President Obama On Mythbusters Tonight 416
elrous0 writes "As was previously reported, President Obama mentioned back in October that he would be appearing on an upcoming episode of the popular Discovery Channel series Mythbusters. Well, the episode is finally airing tonight. In the episode, the President helps Jamie and Adam test the 'Archimedes Death Ray' myth for a 3rd time (the myth having been 'busted' the first time, and that bust surviving a challenge from MIT students the second time out). Though the President only appears in a couple of brief scripted segments, the actual test (using 500 schoolkids doubling as mirror-bearing soldiers) is purportedly pretty interesting."
Re:Burn, maybe not... (Score:4, Informative)
That used to annoy the hell out of me too, until I realized my remote had a fast forward button. Now, it's actually a feature. I can watch a whole show in 20 minutes. Great while having breakfast.
Re:How does an airplane see a signal mirror? (Score:4, Informative)
The Mythbusters claim the myth was 'busted' not because enough heat couldn't be generated, but because an individual soldier would be unable to distinguish his particular 'reflected spot', and therefore be unable to focus it onto the target.
You obviously missed the second busting of this myth, where MIT built the rig. They had a mechanism for sighting the mirrors, and were able to get a very tight spot on the boat.
They were able ignite the boat with the modern mirrors, but could not do it with polished copper.
You want to know the most effective way of lighting a boat on fire? Shooting an arrow of flaming pitch at it. That one worked the best, and had the advantage of being much simpler and faster than the deathray with modern mirrors. The deathray with copper mirrors simply didn't work.
Re:get off my iLawn! (Score:4, Informative)
Maybe challenging the claim that the current administration is going to help save money with Obamacare? (Busted?)
It's already busted: look at the latest health stats out in Massachusetts. Our health care costs are through the roof, fewer people are able to see doctors than before, and more people than ever before are getting health care through the emergency room.
On the other hand, adult obesity rates are apparently down, so that's something, although I suppose if you can't afford to eat due to insane health care costs... (Childhood obesity, on the other hand, is up.)