Mythbusters Recap: Break Step Bridge, Toothbrush Surprise, Rowing Water Skier
Break Step Bridge. This myth states that a formation of marchers can actually match the harmonic frequency of a bridge, causing it to buck wildly and eventually collapse. The most notable instance of this, though caused by wind and not marching soldiers, is the Tacoma Narrows Bridge, which in 1940 went into wild convulsions before collapsing spectacularly into the river below.
First Adam builds a 60 foot bridge, then Jamie builds some air-actuated foot soldiers to march across it. Unfortunately they don't like to do so in step with one another to they just beat the bridge into submission. Which accomplishes the task, just not as they wanted to do so. Then they build a larger soldier which again destroys the bridge, but not through harmonics. Maybe Adam just isn't a good bridge builder. The conclusion is that it's likely that weight could do in the bridge, but not harmonics. Busted.
Surprise Toothbrush. Does flushing the toilet cause fecal coliform bacteria to be spewed about the bathroom? Adam and Jamie arrange toothbrushes about the bathroom and use toothpaste and distilled water on them for a full month. Then the use the control toothbrushes, placed on top of the toilet, for the month. They place another pair of toothbrushes in the kitchen during the experiment.
And lest you think this is all a hoax, the bathroom remains in use during the month - with a checklist showing the number of number ones, number twos and numbers threes (both at the same time?) that were done. At the end of the month, the result is... every single toothbrush, even the pair in the kitchen, shows evidence of the bacteria. Whoops. So it seems we just can't escape. As Mike Rowe would say, "There's poo everywhere!". Confirmed. Sorta. I mean, the toilet does produce spray, and there is bacteria. But in the kitchen. A bit sketchy it seems.
Row Skiing. Rumor has it that you can water ski behind a row boat. So Adam and Jamie learn how to water ski and a team from Stanford brings out a boat to see if they can get them going. And what do you know? After three tries, they get Jamie up - though he only stays up for 40 seconds or so, and has a heck of a time doing it, he undoubtedly was skiing behind a boat powered only by rowers. Very cool. Confirmed.

















