President Obama challenges 'Mythbusters' crew to test Archimedes legend

The crew of Discovery Channel's popular science program, "Mythbusters," frequently gets ideas from fans. But they are about to take on a challenge from a particularly famous viewer: President Obama.

On the episode set to air Dec. 8, the president will appear in a walk-on and challenge Adam Savage and Jamie Hyneman to test the legend of Archimedes. Supposedly, the ancient Greek mathematician destroyed an invading Roman fleet by using only mirrors that reflected the sun's rays. Savage and Hyneman will devise an experiment to test the legend and report back the results.

President Obama will announce his "Mythbusters" participation during a White House event Monday celebrating math and science competition winners from schools around the country. Savage and Hyneman will be in attendance.

-- Scott Collins (twitter: @scottcollinsLAT)

Photo: Jamie Hyneman and Adam Savage. Credit: Discovery Channel

Comments

[notjonah]

They did test it twice, but remember when the fan had his shipped in, it was broken. The shipping company messed his up. That never sat right with me. I'm actually happy, I bet they make it work. It's possible.

[Soupitup]

Yep, they did do this myth twice. But, I think it's cool that the prez and the Mythbusters are collaborating on a show in honor of the Math and Science competition. How awesome must it be to be one of the students in that competition, to have both the Mythbusters and President Obama celebrate you!

[Steve]

see guys, in the mind of a liberal, you do the same thing over and over expecting a different result. What did Ben Franklin define that as again?

[Parallax3D]

They SHOULD test the myth that Obama was actually born in the U.S. and is eligable to be president!

[Samantha L.]

Didn't they already bust this myth...twice?

[James Kamano]

What Jamie and Adam should tackle is how Socialism compares to a free market system.

[MC]

The MIT group repeated the experiment for the television show MythBusters, using a wooden fishing boat in San Francisco as the target. Again some charring occurred, along with a small amount of flame. In order to catch fire, wood needs to reach its flash point, which is around 300 degrees Celsius (570 °F).[28]

When MythBusters broadcast the result of the San Francisco experiment in January 2006, the claim was placed in the category of "busted" (or failed) because of the length of time and the ideal weather conditions required for combustion to occur. It was also pointed out that since Syracuse faces the sea towards the east, the Roman fleet would have had to attack during the morning for optimal gathering of light by the mirrors. MythBusters also pointed out that conventional weaponry, such as flaming arrows or bolts from a catapult, would have been a far easier way of setting a ship on fire at short distances.

[Ranger Six]

I think the first time they tested the myth was with a bunch of people holding polished sheets of metal.

The second time, I'm not sure - I haven't seen that episode yet, but if the mechanism that a fan sent them was damaged in transit, that could easily have skewed the results.

HOWEVER!

It could very well be that a properly-designed parabolic mirror array would be capable of generating the heat necessary to set a wooden ship aflame; after all, modern parabolic mirror arrays are capable of melting sodium, which - if memory serves - has a melting point much higher than that at which wood catches fire.

(Of course, the question remains as to whether or not the ancient Greeks had the technology to create such an array.)

[IQuestionThings94]

Maybe President Obama wants the chance to whip out his government-built death ray and show off the Mythbusters?

[Dan]

Didn't they already do this once?

[andy]

Correct me if i'm wrong, but haven't at least 50 people already said "correct me if i'm wrong, but haven't they already done this 2 times?" Read the comments first so you don't say the same thing 50 other people have said.

[Larry L]

Uh Oh Fonzie... Are you really gonna jump that shark on water skis?
Sit on it... Potsie... Aaaaaaayyyyyyyyy

I have notice the show is in decline the past few seasons. (Busters re-wind, re-re-hashed myths) I think this is it for out intrepid mythbusters.

[TxJx]

I don't know whats more redundant, Adam and Jamie doing the Archimedes myth for the 3rd time, or the 900 comments remarking that they did that one already. HAHA :/

[mikael schultz]

Actually if my memory serves me well... They did not remember to include the socalled greekfire... A highly flameable attack weapon the romans might have carried on their ships.

[jeipacs]

haven't they tested this myth already? twice?

why not try this myth out:

"when you sleep with wet hair, you'll impair your eyesight"

[mathnerdbandgeek]

Hey, if the president is getting involved and the Mythbusters seem into the idea, maybe someone came up with a new angle on the myth, or a new way to do it. I think some of the revisits where experts weigh in are some of the best episodes. This could still be great!

[Jason]

If everyone post how they are doing it again maybe they will give us a reason why? Surley those 2 braniacs have hundreds of myths they would like to tackle other than something they done twice already. Maybe this is a trial run they are gonna see if they can Intensify the refraction of the light to I dont target incoming Missiles for future defense programs..You never know what our goverment is up to...We ar more secretive then Korea.

[Beachbody Coach]

Tested and busted... what the heck?

[Sir Sapphire]

I think he's challenging them to replicate the results, something which they've always failed to do.

[Turing]

So, yes, they did this twice before, but in both cases, they failed to accurately reproduce the situation. In both times, if I remember correctly, they used flat mirrors. Well, Greek shields aren't flat. They are curved and as anyone who has studied basic optics knows, a curved mirror focuses light and focused light is much better at starting a fire than unfocused light.