually thinking of letting us work with? 129 00:06:45,120 --> 00:06:46,120 Yes. 130 00:06:46,120 --> 00:06:47,120 Cool. 131 00:06:47,120 --> 00:06:49,600 It's a big boy. 132 00:06:49,600 --> 00:06:50,600 Yeah. 133 00:06:50,600 --> 00:06:52,840 Big boy is an understatement. 134 00:06:52,840 --> 00:06:55,680 Okay, ready for takeoff. 135 00:06:55,680 --> 00:07:00,680 The palm is nearly 20 feet tall and a Robusta 3,000 pounds. 136 00:07:00,680 --> 00:07:04,680 Look at that. 137 00:07:04,680 --> 00:07:09,160 So will Jamie be surprised at the size of Adam's trunk? 138 00:07:09,160 --> 00:07:10,640 Jamie's reaction. 139 00:07:10,640 --> 00:07:14,560 Oh God, I hope I get this right because then you can cut him right back to back. 140 00:07:14,560 --> 00:07:18,760 He's going to go. 141 00:07:18,760 --> 00:07:23,520 What did you do? 142 00:07:23,520 --> 00:07:28,080 It may have seemed like a good idea at the store, but back home the rush of Adam's major 143 00:07:28,080 --> 00:07:29,920 purchase is fading. 144 00:07:29,920 --> 00:07:34,480 The palm has to go at the end of the barrel of the straw shooter all the way at the back 145 00:07:34,480 --> 00:07:35,480 of the workshop. 146 00:07:35,480 --> 00:07:40,600 I mean, I just foresee just heartache and backache all the way down and all the way back 147 00:07:40,600 --> 00:07:42,000 with this thing. 148 00:07:42,000 --> 00:07:44,400 Adam, you may be psychic. 149 00:07:44,400 --> 00:07:46,360 First things first, we're just going to drag it back. 150 00:07:46,360 --> 00:07:50,760 They put a chain around its massive ball of roots and start to lift it out, but it's 151 00:07:50,760 --> 00:07:53,400 so bottom heavy, it's hard to balance. 152 00:07:53,400 --> 00:07:54,400 Now what do you want to... 153 00:07:54,400 --> 00:07:58,400 You're not hurt, are you? 154 00:07:58,400 --> 00:07:59,400 No, I'm not hurt. 155 00:07:59,400 --> 00:08:00,400 Okay. 156 00:08:00,400 --> 00:08:01,400 Am I clear to my left? 157 00:08:01,400 --> 00:08:02,400 You're in the corridor. 158 00:08:02,400 --> 00:08:03,400 It's beautiful. 159 00:08:03,400 --> 00:08:04,400 You're fine. 160 00:08:04,400 --> 00:08:05,400 You don't have to steer that way. 161 00:08:05,400 --> 00:08:07,400 You can even out. 162 00:08:07,400 --> 00:08:08,400 That's good. 163 00:08:08,400 --> 00:08:12,760 I think you can lower it down. 164 00:08:12,760 --> 00:08:13,760 Touchdown. 165 00:08:14,320 --> 00:08:16,160 My guess is that's going to be perfect. 166 00:08:16,160 --> 00:08:19,920 All we got to do is shave off this a little bit right here, but we're right on target. 167 00:08:19,920 --> 00:08:21,240 It's just beautiful. 168 00:08:21,240 --> 00:08:22,240 It's a palm tree. 169 00:08:22,240 --> 00:08:23,240 It is. 170 00:08:23,240 --> 00:08:24,240 Guns aimed at it. 171 00:08:24,240 --> 00:08:25,240 That's perfect. 172 00:08:25,240 --> 00:08:26,600 Sound the trumpets. 173 00:08:26,600 --> 00:08:31,640 The time has come for the boys to blow wind. 174 00:08:31,640 --> 00:08:34,280 Later straw is said skyrocketing. 175 00:08:34,280 --> 00:08:35,280 What? 176 00:08:35,280 --> 00:08:39,440 But next, the truth sets Grant and Tori free. 177 00:08:39,440 --> 00:08:46,440 Have you ever wanted to make a female robot? 178 00:08:46,440 --> 00:08:52,240 Okay, you guys. 179 00:08:52,240 --> 00:08:59,080 Plants have feelings and has an emotional response to a threatening situation that can 180 00:08:59,080 --> 00:09:02,240 even scream. 181 00:09:02,240 --> 00:09:03,240 Is this a myth? 182 00:09:03,240 --> 00:09:04,240 Yeah. 183 00:09:04,240 --> 00:09:05,240 Have you heard this one? 184 00:09:05,240 --> 00:09:09,520 You know, I do remember there was a guy who took plants and hooked them up to a polygraph 185 00:09:09,520 --> 00:09:11,200 machine and did some tests. 186 00:09:11,200 --> 00:09:15,920 In fact, back in the late 60s and early 70s, he was a world polygraph expert. 187 00:09:15,920 --> 00:09:21,680 He developed this theory that plants, eggs, yogurt, all these things have a way of communicating 188 00:09:21,680 --> 00:09:25,640 on an emotional level that we don't even perceive or understand. 189 00:09:25,640 --> 00:09:30,280 The concept of primary perception may be a little out there for some people. 190 00:09:30,280 --> 00:09:35,840 It means that all living organisms on earth, from a whale, a human being, a plant, right 191 00:09:35,840 --> 00:09:42,160 down to a single cell, is interconnected, able to feel all sorts of emotions and to 192 00:09:42,160 --> 00:09:45,520 communicate with ESP. 193 00:09:45,520 --> 00:09:51,000 The theory was developed by the founder of the FBI's polygraph unit, Cleve Baxter. 194 00:09:51,000 --> 00:09:53,360 I've been reading the experiments of Cleve Baxter. 195 00:09:53,360 --> 00:09:59,480 When he thought about burning the plant, the needle on the polygraph jumped as if the plant 196 00:09:59,480 --> 00:10:01,400 could actually read his mind. 197 00:10:01,400 --> 00:10:06,560 To put his theory to the test, the team is going to recreate some of his original experiments. 198 00:10:06,560 --> 00:10:12,080 First, to see if vegetation really does have feelings, they're going to get a plant, hook 199 00:10:12,080 --> 00:10:20,200 it up to a polygraph, subject it to physical and mental stress, and see if they get a reaction. 200 00:10:20,200 --> 00:10:25,680 Grant heads off to the nursery to get their victims and takes shop assistant Terry along 201 00:10:25,680 --> 00:10:27,400 with some extra muscle. 202 00:10:27,400 --> 00:10:32,880 At the tropical indoor plants from Africa Isle, plant carousel Cindy picks out Dracinas, 203 00:10:32,880 --> 00:10:39,240 the same species used in the original Baxter experiments. 204 00:10:39,240 --> 00:10:42,880 They unload the unsuspecting plants into the trough. 205 00:10:42,880 --> 00:10:45,440 Gentle Grant, keep your thoughts pure. 206 00:10:45,440 --> 00:10:49,280 It's hard when you put a plastic bag over their head. 207 00:10:49,280 --> 00:10:51,240 And Terry is giddy with excitement. 208 00:10:51,240 --> 00:10:59,320 If you could talk to the plants, just imagine it, conversing with an orange carrot. 209 00:10:59,320 --> 00:11:02,680 In fact, he seems a little touched by the sun. 210 00:11:02,680 --> 00:11:05,200 Just imagine it. 211 00:11:05,200 --> 00:11:07,440 What would you say to an onion? 212 00:11:07,440 --> 00:11:09,800 What would you say to a baby carrot? 213 00:11:09,800 --> 00:11:11,720 We will pray for you, Terrence. 214 00:11:11,720 --> 00:11:12,720 We will pray. 215 00:11:12,720 --> 00:11:15,400 I feel closer to the plant kingdom already. 216 00:11:15,400 --> 00:11:20,680 With the plants crossed off the Baxter grocery list, the next item they need has just arrived 217 00:11:20,680 --> 00:11:22,560 at the workshop's special delivery. 218 00:11:22,560 --> 00:11:25,880 Grant, do you know how long we've wanted one of these? 219 00:11:25,880 --> 00:11:26,880 Yes. 220 00:11:26,880 --> 00:11:29,920 And I don't mean a box. 221 00:11:29,920 --> 00:11:33,880 One genuine, stolting 22600. 222 00:11:33,880 --> 00:11:37,000 Oh, I hear something rattling already. 223 00:11:37,000 --> 00:11:42,760 The same model polygraph used in the, you guessed it, original Baxter experiment. 224 00:11:42,760 --> 00:11:45,280 Oh, sweet. 225 00:11:45,280 --> 00:11:49,520 But before they hook up their new plaything to a plant, they have to test it. 226 00:11:49,520 --> 00:11:54,920 What I'm about to do now is prep the machine to hook up to Tori so that we can see if it's 227 00:11:54,920 --> 00:11:55,920 working. 228 00:11:55,920 --> 00:11:57,920 Tori is already breaking a sweat. 229 00:11:57,920 --> 00:11:59,400 Why am I nervous? 230 00:11:59,400 --> 00:12:01,600 This is ridiculous. 231 00:12:01,600 --> 00:12:03,920 Detective Emma Harrah begins. 232 00:12:03,920 --> 00:12:06,640 Do you drive in the state of California? 233 00:12:06,640 --> 00:12:07,640 Yes. 234 00:12:07,640 --> 00:12:09,140 How'd I do? 235 00:12:09,140 --> 00:12:10,140 Did I pass that one? 236 00:12:10,140 --> 00:12:11,140 Okay. 237 00:12:11,140 --> 00:12:14,440 Do you work on a science-based reality show called Mythbusters? 238 00:12:14,440 --> 00:12:18,440 I mean, you can call it work. 239 00:12:18,440 --> 00:12:25,120 Have you ever lied about your age? 240 00:12:25,120 --> 00:12:27,160 Absolutely not. 241 00:12:27,160 --> 00:12:31,160 They check the results and Tori is caught like a rat in a trap. 242 00:12:31,160 --> 00:12:34,400 Number six, have you ever lied about your age? 243 00:12:34,400 --> 00:12:36,560 Your galvanic skin response peaked there. 244 00:12:36,560 --> 00:12:38,320 Well, I said no, right? 245 00:12:38,320 --> 00:12:41,680 Yeah, I said no because I have lied about my age before. 246 00:12:41,680 --> 00:12:42,680 Uh-huh. 247 00:12:42,680 --> 00:12:43,680 Yeah. 248 00:12:43,680 --> 00:12:47,320 The only time I guess I would lie about my age is maybe if I was like in a situation, 249 00:12:47,320 --> 00:12:48,960 let's say like spring break. 250 00:12:48,960 --> 00:12:51,760 Wow, what integrity you have, Tori. 251 00:12:51,760 --> 00:12:53,720 You got some questions? 252 00:12:53,720 --> 00:12:55,480 Burning questions. 253 00:12:55,480 --> 00:13:00,760 To make doubly sure the polygraph is working right, it's Grant's turn to take some heat. 254 00:13:00,760 --> 00:13:04,680 Do you find quantum physics easy for you? 255 00:13:04,680 --> 00:13:06,200 No. 256 00:13:06,200 --> 00:13:11,400 Has your GPA ever dropped below a 4.0? 257 00:13:11,400 --> 00:13:16,720 Yes. 258 00:13:16,720 --> 00:13:25,760 Have you ever made or wanted to make a female robot? 259 00:13:25,760 --> 00:13:28,320 Answer the question, Mr. Imaara. 260 00:13:28,320 --> 00:13:30,720 It's a simple question, Grant. 261 00:13:30,720 --> 00:13:33,760 Uh, no. 262 00:13:33,760 --> 00:13:37,000 Grant says no, but the needle says yes. 263 00:13:37,000 --> 00:13:38,000 Yes. 264 00:13:38,000 --> 00:13:39,000 Yes. 265 00:13:39,000 --> 00:13:45,240 When I asked Grant about whether or not he'd ever wanted to or built a female robot, his, 266 00:13:45,240 --> 00:13:50,240 the needle went off the chart and I'm a little disturbed by that. 267 00:13:50,240 --> 00:13:56,600 So the machine has exposed Tori as being sensitive about his middle age and Grant has a thing 268 00:13:56,600 --> 00:13:58,440 for replicants. 269 00:13:58,440 --> 00:14:02,680 Seems like the polygraph has detected their secrets and lies just fine. 270 00:14:02,680 --> 00:14:05,720 So now they can go ahead and hook it up to a plant. 271 00:14:05,720 --> 00:14:06,720 All right, Grant. 272 00:14:06,720 --> 00:14:12,400 I got our guinea pig. 273 00:14:12,400 --> 00:14:17,480 Like a tropical central, Adam and Jamie are testing if storm force winds can blow a piece 274 00:14:17,480 --> 00:14:20,080 of straw clean through a palm tree. 275 00:14:20,080 --> 00:14:24,280 They've built a giant air shooter and are ready to put it to the test. 276 00:14:24,280 --> 00:14:29,440 A high speed camera is set up to take the action, a chronometer to record the speed 277 00:14:29,440 --> 00:14:31,440 and all is ready to go. 278 00:14:31,440 --> 00:14:33,600 We are set to fire. 279 00:14:33,600 --> 00:14:35,040 Or maybe not. 280 00:14:35,040 --> 00:14:37,280 Jamie has some bad news. 281 00:14:37,280 --> 00:14:38,280 What is up? 282 00:14:38,280 --> 00:14:42,240 Well, we have a bit of a sticky wicket here. 283 00:14:42,240 --> 00:14:48,960 All right, we're being told to pull these palms and we don't want to use them. 284 00:14:48,960 --> 00:14:54,200 According to the higher ups, the palm Adam chose isn't a species that grows in tropical 285 00:14:54,200 --> 00:14:55,700 storm territory. 286 00:14:55,700 --> 00:14:59,920 So they don't want to use it because it wouldn't be a true test of the myth. 287 00:14:59,920 --> 00:15:05,440 So all Adam and Jamie's sweat and toil getting it into the workshop was for nothing. 288 00:15:05,440 --> 00:15:07,720 After all of that, we're yanking that thing. 289 00:15:07,720 --> 00:15:10,720 We're not even going to try and fire into it at all. 290 00:15:10,720 --> 00:15:12,520 Apparently not. 291 00:15:12,520 --> 00:15:16,400 While they're waiting and to blow up some frustration, at least they can do some test 292 00:15:16,400 --> 00:15:22,640 shots to see if the shooter works and can reach 318 miles per hour the world record 293 00:15:22,640 --> 00:15:23,640 wind speed. 294 00:15:23,640 --> 00:15:25,600 Let's fire a cotton ball. 295 00:15:25,600 --> 00:15:28,400 For the practice run, they're using a cotton ball. 296 00:15:28,400 --> 00:15:32,760 All right, now I'm going to go watch this thing exit the barrel, okay? 297 00:15:32,760 --> 00:15:34,000 Okay, charging. 298 00:15:34,000 --> 00:15:40,320 They charge the air compressor up to 80 psi, about half its power and are set to fire. 299 00:15:40,920 --> 00:15:43,600 Three, two, one. 300 00:15:45,600 --> 00:15:47,160 That came out beautifully. 301 00:15:47,160 --> 00:15:49,600 It looked like it was going pretty quick from here. 302 00:15:49,600 --> 00:15:51,200 They check their numbers. 303 00:15:51,200 --> 00:15:57,120 We always knew they were full of wind, but the power and accuracy of their blow is impressive. 304 00:15:57,120 --> 00:15:58,120 That was perfect. 305 00:15:58,120 --> 00:16:00,880 That was 321 miles per hour. 306 00:16:00,880 --> 00:16:05,640 This is off by 1% of the speed we were hoping to hit. 307 00:16:05,960 --> 00:16:07,880 Very first test that we did. 308 00:16:07,880 --> 00:16:12,160 300 miles an hour, give or take. 309 00:16:12,160 --> 00:16:14,760 It's almost like we knew exactly what we were doing. 310 00:16:14,760 --> 00:16:15,840 Breathe, Adam. 311 00:16:15,840 --> 00:16:18,960 They've ordered you a beautiful new tree. 312 00:16:18,960 --> 00:16:22,640 Still to come, Jamie and Adam rock the palm like a hurricane. 313 00:16:22,640 --> 00:16:25,040 I love this job. 314 00:16:25,040 --> 00:16:29,720 But next, things get freaky when the team persecutes plant life. 315 00:16:30,320 --> 00:16:40,200 Primary perception is an open the portals of your mind kind of myth that all forms of 316 00:16:40,200 --> 00:16:44,680 life have feelings and can read minds. 317 00:16:44,680 --> 00:16:50,360 Recreating the experiments of primary perception guru, Cleve Baxter, Grant and Tori are using 318 00:16:50,360 --> 00:16:51,800 a polygraph. 319 00:16:51,800 --> 00:16:57,800 Their first test is going to be on this plant to help block out any accidental electrical 320 00:16:57,800 --> 00:17:03,080 interference that could affect the polygraph like a cell phone going off or a plane flying 321 00:17:03,080 --> 00:17:04,080 overhead. 322 00:17:04,080 --> 00:17:06,720 They're going to conduct the test inside a shipping container. 323 00:17:06,720 --> 00:17:10,840 I'll take it into the container, which we know acts as a really good shield from a radio 324 00:17:10,840 --> 00:17:12,440 frequency interference. 325 00:17:12,440 --> 00:17:18,320 The camera crew, everybody else will be outside, so all that camera equipment is going to be 326 00:17:18,320 --> 00:17:21,320 out there recording us remotely. 327 00:17:21,320 --> 00:17:23,520 Grant and Tori clear their minds. 328 00:17:23,520 --> 00:17:25,120 Let's go to our happy place. 329 00:17:25,120 --> 00:17:26,560 And become one with nature. 330 00:17:28,560 --> 00:17:32,000 There's definitely a little deflection there. 331 00:17:32,000 --> 00:17:36,280 A little slap on the leaf caused the needle on the polygraph to move. 332 00:17:36,280 --> 00:17:40,600 Could it mean the plant is feeling fear and pain? 333 00:17:40,600 --> 00:17:41,600 Plant's kind of twitching. 334 00:17:41,600 --> 00:17:44,400 Because he knows what's coming. 335 00:17:44,400 --> 00:17:49,040 To up the ouch factor, Tori pulls out the heavy artillery. 336 00:17:49,040 --> 00:17:52,720 Oh, huge spike. 337 00:17:52,720 --> 00:17:57,560 The needle moved way more when the strength of the attack was increased. 338 00:17:57,560 --> 00:18:04,360 Each time we hit the plant with the fire extinguisher, the needle pinned. 339 00:18:04,360 --> 00:18:09,240 The boys are baffled, but move on to test if plants can read minds. 340 00:18:09,240 --> 00:18:12,160 This time Tori's not going to touch the plant at all. 341 00:18:12,160 --> 00:18:15,160 He's just going to imagine hurting it. 342 00:18:15,160 --> 00:18:21,440 Think about something specific to this plant, and I want you to really, you have to really 343 00:18:21,440 --> 00:18:22,440 intend to do it. 344 00:18:22,440 --> 00:18:24,160 Like, I am going to do this. 345 00:18:24,160 --> 00:18:25,880 I'm going to kick your butt. 346 00:18:25,880 --> 00:18:26,880 Ready? 347 00:18:26,880 --> 00:18:27,880 Uh-huh. 348 00:18:27,880 --> 00:18:29,880 Had a good baseline? 349 00:18:29,880 --> 00:18:37,400 I gave it a mental picture, sharing it, burning on fire. 350 00:18:37,400 --> 00:18:38,640 The needle jumps. 351 00:18:38,640 --> 00:18:40,640 Are you serious? 352 00:18:40,640 --> 00:18:41,640 Stop. 353 00:18:41,640 --> 00:18:44,640 No way. 354 00:18:44,640 --> 00:18:47,800 Tori had a thought and the plant reacted. 355 00:18:47,800 --> 00:18:51,480 What the heck was that? 356 00:18:51,480 --> 00:18:52,480 I don't know. 357 00:18:52,480 --> 00:18:55,240 Okay, you are not touching the plant. 358 00:18:55,240 --> 00:18:57,800 No, I'm not touching anything. 359 00:18:57,800 --> 00:19:03,160 All I'm doing is I'm staring it down and imagining it in flames. 360 00:19:03,160 --> 00:19:08,760 Is the Dracina tapping into Tori's consciousness and terrified of being burnt? 361 00:19:08,760 --> 00:19:11,080 Okay, that's pretty good. 362 00:19:11,080 --> 00:19:16,080 I mean, I'm not saying I believe this, but yeah, yeah, it's kind of hard to dispute the 363 00:19:16,080 --> 00:19:17,960 ink. 364 00:19:17,960 --> 00:19:22,560 Even engineer Grant, man of science, is taking off his skeptic cap. 365 00:19:22,560 --> 00:19:28,280 If I were to say that it was a random occurrence, there would be some pretty amazing coincidences 366 00:19:28,280 --> 00:19:30,000 going on. 367 00:19:30,000 --> 00:19:32,640 It boggles the mind. 368 00:19:32,640 --> 00:19:37,280 They unboggle themselves enough to decide on their next move. 369 00:19:37,280 --> 00:19:42,560 They got some mind-blowing results, but moving and talking so close to the polygraph may 370 00:19:42,560 --> 00:19:46,200 have been causing vibrations that made the needle move. 371 00:19:46,200 --> 00:19:52,280 This time, they are going to repeat the ESP test, but with themselves outside the container. 372 00:19:52,480 --> 00:20:01,200 Jedi Tori sums up all his powers and shows no mental mercy. 373 00:20:01,200 --> 00:20:02,200 Attack one. 374 00:20:02,200 --> 00:20:04,120 Hard to tell what he's thinking. 375 00:20:04,120 --> 00:20:08,960 He could just be constipated. 376 00:20:08,960 --> 00:20:09,960 Attack two. 377 00:20:09,960 --> 00:20:16,760 Again, no idea, but he's obviously one sick, sick puppy. 378 00:20:16,760 --> 00:20:17,760 Attack three. 379 00:20:17,760 --> 00:20:19,480 Why is he smiling? 380 00:20:19,480 --> 00:20:24,600 He thinks Tori is enjoying this a little too much. 381 00:20:24,600 --> 00:20:25,920 Runs experiment. 382 00:20:25,920 --> 00:20:27,920 I'm trying to keep the plant on its toes. 383 00:20:27,920 --> 00:20:32,720 I didn't want to just give it the same mental attack each time. 384 00:20:32,720 --> 00:20:35,880 Okay, that's 15 minutes. 385 00:20:35,880 --> 00:20:36,880 Okay. 386 00:20:36,880 --> 00:20:41,960 The guys compare notes, and Grant learns a lot about Tori's state of mind. 387 00:20:41,960 --> 00:20:49,240 At minute four to minute four, 45 seconds, I give it an angry attack. 388 00:20:49,240 --> 00:20:51,480 An angry attack is just I'm mad at the plant. 389 00:20:51,480 --> 00:20:53,560 I don't necessarily want to kill it. 390 00:20:53,560 --> 00:20:57,480 Minute five and 30 seconds to six minutes. 391 00:20:57,480 --> 00:21:01,400 I give it an evil attack. 392 00:21:01,400 --> 00:21:03,800 The evil attack, I'm ready to destroy it. 393 00:21:03,800 --> 00:21:07,200 So angry, you're just mad, but you're not going to hurt it? 394 00:21:07,200 --> 00:21:08,360 Well, I'm going to hurt it. 395 00:21:08,360 --> 00:21:11,880 I'm just not going to completely destroy it. 396 00:21:11,880 --> 00:21:16,240 At minute nine to nine thirty. 397 00:21:16,240 --> 00:21:17,240 Okay. 398 00:21:18,240 --> 00:21:20,240 It was a happy attack. 399 00:21:20,240 --> 00:21:22,960 What's a happy attack? 400 00:21:22,960 --> 00:21:30,360 A happy attack is being really nice to the plant, hugging it, putting it in a nice greenhouse, 401 00:21:30,360 --> 00:21:32,440 making it feel wanted. 402 00:21:32,440 --> 00:21:36,560 His methods may have been a little kooky, but Tori meant serious business. 403 00:21:36,560 --> 00:21:40,880 So has his series of inspired attacks made a mark on the paper? 404 00:21:40,880 --> 00:21:42,640 That's inside of the container. 405 00:21:42,640 --> 00:21:47,400 Thirty-five percent of the time, the plant responded to stimuli. 406 00:21:47,400 --> 00:21:51,880 With us outside of the container, twenty-eight percent of the time, the plant responded 407 00:21:51,880 --> 00:21:55,200 to Tori's psychic stimuli. 408 00:21:55,200 --> 00:22:00,160 So there was less needle response with the guys outside the container, but still enough 409 00:22:00,160 --> 00:22:06,160 to keep Baxter's theory that all life is interconnected alive. 410 00:22:06,160 --> 00:22:08,960 This is weird stuff, man. 411 00:22:08,960 --> 00:22:15,080 After revenge is sweet for the plant kingdom, but next, Jamie and Adam finally fire their 412 00:22:15,080 --> 00:22:20,240 subsonic straw. 413 00:22:20,240 --> 00:22:25,120 To test the myth that in a storm, a piece of straw can hit a palm tree trunk so hard it 414 00:22:25,120 --> 00:22:28,560 can come out the other side. 415 00:22:28,560 --> 00:22:31,240 Jamie and Adam only needed three things. 416 00:22:31,240 --> 00:22:32,240 Straw. 417 00:22:32,240 --> 00:22:33,240 Check. 418 00:22:33,240 --> 00:22:34,240 Three. 419 00:22:34,240 --> 00:22:36,360 A computer that can reach record speeds. 420 00:22:36,360 --> 00:22:37,360 Check. 421 00:22:37,360 --> 00:22:39,120 And a palm tree. 422 00:22:39,120 --> 00:22:40,520 Uh-oh. 423 00:22:40,520 --> 00:22:45,480 After setting up a massive three thousand pound palm, the producer got them to pull it 424 00:22:45,480 --> 00:22:46,960 out. 425 00:22:46,960 --> 00:22:51,080 Seems it didn't fit strict myth-busting standards. 426 00:22:51,080 --> 00:22:54,600 When you think of a palm tree, when everybody thinks of a palm tree, they think of a long, 427 00:22:54,600 --> 00:22:57,600 thin trunk with coconuts at the top. 428 00:22:57,600 --> 00:22:59,000 That's called a coconut palm. 429 00:22:59,000 --> 00:23:02,760 What we've got here is the best analog to a coconut palm. 430 00:23:02,760 --> 00:23:03,800 It's a queen palm. 431 00:23:03,800 --> 00:23:09,640 It grows in California, and it is the closest cousin to the coconut palm that we could obtain. 432 00:23:09,640 --> 00:23:15,240 The right species of palm, the right kind of projectile, the right amount of wind. 433 00:23:15,240 --> 00:23:17,520 Ideal straw spitting condition. 434 00:23:17,520 --> 00:23:21,160 So we have built the fastest air gun we have ever built on the show. 435 00:23:21,160 --> 00:23:23,160 It's going precisely the speed we want. 436 00:23:23,160 --> 00:23:25,200 Do you think it's going to work? 437 00:23:25,200 --> 00:23:26,200 I don't know. 438 00:23:26,200 --> 00:23:29,600 There have been studies done using two by fours where they only got them up to around a hundred 439 00:23:29,600 --> 00:23:35,520 miles an hour, and they went through several layers of plywood and even center block walls. 440 00:23:35,520 --> 00:23:39,960 To get something as light as a piece of straw to travel right through and come out the other 441 00:23:39,960 --> 00:23:44,680 side of something as solid as a palm tree, the key could be speed. 442 00:23:44,680 --> 00:23:48,200 The faster an object travels, the more force it has. 443 00:23:48,200 --> 00:23:49,200 That's the theory. 444 00:23:49,200 --> 00:23:50,200 Now to find out. 445 00:23:50,200 --> 00:23:55,160 Now we're going to see what kind of damage real straw does to a palm tree. 446 00:23:55,160 --> 00:23:58,200 The ammo is loaded and wadded with a cotton ball. 447 00:23:58,200 --> 00:24:02,840 The wadding will equalize the air pressure behind the straw as it flies, so it hits the 448 00:24:02,840 --> 00:24:05,080 palm evenly when it comes out. 449 00:24:05,080 --> 00:24:07,280 Ready to go. 450 00:24:07,280 --> 00:24:08,280 Pressurizing. 451 00:24:08,280 --> 00:24:12,160 80, go ahead. 452 00:24:12,160 --> 00:24:16,160 Firing straw in three, two, one. 453 00:24:16,160 --> 00:24:22,200 I love this job. 454 00:24:22,200 --> 00:24:26,860 The straw shoots down the barrel and slams into the trunk, but did it break on through 455 00:24:26,860 --> 00:24:27,860 to the other side. 456 00:24:27,860 --> 00:24:31,360 That one looks really serious. 457 00:24:31,360 --> 00:24:32,360 Dude. 458 00:24:32,360 --> 00:24:34,480 That's a good quarter inch. 459 00:24:34,480 --> 00:24:36,920 That's actually, I'd say that's three-eighths. 460 00:24:36,920 --> 00:24:39,780 Adam, your splitting straws. 461 00:24:39,780 --> 00:24:44,920 The bottom line is the straw didn't make it out, but it did manage to pierce the hard 462 00:24:44,920 --> 00:24:49,000 outer shell of the trunk and embed itself a solid way in. 463 00:24:49,000 --> 00:24:50,280 That would be a result. 464 00:24:50,280 --> 00:24:53,880 That's a result. 465 00:24:53,880 --> 00:24:56,080 Adam checks the airspeed it was traveling at. 466 00:24:56,500 --> 00:25:01,620 Yep, pretty much this looks like we're traveling at right in that butter zone of three hundred 467 00:25:01,620 --> 00:25:04,140 and eighteen, three hundred and twenty miles per hour. 468 00:25:04,140 --> 00:25:06,460 This shot's just beautiful. 469 00:25:06,460 --> 00:25:11,420 It was a great shot, but that means even the highest wind speed ever recorded wasn't 470 00:25:11,420 --> 00:25:14,580 enough force to push the straw through the trunk. 471 00:25:14,580 --> 00:25:21,380 But this myth isn't blown away yet. 472 00:25:21,380 --> 00:25:27,840 To test the myth of primary perception that all life has feelings and the power of ESP, 473 00:25:27,840 --> 00:25:33,400 Grant and Tori hooked a plant to a pothograph, attacked it physically and mentally, and the 474 00:25:33,400 --> 00:25:35,240 plant seemed to react. 475 00:25:35,240 --> 00:25:41,080 Could they be on their way to confirming this out of the ordinary myth? 476 00:25:41,080 --> 00:25:42,800 So how are you guys going with this experiment? 477 00:25:42,800 --> 00:25:46,240 I leave you guys alone for two seconds and you've proven plants have feelings. 478 00:25:46,240 --> 00:25:48,800 Well, I mean, we've been getting some weird results. 479 00:25:48,800 --> 00:25:54,100 There's some kind of correlation between my thoughts in the plant and the polygraph machine. 480 00:25:54,100 --> 00:25:59,820 So what do you guys plan to do to further this kooky experiment? 481 00:25:59,820 --> 00:26:02,660 Ever resourceful Grant's got a plan. 482 00:26:02,660 --> 00:26:08,420 This time the team is going to repeat their plant ESP experiment but swap out the polygraph 483 00:26:08,420 --> 00:26:10,620 with an EEG machine. 484 00:26:10,620 --> 00:26:16,100 An EEG is actually a very sensitive voltmeter and so it uses electrodes connected to the 485 00:26:16,100 --> 00:26:20,320 head to measure any electrical brainwave patterns. 486 00:26:20,320 --> 00:26:23,240 All living cells have electric currents running through them. 487 00:26:23,240 --> 00:26:28,440 Hooking up the dracina to the EEG might give the team more accurate results. 488 00:26:28,440 --> 00:26:32,320 And again, they're following in the footsteps of Cleave Backstreet. 489 00:26:32,320 --> 00:26:37,500 The original series of experiments used an EEG machine and this gives us the opportunity 490 00:26:37,500 --> 00:26:42,520 to see whether it's a real plant phenomenon or whether it's an artifact of the polygraph 491 00:26:42,520 --> 00:26:43,760 machine. 492 00:26:43,760 --> 00:26:50,820 Tari goes to town with his mental calisthenics one more time. 493 00:26:50,820 --> 00:26:52,820 But there's no blip on the screen. 494 00:26:52,820 --> 00:26:55,620 We have big mean thoughts, little mean thoughts. 495 00:26:55,620 --> 00:26:57,120 What were you thinking of? 496 00:26:57,120 --> 00:26:58,120 Big mean thoughts. 497 00:26:58,120 --> 00:27:01,460 I was just imagining tearing that plant apart in different ways. 498 00:27:01,460 --> 00:27:05,180 I would say that that plant's not reacting to you. 499 00:27:05,180 --> 00:27:06,180 No. 500 00:27:06,180 --> 00:27:09,260 The data the team has from plants is conflicting. 501 00:27:09,260 --> 00:27:13,800 And Baxter did plenty of other experiments on different organisms they can try. 502 00:27:13,800 --> 00:27:19,160 They're going to test a popular breakfast item, rich in protein, B vitamins, and most 503 00:27:19,160 --> 00:27:21,160 importantly live bacteria. 504 00:27:21,160 --> 00:27:23,240 We're going to see if yogurt has emotions. 505 00:27:23,240 --> 00:27:28,600 Well, most people get kind of freaked out when they hear that yogurt is a live bacteria. 506 00:27:28,600 --> 00:27:30,040 You heard right. 507 00:27:30,040 --> 00:27:31,040 Emotional acidophilus. 508 00:27:31,040 --> 00:27:32,040 Cool. 509 00:27:32,040 --> 00:27:33,040 Torture yogurt. 510 00:27:33,040 --> 00:27:34,040 All right. 511 00:27:34,420 --> 00:27:39,520 The idea is to take two samples of yogurt from the same tub, leave one in peace, and 512 00:27:39,520 --> 00:27:41,020 persecute the other. 513 00:27:41,020 --> 00:27:45,460 Part of the primary perception theory is that all life is in tune with each other, so the 514 00:27:45,460 --> 00:27:49,940 bacteria should sense that its buddies are being messed with. 515 00:27:49,940 --> 00:27:55,120 They squirt yogurt into test tube one, insert conductive gold wire, and connect it to the 516 00:27:55,120 --> 00:27:57,500 EEG. 517 00:27:57,500 --> 00:28:00,460 They've already learned movement might affect the results. 518 00:28:00,460 --> 00:28:05,200 So to absorb any vibration, they set up test tube two stand on a foam base. 519 00:28:05,200 --> 00:28:07,040 Okay, 10 feet right here. 520 00:28:07,040 --> 00:28:10,640 Upping the aggravation to the max, they pour in boiling water. 521 00:28:10,640 --> 00:28:13,520 I'm going to see if we can stimulate it by making it angry. 522 00:28:13,520 --> 00:28:15,480 Drop it like it's hot. 523 00:28:15,480 --> 00:28:20,640 Nothing happened that time. 524 00:28:20,640 --> 00:28:22,160 No result. 525 00:28:22,160 --> 00:28:27,160 If the death of the bacterium BFFs doesn't get a reaction, what will? 526 00:28:27,160 --> 00:28:28,160 I would love to be wowed. 527 00:28:28,160 --> 00:28:29,800 I would love to have my mind changed. 528 00:28:29,860 --> 00:28:32,860 That's my favorite, but so far I'm not convinced. 529 00:28:32,860 --> 00:28:37,980 Yeah, this test was less than conclusive. 530 00:28:37,980 --> 00:28:43,500 After the break, Jamie and Adam make a major breakthrough. 531 00:28:43,500 --> 00:28:48,100 And it's a vegan's worst nightmare as eggs take a dive. 532 00:28:48,100 --> 00:28:53,700 This thing is bad ass. 533 00:28:53,700 --> 00:28:58,920 And a piece of straw propelled by storm force winds pass through a palm tree trunk. 534 00:28:58,920 --> 00:29:03,360 Well, the mythbusters are a little stuck on this one. 535 00:29:03,360 --> 00:29:06,320 They got a piece of straw to go in, but not out. 536 00:29:06,320 --> 00:29:07,520 That's a good quarter inch. 537 00:29:07,520 --> 00:29:13,440 They've already got their air shooter dialed up to 318 miles per hour, the highest recorded 538 00:29:13,440 --> 00:29:18,580 wind speed in a storm, so they can't change that, but they can change the ammo. 539 00:29:18,580 --> 00:29:22,880 This time, they're going to swap out the straw for a different plant material. 540 00:29:22,880 --> 00:29:23,940 That's thatch'd reed. 541 00:29:23,940 --> 00:29:27,820 Your average person picking up a piece of this on the street and go, oh, look, I found some 542 00:29:27,820 --> 00:29:28,820 straw. 543 00:29:28,820 --> 00:29:33,220 However, it is a little more rigid and may actually provide a lot more penetrating power 544 00:29:33,220 --> 00:29:34,220 than the straw does. 545 00:29:34,220 --> 00:29:35,220 80, go ahead. 546 00:29:35,220 --> 00:29:40,220 All right, firing that street in three, two, one. 547 00:29:40,220 --> 00:29:46,660 Ouch, the reed pierces the trunk like tiny spears. 548 00:29:46,660 --> 00:29:49,780 That right there is pretty serious. 549 00:29:49,780 --> 00:29:53,920 The amount of penetration we're getting from this debris is pretty amazing. 550 00:29:53,920 --> 00:29:59,440 The more rigid reed dug in two inches deeper than the straw, but it still didn't go all 551 00:29:59,440 --> 00:30:00,600 the way through. 552 00:30:00,600 --> 00:30:06,200 I think by the figures we're getting, you need a palm tree that was two inches thick. 553 00:30:06,200 --> 00:30:10,280 Then you could be reasonably sure that one of these might go all the way through it. 554 00:30:10,280 --> 00:30:14,400 If something as strong as reed didn't make it, can anything at all go through a palm 555 00:30:14,400 --> 00:30:15,400 tree trunk? 556 00:30:15,740 --> 00:30:21,300 It's time to bathe things up with some stronger materials and have a little fun in the process. 557 00:30:21,300 --> 00:30:24,580 We can shoot anything that'll fit in the gun. 558 00:30:24,580 --> 00:30:28,180 Piano wire will tickle the boys' ivories. 559 00:30:28,180 --> 00:30:30,500 Straws, you know, that's good to know. 560 00:30:30,500 --> 00:30:32,100 It's what the myth is about. 561 00:30:32,100 --> 00:30:36,620 But if I get this piece of wire to go sailing right through the concrete brick wall in the 562 00:30:36,620 --> 00:30:40,500 back of the shop, that'll be what gets my juices flowing. 563 00:30:40,500 --> 00:30:42,380 Go ahead. 564 00:30:42,380 --> 00:30:43,760 Swing piano wire. 565 00:30:43,760 --> 00:30:45,920 Three, two, one. 566 00:30:48,480 --> 00:30:52,360 You know, that's the first shot we've had that actually sounded like an impact? 567 00:30:52,360 --> 00:30:53,360 Yeah! 568 00:30:53,360 --> 00:30:57,240 To Shay. 569 00:30:57,240 --> 00:31:01,440 Not only did the piano wire slice through the trunk like it was butter, it came out the 570 00:31:01,440 --> 00:31:04,320 other side and kept going. 571 00:31:04,320 --> 00:31:08,080 For the first time, they got something to pass right through the tree. 572 00:31:09,080 --> 00:31:14,220 I don't think it hit the concrete, but let's see. 573 00:31:14,220 --> 00:31:18,060 It did because I can't pull this board off the wall. 574 00:31:18,060 --> 00:31:21,260 Three different objects skewered to perfection. 575 00:31:21,260 --> 00:31:25,380 That is the coolest thing I've ever seen! 576 00:31:25,380 --> 00:31:29,980 Now all they need to do is get the straw to serve up the same thing. 577 00:31:29,980 --> 00:31:39,120 In the meantime, the primary perception myth is that all life, from the highly evolved 578 00:31:39,120 --> 00:31:44,660 to the most simple, is interlinked, aware of what is going on around it and has psychic 579 00:31:44,660 --> 00:31:46,920 powers. 580 00:31:46,920 --> 00:31:53,320 By using a polygraph and EEG machine to detect any vibes, they subjected a plant and live 581 00:31:53,320 --> 00:31:55,720 bacteria to stress. 582 00:31:55,720 --> 00:31:57,040 Nothing happened that time. 583 00:31:57,040 --> 00:32:00,940 The results haven't given them a concrete answer either way, so they're going to try 584 00:32:00,940 --> 00:32:05,340 another experiment, this time with human cells. 585 00:32:05,340 --> 00:32:09,300 White blood cells from Tori's mouth will be put into a test tube. 586 00:32:09,300 --> 00:32:13,820 Gold wire will be inserted into the tube and connected to the EEG. 587 00:32:13,820 --> 00:32:20,140 Then Tori will be tortured to see if his own cells in the tube feel his pain and freak 588 00:32:20,140 --> 00:32:21,140 out. 589 00:32:21,140 --> 00:32:22,700 Tori, did you come over here? 590 00:32:22,700 --> 00:32:23,700 I need to take your leukocytes. 591 00:32:23,700 --> 00:32:26,860 You're not going to use that on me. 592 00:32:26,860 --> 00:32:31,000 It's commonly known as white blood cells live inside the body. 593 00:32:31,000 --> 00:32:34,000 A simple way to catch them is to spit. 594 00:32:34,000 --> 00:32:38,640 Tori harks into test tubes filled with saline solution. 595 00:32:38,640 --> 00:32:49,960 With my mask in your mouth, this is probably a really great audio moment. 596 00:32:49,960 --> 00:32:55,200 Proud of his Italian heritage Tori may be, but his display doesn't exactly rival the 597 00:32:55,220 --> 00:32:57,220 beauty of the Trevi fountain. 598 00:32:57,220 --> 00:32:58,220 Fresh. 599 00:32:58,220 --> 00:33:00,780 I think you have to close your eyes so you don't expect it. 600 00:33:00,780 --> 00:33:06,060 Mistress Carrie is going to inflict physical pain on Tori using a stun gun. 601 00:33:06,060 --> 00:33:08,740 Close your eyes. 602 00:33:08,740 --> 00:33:13,860 Stun guns emit electric currents, so they move Carrie far enough away that when she turns 603 00:33:13,860 --> 00:33:19,940 it on, it won't cause interference on the EEG. 604 00:33:19,940 --> 00:33:20,940 That's pretty good. 605 00:33:20,940 --> 00:33:24,180 Out of range, she's ready to fry her friend. 606 00:33:24,200 --> 00:33:25,960 Do not try this at home. 607 00:33:25,960 --> 00:33:29,040 These devices do hurt bad. 608 00:33:29,040 --> 00:33:34,920 It's worse when you don't know what's coming. 609 00:33:34,920 --> 00:33:36,120 So did you get anything? 610 00:33:36,120 --> 00:33:37,120 Nothing. 611 00:33:37,120 --> 00:33:38,120 No reading whatsoever. 612 00:33:38,120 --> 00:33:39,920 Where do you want it? 613 00:33:39,920 --> 00:33:53,000 Don't put it in any place that would really be bad. 614 00:33:54,000 --> 00:34:01,780 There's barely a flicker on the EEG that indicates the isolated white blood cells sense anything. 615 00:34:01,780 --> 00:34:15,660 With our remote stimulation of Tori, we haven't seen any response. 616 00:34:15,660 --> 00:34:18,300 I think we can safely say this one's busted. 617 00:34:18,300 --> 00:34:19,300 It's busted. 618 00:34:19,300 --> 00:34:22,300 I don't see anything happening. 619 00:34:22,300 --> 00:34:24,000 Right, so we've finished all these experiments. 620 00:34:24,000 --> 00:34:28,720 You guys have fun shocking me, but we still haven't been able to explain those weird results 621 00:34:28,720 --> 00:34:30,560 that we got with the plant and the polygraph. 622 00:34:30,560 --> 00:34:34,800 I think you'll find if we take all of the ways that we learned to isolate our experiment 623 00:34:34,800 --> 00:34:40,760 from outside influences and apply them to this last experiment, we'll get our answer. 624 00:34:40,760 --> 00:34:43,440 The final experiment is a cracker. 625 00:34:43,440 --> 00:34:50,000 This time, the innocent chosen for the sacrifice is the humble egg. 626 00:34:50,000 --> 00:34:55,460 That whips up an intimidating looking metal rig designed to break a bunch of eggs at random 627 00:34:55,460 --> 00:34:58,980 intervals. 628 00:34:58,980 --> 00:35:05,540 This test is to see if one cellular being, a plant, responds when another cellular being, 629 00:35:05,540 --> 00:35:07,500 an egg, is destroyed. 630 00:35:07,500 --> 00:35:12,540 The test has been designed to completely block outside movement, vibration, or electrical 631 00:35:12,540 --> 00:35:16,340 interference from affecting the results. 632 00:35:16,340 --> 00:35:17,620 Here's how it'll go. 633 00:35:17,620 --> 00:35:22,960 The plant will be put on a foam base and connected to the polygraph inside the shipping container. 634 00:35:22,960 --> 00:35:28,000 Grant's egg dropper will be placed outside the cage over a pot of boiling water. 635 00:35:28,000 --> 00:35:32,880 Then the eggs will plummet one by one into the drink. 636 00:35:32,880 --> 00:35:37,120 Okay, once this boils, we'll be ready to go. 637 00:35:37,120 --> 00:35:42,440 No one, not even the eggs, will know when the time comes to meet their maker. 638 00:35:42,440 --> 00:35:47,540 Not only will it choose a random cylinder, but also the time to lay between cylinders 639 00:35:47,540 --> 00:35:53,340 will be random so that the eggs can't anticipate when the next one's going to drop. 640 00:35:53,340 --> 00:35:55,220 The eggs are locked and loaded. 641 00:35:55,220 --> 00:35:59,460 You just need to make an automatic toaster, automatic orange juicer. 642 00:35:59,460 --> 00:36:01,460 You're in business. 643 00:36:01,460 --> 00:36:03,460 Okay, you guys ready? 644 00:36:03,460 --> 00:36:06,140 So once I do this, we have 30 seconds to exit. 645 00:36:06,140 --> 00:36:07,140 Ready? 646 00:36:07,140 --> 00:36:11,780 Three, two, one. 647 00:36:12,080 --> 00:36:13,240 It's all set. 648 00:36:13,240 --> 00:36:18,080 Every single soul, including the crew, exits the building. 649 00:36:18,080 --> 00:36:22,920 Trapped in the wheel of death, the first egg drops. 650 00:36:22,920 --> 00:36:26,320 If the myth is true, the plant should have reacted. 651 00:36:26,320 --> 00:36:29,480 The same when egg two falls. 652 00:36:29,480 --> 00:36:33,600 Omelette anyone? 653 00:36:33,600 --> 00:36:38,240 After 45 minutes, the team comes back inside to check the results. 654 00:36:38,240 --> 00:36:41,160 So we're looking for a jump in the polygraph when the egg drops. 655 00:36:41,740 --> 00:36:46,740 That would be the plant's response to the eggs buying it in the boiling water. 656 00:36:46,740 --> 00:36:49,500 Okay, this first one. 657 00:36:49,500 --> 00:36:53,140 And no reaction on the polygraph. 658 00:36:53,140 --> 00:36:55,660 No screaming, no psychic activity. 659 00:36:55,660 --> 00:37:01,260 Along with the eggs, looks like Baxter's theory of primary perception is broken. 660 00:37:01,260 --> 00:37:02,260 Well, I agree. 661 00:37:02,260 --> 00:37:06,060 I think we did a really good job of isolating all the variables. 662 00:37:06,060 --> 00:37:10,220 Things that might have influenced the original experimenters and given a false positive. 663 00:37:10,280 --> 00:37:13,480 There's vibration, electromagnetic. 664 00:37:13,480 --> 00:37:15,880 Most importantly, we took ourselves out of the equation. 665 00:37:15,880 --> 00:37:20,440 But there was a point where we got some weird results, but we weren't able to repeat it. 666 00:37:20,440 --> 00:37:22,640 And if you can't repeat it, it's not science. 667 00:37:22,640 --> 00:37:24,600 So this one's busted. 668 00:37:24,600 --> 00:37:25,600 Busted. 669 00:37:25,600 --> 00:37:27,120 But I did like shocking you a whole lot. 670 00:37:27,120 --> 00:37:28,840 I know, you guys didn't get to feel it. 671 00:37:28,840 --> 00:37:31,840 I think maybe we should share it. 672 00:37:31,840 --> 00:37:34,840 I thought I took the batteries out of that thing. 673 00:37:34,840 --> 00:37:35,840 I thought you did too. 674 00:37:40,840 --> 00:37:44,720 Coming right up, Jamie and Adam have a theory that is a little bent. 675 00:37:44,720 --> 00:37:47,720 Three, two, one. 676 00:37:47,720 --> 00:37:48,720 Oh man. 677 00:37:48,720 --> 00:37:51,000 And something foul is in the air. 678 00:37:51,000 --> 00:37:53,000 That's disgusting. 679 00:37:55,600 --> 00:38:02,080 At Hurricane HQ, Jamie and Adam prove that while straw cat peers a palm at 318 miles per 680 00:38:02,080 --> 00:38:06,360 hour, piano wire can. 681 00:38:06,360 --> 00:38:11,980 There is a theory that we haven't tested here and it's that in a gale forest, a hurricane 682 00:38:11,980 --> 00:38:18,060 or tornado wind, the tree is actually bending and the bending of the tree actually makes 683 00:38:18,060 --> 00:38:24,620 its pores or makes its material open up and makes it more penetrable. 684 00:38:24,620 --> 00:38:27,660 Palm trees are built to stand up to tropical storms. 685 00:38:27,660 --> 00:38:33,060 Their tall, skinny trunks and lack of branches extending out offer less surface area for 686 00:38:33,060 --> 00:38:34,860 winds to blow on. 687 00:38:35,480 --> 00:38:40,000 Combined with their very flexible trunks allows them to duck and weave more than other 688 00:38:40,000 --> 00:38:41,000 trees. 689 00:38:41,000 --> 00:38:44,360 You're going to have to do this fairly quickly because I'm hurting my shoulder here. 690 00:38:44,360 --> 00:38:46,320 Oh, now you realize it's heavy. 691 00:38:46,320 --> 00:38:51,560 To replicate the stress a palm would be under in a storm, they brace and strap their tree 692 00:38:51,560 --> 00:38:56,360 and bend it back as much as they can without snapping the trunk. 693 00:38:56,360 --> 00:38:59,600 I think that's about the limit of what we're going to get out of this in terms of bending. 694 00:38:59,600 --> 00:39:02,040 Yep, I mean if we crack it we've got to get another one. 695 00:39:02,040 --> 00:39:06,620 They also move the palm closer to the barrel so it's in point blank range. 696 00:39:06,620 --> 00:39:11,300 Maybe the tree isn't too comfortable right about now but these are potentially ideal 697 00:39:11,300 --> 00:39:12,700 conditions for the straw. 698 00:39:12,700 --> 00:39:17,580 We're going to give the straw the best possible chance that we can to do something to this 699 00:39:17,580 --> 00:39:23,660 tree so if it doesn't go through under these absolute maxed out conditions the myth is 700 00:39:23,660 --> 00:39:24,820 totally busted. 701 00:39:24,820 --> 00:39:26,340 The straw is loaded. 702 00:39:26,340 --> 00:39:28,220 Okay, you're ready. 703 00:39:28,220 --> 00:39:35,680 Firing a bent palm in three, two, one. 704 00:39:35,680 --> 00:39:37,280 So what's waiting at the other end? 705 00:39:37,280 --> 00:39:39,880 We only got about a quarter inch. 706 00:39:39,880 --> 00:39:42,760 Yep, there's about a quarter inch. 707 00:39:42,760 --> 00:39:46,220 The straw dug into the trunk about a quarter of an inch. 708 00:39:46,220 --> 00:39:53,440 Even in optimum storm wind conditions it was nowhere close to coming out the other side. 709 00:39:53,440 --> 00:39:58,860 Even with ideal conditions, point blank range with the palm tree bent at the most severe 710 00:39:58,860 --> 00:40:01,820 angle we feel comfortable with without breaking its back. 711 00:40:01,820 --> 00:40:06,460 We get the same results we did with the normal palm tree with the straw from like 50 centimeters 712 00:40:06,460 --> 00:40:07,460 away. 713 00:40:07,460 --> 00:40:12,100 But before calling this myth a bust they still have one more option to try. 714 00:40:12,100 --> 00:40:17,540 I think the only thing left for us to do is to use the thatch reed which is I believe 715 00:40:17,540 --> 00:40:22,140 the strongest thing that we've found that is an organic material that could be mistaken 716 00:40:22,320 --> 00:40:25,760 for a straw. 717 00:40:25,760 --> 00:40:30,480 Because the thatch reed is way more rigid and tougher than straw this time having the 718 00:40:30,480 --> 00:40:35,800 advantage of being fired at point blank range into a bent trunk could make it an unstoppable 719 00:40:35,800 --> 00:40:37,520 force. 720 00:40:37,520 --> 00:40:44,480 Firing thatch reed into the bent palm three, two, one. 721 00:40:44,480 --> 00:40:45,880 So did it work? 722 00:40:45,880 --> 00:40:48,440 They didn't make it out of the barrel. 723 00:40:48,440 --> 00:40:51,480 Nope, it still got stuck. 724 00:40:51,480 --> 00:40:53,380 We did not enhance the effect. 725 00:40:53,380 --> 00:40:55,860 It's about the same as it was getting before. 726 00:40:55,860 --> 00:41:00,540 The point is that bending the trunk and shooting it at the stressed point where the fibers 727 00:41:00,540 --> 00:41:06,100 would presumably be open according to that theory that we found does not have any appreciable 728 00:41:06,100 --> 00:41:08,900 effect on the penetration that we're getting. 729 00:41:08,900 --> 00:41:12,540 So I'd say we can put this one to bed. 730 00:41:12,540 --> 00:41:16,820 So the straw through a palm tree myth is busted. 731 00:41:16,840 --> 00:41:22,800 But before they take their shooter apart, Adam has one more myth he wants to explore. 732 00:41:22,800 --> 00:41:25,160 This one was hatched down on the farm. 733 00:41:25,160 --> 00:41:27,160 Oh man. 734 00:41:27,160 --> 00:41:30,400 The myth is that a hurricane or a tornado can blow all the feathers off a chicken so 735 00:41:30,400 --> 00:41:32,520 we got a feathered chicken there. 736 00:41:32,520 --> 00:41:33,520 That's disgusting. 737 00:41:33,520 --> 00:41:37,440 We're just going to unload the strong air, cover it right at him you see. 738 00:41:37,440 --> 00:41:39,920 Then I figured you could take him home and eat him. 739 00:41:39,920 --> 00:41:42,720 I don't need things that I kill myself. 740 00:41:43,720 --> 00:41:50,500 We got one chicken, we got a strong wind, we have a foul odor. 741 00:41:50,500 --> 00:41:55,700 To really send its feathers flying, you're going for maximum airspeed, ramping up the 742 00:41:55,700 --> 00:41:57,940 PSI all the way. 743 00:41:57,940 --> 00:42:00,900 If this doesn't blow all the feathers off, I don't know what will. 744 00:42:00,900 --> 00:42:04,540 Three, two, one. 745 00:42:08,300 --> 00:42:12,460 But the chicken's feathers are barely ruffled. 746 00:42:12,460 --> 00:42:16,000 This chicken has just as many feathers as when he arrived. 747 00:42:16,000 --> 00:42:21,560 We could not blow the feathers off this chicken with 350, 60 some odd miles per hour of wind. 748 00:42:21,560 --> 00:42:24,680 Well then I guess there's no way a hurricane could. 749 00:42:24,680 --> 00:42:30,320 And besides that, the chicken itself is going to go someplace in 318 mile per hour wind. 750 00:42:30,320 --> 00:42:33,840 Well that is a solid day's work of experimenting. 751 00:42:33,840 --> 00:42:37,560 Straw might actually embed itself in your palm tree, but it is never going to pass all 752 00:42:37,560 --> 00:42:38,560 the way through. 753 00:42:38,700 --> 00:42:40,020 Nope, that's busted. 754 00:42:40,020 --> 00:42:42,820 And it ain't going to blow all the feathers off your chicken either. 755 00:42:42,820 --> 00:42:43,820 No way. 756 00:42:43,820 --> 00:42:45,580 Let's clean this up tomorrow. 757 00:42:45,580 --> 00:42:46,580 Hey, what do you think? 758 00:42:46,580 --> 00:42:49,020 You think we can get that wire to go all the way through an engine block?