MythBusters Season 3 Episode 14 Killer Tissue Box

In the Mythbusters season 3 episode 14, named Killer Tissue Box, Adam and Jamie explore a popular urban legend that claims a person can be killed by a tissue box explosion in a car during extreme heat conditions. The two Mythbusters start their investigation by testing three different types of typical tissue boxes to see if they have the potential to cause an explosion.

The first test involves placing a full tissue box in a hot car for several hours, and then recording the temperature inside with a thermometer. The second test requires Adam and Jamie to rig a tissue box with a small explosive device to simulate what could happen if a tissue box were to explode. In the final test, they recreate a car interior using exact measurements and place a tissue box in the back seat, after which they expose the car to the sun and monitor the situation from outside.

As the duo works through their hypothesis, they discover that extreme heat conditions are indeed capable of causing a tissue box to burst, but the explosion is not as dangerous as the urban legend propagates. The Mythbusters experiment showed that the explosion force was not enough to break any windows or hurt any passengers.

Adam and Jamie also tested a second myth in the episode, in which they experimented with the effect of a full car floor mat on a car's fuel efficiency. The duo tested a number of different floor mat materials, including rubber, foam, and carpet, and measured the difference that a full car mat can make to gas usage.

During their testing, Adam and Jamie discovered that a full floor mat can make a significant difference to a car's fuel mileage, with some mats causing drivers to use more gas. They also discovered that the type of mat makes a difference. A heavy-duty rubber mat is more likely to cause the car's tires to wear out quickly, whereas a carpet mat can be damaging to the car's paintwork.

Finally, in the episode, Adam and Jamie tested a common fashion myth related to the use of high-heeled shoes causing significant back pain. To test this myth, the duo rigged up a set of sophisticated sensors that could measure any spinal pressure and spine movement in high-heel wearers.

The results of their experiment suggested that high-heeled shoes do indeed impact the spine's position and can potentially cause back pain over time. However, the experiment's sample size was small, and the actual cause of any spine problems during high-heel usage needs more thorough research.

Overall, the Killer Tissue Box episode of Mythbusters season 3 provided us with a scientific investigation of some popular myths, while also showing the entertaining and exciting world of experimental research. The episode offered viewers an excellent mix of educational and entertaining content that made for a great show.