Myths Most People Believed Until 'Mythbusters' Debunked Them
We don't realize it, but most of us walk around every day with the idea that certain myths are true. Whether they're stories hammered into our heads from childhood or simply widely held misconceptions, we carry these beliefs without even thinking about them. That is until the show Mythbusters came along to put these myths to the test. We learned that not everything we're led to believe has even a kernel of truth. Many are flat-out lies.
1. The Pirate Fall
In every swashbuckling adventure, there's at least one pirate atop a mash who thrusts his sword into the ship's sail and smoothly slides down to safety. In reality, a sword would simply destroy the sail — and be pretty painful for the buccaneer.
2. Cowboy Hat Target
If you were a gunslinger in the Old West, you might fancy shooting off the hat of your foe as a warning. However, you'd need the force of a shotgun to garner enough power. A revolver wouldn't do.
3. The Rowboat Submarine
Could an upside-down rowboat provide a small pocket of air for humans to survive if they were underwater? Unfortunately not. You better make sure you bring your scuba tank along if you attempt this stunt.
4. Mirror Death Ray
The Mythbusters hosts were excited to attempt to build a UV-harnessing death ray using mirrors, but it ended up being a huge disappointment. Even with a massive collection of mirrors, the rays barely grew in strength.
