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Post by the light works on Feb 3, 2014 15:37:49 GMT
Now that we've done Star Wars myths and flushed some Star Wars + Mythbusters fans out of the woodwork, it occurred to me that perhaps the next step should be to see if we can flush out some Firefly + Mythbusters fans.
and how else do we do that but by accumulating Firefly myths.
the great advantage here is that this is supposed to be our universe, and does not include the force - so everything is fair game except the advanced medical and space travel stuff which would be unethical or out of our tech range or both)
the first one that comes to my mind is; is it possible to put an explosive inside an apple that will withstand rough handling, trigger from being bitten, and pack enough punch to be lethal?
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Post by Lokifan on Feb 3, 2014 17:44:56 GMT
I'd guess having an apple core sized explosive going off in your mouth would be fatal.
Making it stable until it's bit--even when it's thrown, that's a tough one, alright.
Maybe the trigger would have to be contact on at least two sides (top and bottom)? That way, a single hit from a throw wouldn't trigger it, but the teeth hitting both triggers at once would.
We could always visit the "Vera" myth: can you accurately fire a rifle from inside a spacesuit?
Note: Whedon admitted that he goofed when he thought a rifle required oxygen to fire, so I'm ignoring that part. What I'm curious is how to aim a rifle when you can't see the sights. Could they make the shots when shooting from the hip, as it were?
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Post by Cybermortis on Feb 3, 2014 18:00:58 GMT
Explosives tend to be stable, or at least stable enough that biting or even hitting/throwing them with human force isn't going to do anything.
Mythbusters showed this with C4, and also showed the same thing applies with mercury fulminate which is/was sometimes used in detonators.
You could, probably, rig up a membrane inside the apple that when pierced produces enough of an electrical charge to set a detonator off.
Having said all that I suspect that this isn't an idea MB would feel is suitable, since it would end up as a 'how to make an bomb' show. And if they skipped that part they'd...end up with a lot of dead air.
Firing from the hip is an old myth, and one I would suspect is already on their list. Ditto firing a gun in a vacuum/space and sound in space.
I suspect that a Firefly episode may be problematical for MB. Part because they only made 13 episodes and part because Fox, who own the rights, are doing their best to pretend the series never existed. That would probably make getting footage next to impossible.
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Post by the light works on Feb 3, 2014 19:16:38 GMT
but it has to have a triggering mechanism sensitive enough to trigger from the apple being bitten into. - slightly different from the mercury fulminate myth. I like the double contact idea, as that would also make it safe to slice the apple with a knife.
as I recall Joss Whedon, after admitting he trusted the wrong tech advisor, said he was claiming it to be a design quirk of Vera.
I believe they HAVE done firing from the hip - so firing from the hip through an obstruction might or might not be enough difference.
getting the footage is easy enough - it is all on DVD. getting permission to SHOW the footage... may be more challenging; but I have a hard time imagining Rupert Murdoch turning down mailbox money.
on a lighter note - the "my food is problematic" scene - IS there a convenient way to eat a food product suspended on a string?
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Post by Lokifan on Feb 4, 2014 1:15:55 GMT
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Post by the light works on Feb 4, 2014 1:45:19 GMT
I saw an interview with Joss Whedon where he explained that the reason for the death was that the actor couldn't commit to being available for a possible second movie, and was done with the expectation that if he was available and there was a sequel, then by some miraculous means he would return to life.
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Post by Lex Of Sydney Australia on Feb 4, 2014 2:06:19 GMT
I suspect that a Firefly episode may be problematical for MB. Part because they only made 13 episodes and part because Fox, who own the rights, are doing their best to pretend the series never existed. That would probably make getting footage next to impossible. They can always do what they did with the Bond Special & draw some action board stills, or they can do a CG cartoon intro with Buster like the did with the RED myth. |
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Post by wvengineer on Feb 4, 2014 4:07:53 GMT
As far as the apple grenade goes, that is one where the trigger can be chocked up to advanced technology. The did the exploding pen on the show and it would be fatal to the person holding it (especially if in or near the mouth and head) and if you can't come up with a trigger for the show doesn't mean that it couldn't be done. I think the trick would be more in hiding it. Doing it so that the appearance and weight of the apple does not give it away.
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Post by blazerrose on Feb 4, 2014 6:00:00 GMT
This one might be a job for the Syndaver, but how well can a human be shipped? River seemed to be (physically) none the worse for wear for having been put into a crate, naked, and shipped.
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Post by Cybermortis on Feb 4, 2014 14:05:06 GMT
Observation; Everyone is posting myths on the assumption that the reader has seen Firefly and/or Serenity. It would be more helpful if you assumed that you are talking to people who have not seen either, or who have forgotten the details of episodes and need reminding. Even if the MB's like the idea of a Firefly episode they are not really going to have the time to sit down and watch the entire series trying to find an idea to see if it might be testable.
Remember that even if the cast are fans of that show, and remember every episode in detail, they are unlikely to be the ones looking at this thread. In fact the first they are likely to know about this is when/if one of the shows researchers brings the idea to the attention of the Producers. And the researchers probably haven't see the show, and as such will have no idea what the hell you are talking about.
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Post by the light works on Feb 4, 2014 18:15:25 GMT
here is the reference for "my food is problematic"
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Post by the light works on Feb 4, 2014 18:28:46 GMT
As far as the apple grenade goes, that is one where the trigger can be chocked up to advanced technology. The did the exploding pen on the show and it would be fatal to the person holding it (especially if in or near the mouth and head) and if you can't come up with a trigger for the show doesn't mean that it couldn't be done. I think the trick would be more in hiding it. Doing it so that the appearance and weight of the apple does not give it away. I think we can make the assumption that weapons technology seems to be only slightly more advanced than our current weapons technology. (one myth I might suggest is whether the laser pistol in the episode "Heart of Gold" was possible in the size shown - keeping in mind, that as I recall, it DID run out of charge) |
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Post by mrfatso on Feb 5, 2014 18:34:03 GMT
This one might be a job for the Syndaver, but how well can a human be shipped? River seemed to be (physically) none the worse for wear for having been put into a crate, naked, and shipped. As the Humans in Firefly/Serenity travelled in the great Exodus from Earth that Was to the new Star system which they now inhabit, we can probably assume they have better Suspended Animation technology than we do at this time. |
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Post by the light works on Feb 6, 2014 3:22:56 GMT
This one might be a job for the Syndaver, but how well can a human be shipped? River seemed to be (physically) none the worse for wear for having been put into a crate, naked, and shipped. As the Humans in Firefly/Serenity travelled in the great Exodus from Earth that Was to the new Star system which they now inhabit, we can probably assume they have better Suspended Animation technology than we do at this time. I though Rose was talking about just being damaged in transit. |
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Post by blazerrose on Feb 6, 2014 4:03:07 GMT
I was - not exactly the most deluxe travel accommodations she had.
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Post by ironhold on Feb 6, 2014 5:01:09 GMT
How was she packed in place?
I ask as the anime series "Outlaw Star" did the whole "person shipped naked inside of a container" bit well before Firefly did (reference: episodes 1 and 2). In this case, the container was custom-designed for the girl (Melfina) to be carried in; she was basically packed inside a glorified version of the styrofoam inserts that electronics come encased in, and so that would have served to protect her.
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Post by mrfatso on Feb 6, 2014 7:26:15 GMT
As the Humans in Firefly/Serenity travelled in the great Exodus from Earth that Was to the new Star system which they now inhabit, we can probably assume they have better Suspended Animation technology than we do at this time. I though Rose was talking about just being damaged in transit. River was smuggled out of the facility she was in by her Brother and placed in suspended animation, and with a far amount of padding from what I could see. She wasn't shipped through a postal system you can bet Simon took good care of her whilst he travelled with her in that box. static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/River-Box.jpg |
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Post by the light works on Feb 6, 2014 16:24:51 GMT
I though Rose was talking about just being damaged in transit. River was smuggled out of the facility she was in by her Brother and placed in suspended animation, and with a far amount of padding from what I could see. She wasn't shipped through a postal system you can bet Simon took good care of her whilst he travelled with her in that box. static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/River-Box.jpgyes. I remembered the box being lined and the outer shell of humans is fairly abrasion resistant. in the Emergency Services field, we tend to be extremely careful packing damaged humans for shipment, so as to avoid further damage, but there are times when we have a severely malfunctioning unit, where we use the "fling them on the gurney and get them out of here" method of shipping. |
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Post by blazerrose on Feb 7, 2014 2:30:19 GMT
Thanks for the photo, MrFatso. I had been trying to remember exactly how she was shipped, since it's been a while since I have seen the show.
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Post by mrfatso on Feb 7, 2014 11:25:36 GMT
That's okay, I happened to watch the Pilot episode on DVD last weekend, so remembered it quite well.
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