Mythbusters

Mythbusters is a science show that tries to solve myths and legends by using experimentation or any means possible to decipher the things that mystify people. 

The mission and goals of Mythbusters is to test the elements of the scientific method to test the validity of rumors, myths, movie scenes, adages, Internet videos, and news stories.

They basically investigate anything people are curious about.  This could be about beating a  lie detector test to seeing if a dirty car is more fuel efficient than a clean one. They then proceed to experiment by mixing methods or ingenuity to solve the issues. 

As for the critical thinking of this organization, there is a group of males and females who bounce ideas back and forth.  Some are thought out and some are so bizarre that you can’t believe them.  The experiments that are performed are very thought out and critical thinking is definitely put into play.  One example I will use is are elephants afraid of mice or is it just a myth.  The two who explored this theory put mice in holes in the ground and covered them with elephant dung.  When the elephants came close to the area, they pulled the dung off of the holes and revealed the mice.  Much to everyone’s surprise, the elephants stopped in their tracks.  They then thought maybe it was the dung being swung around that surprised the elephants, but it was the mice.  So, they agreed with the myth that elephants were startled by mice.

Since this is a television show on the Discovery Channel, these episodes involve the audience in a way that intrigues them.  Something new is always being shown along with new ways to present them.  The questions being submitted via email or letters to the show, does not affect what questions are being asked.  The public have always been curious on certain things that they hear about but are unsure if they are true or just wives’ tales.  We are lucky through popular culture that we can watch these types of shows.  I am sure, by looking at the website of this popular television show, that there is a huge following.  Nothing is being compromised because it is a huge audience.  Maybe the time allowed for the show cuts out certain things, but all movies and so forth do the same. 

Each problem is tackled differently, just as experimentation in science projects are done differently.  Of course there is always a topic and then a hypothesis and experimentation.  Each episode has a different theme and varies from show to show.  Most are simulations where they are in the same type of atmosphere that the myth pertains to.  For example, will playing dead help you survive a shark attack?  Two of the team actually thrashed around and tried to simulate this type of scenario.  One also was quiet and didn’t thrash around.  The theory played out that playing dead does boost your chances of surviving a shark attack.  

Critical thinking is hand in hand with this show because the Mythbuster people have to really think of how they are going to test these myths and theories.  Critical thinking is done by thinking out how the experiment is going to be done, where it going to be done, will this work?  It is an interesting show.  I honestly have not watched it on television, but watched episodes online while having to write this blog.  I never realized the amount of thought that goes into each episode.