- In 13 seasons nobody has brought the fire marshal
to our stage more times than our next guest.
Please welcome back our science guy, Steve Spangler.
- I was in West Virginia training teachers
to be better science teachers,
and there's a lot of history of coal mining in West Virginia.
- Mm-hmm. - And so, they showed me this.
This was a miner's hat... - Mm-hmm.
- And then they gave me this,
and this was very cool. This is an antique.
This is, like, a miner's lantern.
So, look at what happens. This is long before
they ever had batteries. - Right.
- They would actually put a chemical in the bottom...
- Uh-huh. - And then drip water in
and light this on fire. - On their head?
- On their head. - Wow.
- So, that's what we're gonna do.
- [scoffs] - All right,
so put on your safety glasses. - [laughs]
- This is gonna--no, no we're gonna do it in here.
So, watch what happens.
The secret is, this stuff here
called calcium carbide--look at the little rocks.
- Mm-hmm. - See 'em?
- Yeah. - Those little rocks,
when they get added to water,
produce acetylene gas--eh, kinda smell weird.
- Very strong smell. - Yeah.
And the water goes in like this, so that's perfect.
So now--here hold out your hand.
You're gonna hold on to the acetylene.
I mean, you're gonna hold on to the calcium carbide.
Okay, when I ask you to, you're gonna dump it in here,
and then I... [lighter clicks]
Am gonna light it on fire. - Great.
Okay? All right, so dump it in.
- How far do I run after that? - No, you don't have to run.
- Okay. Okay. - Okay, just stick--
you're gonna be okay. - Okay.
- See, it's just bubbles. See, it's nothing.
- All right, yes. - Nobody cares.
- Okay. - And see you just--you li--
See how you light it on fire? - Wow.
- Now here's the craziest thing. Imagine that on your head.
So, this thing is burning on your head...
- Yeah. - Which is crazy.
- Yeah. - But that's what they had
to go through. Here I can do this.
[gasps] See, isn't that great?
- Mm, wonderful. - Okay, perfect.
So, I was just thinking--
[cheers and applause]
- Thank you.
All right, so, that's not really--I know that you're not--
- Well, it doesn't really last long, I mean...
- I mean, no. - They have to keep doing that
and walk another foot. - [laughs] Yeah, no, no, no.
It was much better. It was a beautiful flame,
but I was thinking this would be more fun.
So, look, I'm gonna do it now with a juice container.
So, if we put some water in this juice container,
and then we add the rocks... - Mm-hmm.
- We're gonna produce acetylene gas.
Now I have to wait for the perfect amount of oxygen
to get in there, and then, you are gonna light it on fire.
- Great. - Okay, so I just wanna
make sure--here. Make sure that you can
strike it. Ready? So, it's--yeah.
That's perfect. So, when I ask you to,
you're gonna touch that little hole that's back there.
- Mm-kay? - Like--
- No! Not yet. Not yet. - No, no, I know, but--
- Yeah, that's it.
That's what you're gonna touch. So, watch.
See how the rocks go in.
So, you see the bubbling action that's inside?
- Yeah. Right. - So, it's building that up,
but then I thought I'd make it do something fun,
so that's why the bandana gets shoved down inside like this.
'Cause we gotta build up some pressure.
- Ha! - You oughta wear the...
- Should-- - So, now.
- Can I wear something? They said it's gonna be loud.
- Oh, you can wear those if you want.
Yeah, that's fine. - All right. Okay.
Well, they told me I should. - Well, that's good.
I've lost my he--okay, light it. - Uh-huh.
- Okay, and now, light it on fire.
Ready? [explosion]
See how it goes?
- What? - Huh?
See, now this is useful
because it's not just shooting a bandana in the air.
You have been so nice.
Every time I'm on, you give me underwear.
- Yep. - So, now, I have
18 pair of underwear,
and I brought them back,
so--and we're just gonna use 'em.
- Yeah. - These are--
- Yep. - I didn't wear all of these.
- No, thank goodness. - Just one.
- Okay. [laughs]
- So, here's what we're gonna do.
- All right. - In just a second, I put water
in all of these, and then I've got
our little calcium carbide rocks that are here.
So, you and I are gonna drop those in
all the way across. - Mm-hmm.
- And then we're gonna jam the underwear down inside.
And then--yes that's very good.
- That's gonna be even louder. - Yes.
And then--here. I brought this for you as well.
Here's your torch. Okay, so you need a torch.
- Where's that going?
- Well, the torch is gonna touch the hole that's right there,
but then we're gonna aim 'em down to the audience like this.
[cheers and applause]
Perfect.
You got it? - Yeah.
- All right, so why don't you stand on this side of me
over here like this. - This is not the way they want
to get Ellen underwear. This is not--
- It's a great way to get Ellen underwear.
- All right, so here's what we're gonna do.
Watch this--so, this is gonna go down inside.
They're bubbling right now, so here's the little bubbling.
Good, and now you're gonna put on your headphones.
Okay, sorry to stand in front of you,
but that's great, and so, now--here.
If you don't mind, hang onto those and just--yeah.
A color at a time will be perfect, so here we go.
A little bit of black underwear in this one.
This is perfect.
These are always fun at school. [laughter]
All right, so this is good.
Kids love--oh, that's a party at home.
All right, so this is good.
Bam. Bam.
Bam. Ellen, hit that one.
[cheers and applause]
Light it like this and then touch it, ready?
Okay, touch it.
[explosion] [screams]
[explosion]
[explosion] Hit that one!
[explosion] Go!
Get that one right there!
[explosion] Bam!
Ta-da!
Wow.
So, look what we're gonna do here.
Now watch this, I just want you--if you don't mind,
stand right here. - I don't mind.
- Okay, so here what's gonna happen.
See the liquid nitrogen that's here?
So, now the liquid nitrogen goes into the bucket.
Now, we've taken the liberty of putting liquid nitrogen
in all of those other buckets.
So, there's 20 liters in each of those buckets.
- Look at--they're frozen. The cans are frozen.
- They're very very very very very cold.
So, now the next part is gonna be the best part,
and that's this, is that we have really hot water
in the buckets, right? So, now the hot water will be
in the buckets and then I'm going to--on three.
I go, "Three, two, one, go."
We're gonna dump the hot water in the bucket.
Mm-kay?
- Uh... - All right, so, good.
- [chuckles]
Haven't you been through enough already?
- Hey, hey! Put your safety glasses on.
- I'm in here. - Well, I'd still put 'em on
if I were you.
All right this is awesome.
You guys ready?
We'll commence as I'm gonna go,
"Three, two, one, go," and we're gonna do it.
Got it? Ready?
- Don't they put their things down?
- Shields down.
Okay...
Pick up your water. [grunts]
Are you feeling good?
Feeling good?
Here we go. Count us down.
all: Three...two...
one...go!
[cheers and applause]
Freaking so cool! - Wow.
- Now...
Uh...
- Go to our website to learn more about Steve
and his science kit of the month club.