Mythbusters lead balloon

[@Corristo89]

I've held lead foil in my hands and the stuff is incredibly fragile. Even sneezing in its general direction is enough to shred it. This stuff makes aluminium foil look like tank armor by comparison.

[@staalman1226]

Makes sense, lead is softer than gold

[@TheBluBalls]

@@WELLINGTON20 Polonium says hi. LD50 is 1 millionth of a gram.

[@Gossettc68]

@@TheBluBalls Plutonium also says hello. 500 grams of plutonium if inhaled or ingested, could kill 2 million people.

[@yaykruser]

@@WELLINGTON20 Osmium says hello too, it creates an oxide thats on of the most poisonous non organic compounds...

[@michalpecz9433]

@@yaykruser i say hi too. At least there are not toxic people :D

[@BUILTOFFICIAL]

who else is here from Adam's tested post?

[@LanceOperative]

me haha

[@ore._]

aye

[@AcheForWake]

Yep 👍🏼

[@finneh6145]

same

[@diagorasofmelos4345]

I just had to see it again!

[@minetruly]

I like the irony that we imagine the reason a lead balloon "goes down like a lead balloon" is that it's too heavy, when actually it's because it's too delicate.

[@karlkastor]

Well, it is delicate because they had to make it thin because of the density/weight of lead

[@tricksterjoy9740]

@@karlkastor it’s a vicious circle

[@Watch_over_us]

And being lead delicate is a strange idea itself

[@borntoclimb7116]

so true

[@schwarzerritter5724]

Engineering in a single sentence. It is all about finding the perfect compromise.

[@eugenenalpin6058]

Damn, knowimg that this baloon was 1.5 year in the making makes me understand why Adam is so stressed running around it and patching it up

[@yaykruser]

I got a stroke trying to read ur comment.

[@eugenenalpin6058]

@@yaykruser Oh, oh dear lord. I'm gonna edit it so it's more readable

[@enclave2k1]

@@eugenenalpin6058 no strokes here, crisis averted.

[@garrettb8654]

@@enclave2k1 well, technically 140 strokes here. 138 keystrokes i mean...

[@Kyleplaysgames567]

Then they threw a baseball at it.

[@mikec7373]

1:55 Jamie deliberately called Adam over to give him a legitimate pat on the back. You can tell he really meant it and doesn’t give those out easily!

[@jedsa05]

That was my favorite part of the video, especially knowing that Jamie and Adam were not, and did not become, friends... It was nice seeing a sincere moment of admiration.

[@jimmyzhao9748]

I loved that part

[@lauriedepaurie]

They are both real rolemodels. Inspiring people for STEAM, education, raising social issues, but also being a good example as a person.

[@DeepVoicedDude]

That's one of the few times I've heard Jamie sound genuinely impressed about anything lol.

[@DavidKnowles0]

@@jedsa05 Base on Mythbusters episodes you would think they were great friends.

[@dearthofdoohickeys4703]

Like a lead ballon now means: something that’s possible but requires a shit ton of research and careful execution.

[@amandastevens1117]

And a fair amount of scotch tape to repair the holes...

[@TheDaringPastry1313]

this can be said about the folding paper myth as well. crazy thin paper covering a lot of area makes it possible.

[@lukasmakarios4998]

Exactly right. That is what space engineering is like. But dreams don't die so easily.

[@ryanshannon7703]

Or to be more concise: Woefully impractical for the intended use.

[@lukasmakarios4998]

It might also require spools of adhesive tape and baling wire... just to keep it together long enough to get it aloft and prove the concept.

[@herrbrahms]

I agree with Adam. In my estimation, this is the most impressive build they've ever done. Just superb engineering throughout.

[@CoffinEd13]

@@trash9378 Someone didn‘t have their cereal this morning

[@rik8508]

@@trash9378 maybe english isnt his first language and he just missed the fine nuances of what he types. Or whatever. Try to think before you insult please.

[@kingarthurkingofthebritons6377]

People replying to a six-year-old comment

[@tigey2003]

bloon

[@jmckendry84]

@@trash9378 jesus, why are you throwing a hissy fit over the wording of a 6 year old comment? Jealous that they have a better vocabulary than you? lol

[@dr00ku]

I love that you can track when in the myth busters timeline this is based on Adam but Jamie has always and will continue to forever look the same

[@captainphoenix]

I remember when this first came out, I spent the whole HOUR waiting for them to say it, and, at the very last second, as the credits were rolling, they finally dropped the Led Zeppelin reference. WORTH IT.

[@MidnightAphelion]

My gosh, young Adam looks like somebody cosplaying Adam.

[@jackkraken3888]

lol

[@nrdesign1991]

Smaller glasses, chubbier face, and more hair

[@Phantom_Aspekt]

And current day Adam looks like someone cosplaying Col Sanders

[@MidnightAphelion]

@@Phantom_Aspekt My gosh, we need to get Adam Savage in a colonel sanders outfit.

[@wildae.]

hahaha

[@smugstrawberry2223]

The lead ballon perfectly encapsulated my favorite part of myth-busters. Seeing these two completely different but highly competent individuals work together and do something neither of them thought was possible is always satisfying.

[@OttoByOgraffey]

I keep seeing 'balloon' spelled wrong in the comments.

[@A-Microwave]

how can you misspell balloon when the video title is right there

[@wowitsfrostygames155]

even though they werent friends it makes those moments when they give each other a pat on the back all the more special.

[@chasedavidson2855]

So ballons tower defense is a lie. Lead ballons are super easy to pop

[@fantasticphil3863]

haha

[@noneurbusiness53]

thats why we have dart monkey

[@DeadlyDanDaMan]

Lead is one of the softest metals on Earth.

[@_jmv]

@@DeadlyDanDaMan yea it’s one of the softest METALS on Earth, but not one of the softest materials. I mean it’s still really tough stuff, just not compared to other metals

[@ccggenius]

@Avocado Toast And? They ALSO used it to run water into people's houses, and there's a fair bit of pressure required to get liquid to come out of a sink.

[@colinpovey9560]

Per a story Adam wrote, this actually took like 2.5 years to do. Probably the hardest myth they ever did. Superb workmanship with a product so thin, it broke the machines of 2 companies trying to make the foil.

[@NA1c158]

And Adam has said that this build was the turning point in the show for how they work on myths and what elements of the build that they each thrive with.

[@JayV27]

We're gonna need a bomb tower for this one, boys

[@noneurbusiness53]

69 likes, well done

[@JayV27]

Nice

[@AltimaNEO]

I've forgotten how fuller and younger Adam looked then. I've gotten so used to seeing him on Tested that it felt like he never ages.

[@RoivonPC]

I think Jamie was genuinely impressed with this one.

[@sethbaus]

As a kid MythBusters always was my favorite show and it helped me learn the building blocks of all aspects of STEM. They gave me my love for science and they gave me my love for that nagging curiosity in the back of my brain that always made me feel different, but actually helped me understand the world I live in.

[@chaz693]

Same. I came for the explosions and left with the basic principles of the scientific method burnt in my head.

[@natelav534]

I really didnt expect the mass of the balloom to literally droop around the helium at the top. It looks like the air and helium seperated pulling the bottom of the bag down while the top kept it bouyant

[@Drekromancer]

That's a fascinating observation. Thank you for sharing!

[@Pete856]

Yes and no. Yes, the Helium would remain separate as it's lighter and will float on top of the air. No, the reason the bottom of the balloon droops is because of the weight of Lead, not because there is air down there. Helium can only lift on the top of the balloon, so even if it was 100% Helium the bottom would still droop.

[@natelav534]

@@Pete856 well sure normal balloons are elastic and filled to a higher pressure than 1 atmosphere. They would do the same if we had a giant very thin balloon. Whats odd specifically about the lead balloon is the weight of the balloon is pretty strongly overcoming the heliums attempt to fill its container

[@MartKencuda]

It's pretty much just a bubble of helium/air with some lead foil draped around it.

[@Astrobrant2]

Nate Lav, If you look at the old high altitude "sky-hook" types of balloons, they did the same thing. Then when they got to a high enough altitude they would become fully inflated because of the low atmospheric pressure. kzbin.info/www/bejne/pZPFcmeOosugfZo

[@DanknDerpyGamer]

4:41 "So, do you think we could actually make a lead zeppelin?" 😂🤣😂

[@Arthur-jx8bm]

You're telling me a dartling gunner can't pop this but light a breeze of air can??

[@RedStefan]

Now make a led zeppelin xD

[@eduardomayoral2329]

The name came from when someone said the band would sink like a lead Zeppelin

[@TS_Mind_Swept]

RedStefan - I was thinking of that the whole time

[@aidanhawkins6491]

lol

[@travisinthetrunk]

Eduardo Mayoral that ‘someone’ was Keith Moon.

[@atvheads]

@@eduardomayoral2329 What a mistake!

[@DoctorKingWeegee]

"If someone says it's impossible... WE JUST TAKE IT AS A CHALLENGE!!" -Adam Savage, inventor of a functioning lead balloon I do believe this quote and this myth are shining examples of how the Mythbusters are made of pure, all natural, unrestrained awesome.

[@maxamillyanbadgett632]

who else is here because of the "ask adam savage" video?

[@JayV27]

Uhh, me

[@rw9495]

same lmao

[@Metal_Master_YT]

me

[@zukacs]

just uploaded on YT

[@UtahSustainGardening]

But of course!

[@anaru369]

Now make a ceramic bloon

[@TheFreakyJhonny]

In theory it would be easier because ceramic is lighter than lead, practically it is just too brittle and you wouldn't be able to shape it.

[@JustHereToV1be]

lukas anton j. no were not evolution doesnt exist

[@TheFreakyJhonny]

The Doctor so you are one of these religous fanatics who rather denie evolution and beliefe that you where created?

[@TheFreakyJhonny]

goatboytone1 we evolved from those In a matter of fact: The first organisms have originated from outer space, these cells are still found in meteorites nowadays, in a vital state and you are right, nowadays people behave more like sheep, monkeys can't be that stupid

[@TheFreakyJhonny]

carultch sorry, both would translate to the same in my language, but I get what you mean (actually had to check the dictionary for that)

[@Thanos6]

This is the only time I think I've seen Adam more fretting and nervous than Jamie.

[@Guithulhu]

And somewhere Jimmy Page's Zeppy sense tingles...stops playing guitar, looks around....shrugs, and goes back to writing a masterpiece.

[@charliewoodruff8186]

Hello everyone who watched the 'Ask Adam' video.

[@studiosraufncingr6965]

me!

[@mrblackrock555]

Yooo!

[@amicloud_yt]

hi

[@Horto1989]

I couldn't resist

[@memememe2536]

Hi

[@RonZhang]

Ha ha ha, the thought of a lead zeppelin. Could be the BMC DDT.

[@edenli6421]

Ron Zhang lol now there is btd6 DDT’s

[@wingedbluj1674]

@@edenli6421 those things are a pain in the ass sometimes

[@ASLTheatre]

Going to interpret this video to ASL. This is one of my favorite myths!

[@GorlockSlayer]

This was uploaded 16 years ago! Dude, time… come back!

[@angelalbano4234]

Hahaha, Jamie is such a dork, can we make a " Lead " Zeppelin. This was awesome. I love seeing what these guys can do, what they're capable of and how far they push themselves to make something work. I love how they never give up but like I said, Jamie is such a dork. But his corny jokes always put a smile on my face and make me laugh. I miss this show so much but at least I can get my Mythbusters fix with Adam's KZbin channel Tested.

[@Ic1clez_]

DDT Incoming...

[@jasonchiu272]

​@@Ic1clez_Goddamnit I thought of that as well. Ah well get the M.A.D. now!

[@titans1984]

Why did they wait 'til the very end to bring out the "Lead Zeppelin" joke?

[@benlondon636]

Because some things are just worth waiting for. Like answering this question!

[@nomnom1197]

when you forget to get lead popping

[@johnathanmartin3392]

I love how Adam keeps starting to whisper because of how fragile the ballon is

[@tommyt1971]

I'll bet Jimmy, Robert and John were all very impressed.

[@maybeaviolinist]

So sharp things can pop lead balloons… Bloons tower defense has lied to us

[@transvestosaurus878]

Pretty sure Jamie felt something approximating human emotion in this one.

[@draexian530]

As close as he gets, anyway.

[@wowalamoiz9489]

Jamie is far more human than Zuckerberg tho

[@adamcichon6957]

Jamie is quite an introvert, but i can hear from the way he was speaking at the end, that he actually was very joyful and excited.

[@ranjeethmahankali3066]

Explains why Led Zeppelin was successful.

[@rocritz]

Their original name was trash, and their manager at the time said if they put that name on a record, the band would go down as fast as a Lead Zeppelin. So they changed the name. Kinda same story with The Who. They were originally "the Commodores" but people who always ask them "The Who?"

[@jbbw667]

Nice observation.

[@sleepdeep305]

@@rocritz Wow, looked it up, and I can safely say that the New Yardbirds is one of the worst names for a band I could possibly think of.

[@marioleon4102]

Every tools a hammer brought me here. Great book. Very inspirational.

[@do811]

“How do we get it down?” 1-x-x sniper monkey.

[@gojtron]

This is even more impressive after hearing the details of the foil

[@qasimmir7117]

Yeah like wet toilet roll apparently.

[@mloxard]

The lead bloons in Bloons Tower Defense:

[@mynameismyname8841]

Back when cable was still worth paying for

[@kimbyroxyoursox]

thank you for posting this!!!! i saw the begining and didnt get to see the end. it was killing me to know if it worked or not! thanks again! thats pretty much awesome.

[@simav8r]

This is probably their coolest test ever, even without an explosion.

[@ralphm4132]

Shoulda used hydrogen - an easily renewable gas, lighter, and you get BANG.

[@SkyyySi]

I was wondering why KZbin recommended me this all of a sudden. Then I set the comment sorting to newest first and understood why.

[@thedonraja]

Helium is leaky but Hydrogen is much more so. I remember studying this as part of an aerospace design module regarding the future of airships. Also this came up as a containment problem for future hydrogen powered cars. Obviously, what you mentioned about the flammability and liquidation difficulty are major factors as well.

[@bzqp2]

Welcome to the future. We gave up on the hydrogen cars. :P

[@MrMarinus18]

That's actually not true at all. Hydrogen is far more prone to leaking than helium is. Hydrogen, as the smallest stable molecule can leak through seemingly solid steel if it's not made in just the right way through gaps in it's atomic structure. That property is one of the biggest reasons why despite being factually the best possible fuel hydrogen wasn't used as a main fuel in rockets till the Saturn V. Even now they try to avoid using hydrogen when possible unless they truly need the absolute best power for pound rocket they can get. Most rockets today still use kerosene because despite it having a lower energy density than hydrogen it is just far easier to handle. It's also why the space shuttle had that disposable fuel tank because making a reusable vessel for hydrogen was just too difficult. On cars the danger is a little less so since they have smaller fuel tanks where are easier to seal and they don't sit idle for as long. Even so with most hydrogen vehicles they advice to avoid leaving it idle with a full tank for a long period of time cause hydrogen will leak out of the tank through microscopic imperfections in the tank. It is just something that can't be avoided.

[@TheNinthGeneration1]

For those wondering, that’s because hydrogen is made up of one proton and 1 electron, while helium is made up of 2 proton, 2 neutrons and 2 electrons, or 4 times larger. Though there are also 2 types (isotopes) of hydrogen that are larger than normal hydrogen, deuterium (1 of each) and tritium (1 proton and electron and 2 neutrons).

[@robadams5799]

I liked the way Jamie said "hey Adam?" to make sure he had his attention before congratulating him on the design of the balloon.

[@sidkemp4672]

I dreamed of making a silver metal balloon as a child but gave it up as impossible. Thanks for busting my personal myth!

[@jerryhenson3916]

Ninety-nine led balloons Floating in the summer sky...

[@noor6668]

Now! MAKE A Z.O.M.G.!

[@dankukus2377]

That's easy just make a really oversized zeppelin

[@capnomonkeys8876]

and a B.A.D.

[@MotoManDan1]

Ceramic next? Monkeys are not too happy about this

[@MiwAuturu]

the entire time I was wondering when they were going to make a led zeppelin joke.

[@adriansaidan1736]

This comment is older than my sister

[@ethenallen1388]

Jamie and Adam may have had their issues, but builds like this show how well they worked together.

[@raetekusu1]

I don't think they had issues. Sure, their personalities didn't make them compatible as friends, but what it did make them exceptional at was their job. And I think that's an important message! You don't have to *like* your coworkers in order to work exceptionally well with them.

[@Nikko_Suave]

What they didn't tell us is the atmosphere in that room was 50 percent sulphur hexafluoride, giving the balloon the extra buoyancy it needed. Good job on the part of the editors making everyone's voices sound normal.

[@lapitop4206]

haha

[@_ipsissimus_]

"I still want more.... BALLOONNESS out of it!" -- Adam "I know." -- Jamie 3:01 lmao

[@henryginn7490]

I can tell a lot of thought and planning went into that unfolding procedure, that was amazing

[@elpequenoprincipe]

A lead zeppelin ... brilliant

[@SwearJar1]

DDT..

[@vermin913]

I kind of want to see the original 55 minute version of this myth

[@donsurlylyte]

biggest band of the mid 70's, never to be repeated

[@Dubtee]

The episode where they finally become friends.

[@-guy113]

Btd7 : how bloons are made

[@MrSaemichlaus]

You never know what curiosity LEADs to.

[@leevkop8229]

Actually made me laugh out loud haha

[@jwalster9412]

you really lead us into that one

[@markmandel6738]

@@jwalster9412 ("led" not "lead")

[@markmandel6738]

Ba-da-BING!

[@leevkop8229]

@@markmandel6738 the absolute tomfoolery that is English spelling

[@TristanBailey]

feels even more special and emotional after watching Adam's video post

[@bonnierussell7824]

I can see the headlines now. Local stunt man creates lead balloon. In other news, TV personality suffers from lead poisoning at high altitude. More at 11 :00.

[@alexplayz2090]

All this work but you only gotta wait a few rounds in BTD6 for a lead balloon

[@ABYStheOyster]

I am all for the development of a lead zeppelin!

[@blacknoir2404]

Instead of the idiom defining what the balloon is made from, it should have commented on what was used to fill it. “...like a tungsten hexafluoride balloon”

[@TS_Mind_Swept]

But what about 99 Luftballons?

[@TS_Mind_Swept]

@Bruce Burnett that's kinda the point..

[@danparish1344]

Imagine someone thinks that’s aluminum foil and reuses it to line a pan of brownies for the crew.

[@camwoodstock]

Anybody else thought of Bloons Tower Defense?

[@sawayoshisy]

I.

[@Minecart696]

We are here because of BTD ;)

[@sawayoshisy]

Yes, we are. Yes. We are..

[@ryanthecactus4655]

+camwoodstock We all do.

[@flameconvoy7424]

Think they made this because of BTD

[@stevenuez5941]

Make 98 more and then you'd have "99 lead balloons".

[@therealchris5894]

Dart monkeys beware

[@teamcyeborg]

Alright, now let's see it as a Zeppelin

[@danielhaehnichen9529]

Adam, This invention is NOT useless. Imagine what a fleet of these balloons could do during a serious radioactive leak. Without risking a life, they could be guided to crash on the leak, blocking a portion of the radiation. Good Job Adam!

[@MaatoAngeleri]

Daniel Haehnichen you have a really creative genius

[@therealchayd]

Don't want to burst your balloon (if you'll pardon the pun), but lead foil wouldn't be sufficiently thick to block any dangerous radiation levels, it would easily stop alpha and beta particles, but high energy gamma and x-rays would blast right though it. Nice lateral thinking though....

[@Kryptnyt]

2:25 "Teetering on the tipping point of failure!" FACING THE ABYSS THE END APPROACHES

[@Reynsoon]

dat Darkest Dungeon reference

[@catenary_curve]

ok but when it broke why didn't it release 2 black balloons?

[@Mr3344555]

The balls that hit it got slowed down upon impact

[@Cre8tvMG]

But I bet at the end Adam was wishing they had filled it with hydrogen, not helium. Much more fun getting it down...

[@AllonKirtchik]

Blowing up a giant hydrogen balloon indoors?

[@princeoflight612]

I came here just for btd 5 jokes in the comments. And THIS lead baloon is easily pierced by an arrow or even by a dart. "Super Monkey would shred this apart" It would, like with any baloon. But then it would run out of darts to throw. Also Super Monkey sucks unless you are talking temple(even which I don't particularly like). Dartling guns are way more effective and are the best tower in the game. "There are 4 btds" The leads were introduced in the second game. However now every attacking tower has an upgrade to pop lead. Still a threat though.

[@capnomonkeys8876]

X/4 misdirection can "defeat" a lead bloon.

[@diceblue6817]

Jamie was so overjoyed by this

[@xleshens1385]

**NOW MAKE A B.A.D**

[@OrangeHarrisonRB3]

Producers: What were you guys doing? How did you accrue such a high cost for one red balloon? Mythbusters: A what balloon? Oh, uhhhhh...

[@Minecart696]

And now we throw a dart at it. IT POPPED BTD IMPOSTER CONFURRME

[@kp8790]

Zhongmin Hu Dart = Baseball?

[@SKOMPAS]

World helium shortage and the price of helium sky rocketing looks back at videos like this like, “ahh yes the innocent days”

[@herbderbler1585]

I think a lead zeppelin would actually be easier. Sheet over a rigid frame and then just pump in helium and drive out the air until it lifts off. It'd be a bit heavier than the balloon but they had to add air to keep the balloon from taking off anyway, so they could probably still use enough pure helium and keep the frame light enough for it to be buoyant.

[@MrMarinus18]

Actually it's not. The biggest problem with zeppelins was that when they turn, due to their size, there an enormous amount of stress put on the structure and the material. Rips in the cloth covering or the gasbags were very common.

[@herbderbler1585]

@@MrMarinus18 no one said a zeppelin has to be the 800 feet long USS Akron. I'm merely talking about a rigid frame dirigible instead of just a gas bag.

[@granddukeofmecklenburg]

Yea, they were quite a big deal in the 70s

[@StayMadLmfao]

Get the cannon tower out here

[@r0galik]

Lead Zeppelin hahahahahahaa ROFL

[@musclechicken9036]

These are the guys that make the BTD balloons.

[@maupin1971]

BTD6 anyone?

[@javierescontrias]

Finally I saw the coveted lead Ballon episode. Achievement unlocked.

[@burningtank160]

lol my 1-0-0 sniper monkey could take this thing out

[@compresant349]

POV: the battery of an iPhone after you use an android plug

[@ReshiramR52]

Literally AAA games nowadays

[@jonathanmarois9009]

Imagine how ignorant we all would still be without Mythbusters...

[@NormalFerrari]

I remember watching this with my dad when I was little. Good times

[@DaveDexterMusic]

I've seen this a few times and never noticed that Adam's wearing extremely fluffy slippers. Good tactic.

[@KougsMotors454]

i liked this one. it suprized me , i thought gold was the only metal malleable enough to be formed into a super thin sheet strong enough for something like this

[@truthsmiles]

You’re gonna be embarrassed when you learn about aluminum foil.

[@limerence8365]

Turns out the difficulty of a lead balloon wasn't its weight but its fragileness.