Ep 1. Kings of Carnage
- TV-14
- February 15, 2014
- 43 min
Outrageous Acts of Science season 2 episode 1, called "Kings of Carnage," is a tribute to the most entertaining, hilarious, and shocking stunts designed by today's science geniuses. The episode begins with a segment on an adrenaline junkie who has built a homemade jet pack, and he attempts to fly it for the very first time. From there, we move on to two daredevils who attempt to sail over a pier on their kiteboards.
The hosts introduce us to a group of young scientists who have invented a flamethrower that shoots massive flames hundreds of feet into the air. We then watch clips of two Australian scientists called the "Mad Max of science" as they send a flaming barbecue into the sky using a weather balloon.
As always, the show's narrators provide us with useful scientific insights into how the stunts were engineered, the risks and dangers involved, and the physics behind them. We learn that these scientists often test their projects repeatedly in controlled environments to minimize the risks they pose to themselves and others.
The episode also features a young engineering student who has built a hovercraft that can reach top speeds of nearly 40 miles per hour, and we get to see him test it out on his local lake. Next up is a segment on a science team who has built a motorcycle that is powered entirely by rocket fuel, and they take it for a spin in the desert.
The show's second half features a clip of a young man who has built a "Rocket Bike" that propels him down a 600-foot-long rail at nearly 150 miles per hour. We then move on to a pair of scientists who attempt to drone-jump an abandoned water park slide at high speeds and in a dangerous air current.
The final segment of the episode features a science journalist who takes us on a deep dive into the bizarre and fascinating world of pain science. We watch as she endures a series of painful experiments and scientific tests designed to measure her pain threshold, demonstrating how far some scientists are willing to go in the name of discovery.
Overall, Outrageous Acts of Science season 2 episode 1 is a heart-pumping, adrenaline-charged thrill ride that showcases the best of what today's scientists and engineers have to offer. From homemade jet packs to rocket-powered motorcycles, this episode is a tribute to the audacity, creativity, and sheer ingenuity of humans when they put their minds to the task.