[typing]
[soft electrical pop]
[light static]
>> All right, so things that cause fires.
The sun. >> The sun.
>> Ferrocerium rods.
>> Yup, big sparks, hot sparks.
>> I've never done this next one.
>> You haven't?
>> No. Have you?
>> Oh. We're getting... no!
>> I bought these chemicals, I've had them for like two years
and I've set them very far away from each other
because I've seen videos of what can happen.
>> We're getting to my favorite place.
Do you know what that is? >> What?
>> Science adjacent.
>> Oh good! >> Yeah!
>> Science adjacent.
[drum hits in time to the words]
>> Okay. [laughter]
>> JASON: Potassium permanganate. >> BRIAN: What is this normally used for?
>> It's an antiseptic like iodine,
you can use it to disinfect cuts out in the wild.
You can also use it for funguses
like if you have athlete's foot or something like that.
>> Okay. Safe? Haunted?
>> Yeah, it is safe.
You probably shouldn't ingest it.
But you can get it on skin and in wounds,
and stuff like that. It's a disinfectant.
>> It looks a it like iron filings, basically.
>> Uh, yeah.
Put--be reasonably liberal,
because I think you need more potassium permanganate
than you do glycerin.
>> Okay, all right.
Uh... oh geez. >> JASON: And this is--
>> I don't know, this seems like a bad idea. >> That's probably fine.
>> I know that when the glycerin
hits the potassium permaganate
they have an exothermic reaction.
This is similar to the thermite
in that once it starts, it gets hotter and hotter and hotter.
But unlike the thermite,
I don't know if this is self-oxidizing or not.
But I know for sure that it doesn't have to get crazy hot.
Because the thermite has to get
over nearly 3000 degrees Fahrenheit
before it starts going. >> Right. That's why we have to use a magnesium strip
and so forth to get that to light.
With this, we just pour the glycerin on
the potassium permaganate.
It's a slow reaction as we have a transfer of electrons.
It's a redox reaction.
But it should work.
And these are all things that are available
in a lot of first aid kits,
or at hardware stores.
>> We have to build a teepee though, right?
>> Oh sure, we should build a teepee.
>> So this is like,
if it's too inconvenient to walk around with a Zippo lighter
why don't you carry a bottle of this, and a bag of that
and combine them like alchemy?
>> Maybe someone will tell us why we're idiots,
or why lighters aren't as effective as all of these methods we've used.
>> All of these sound like,
just carry a lighter with you, right?
>> Just carry a lighter!
>> Yeah.
Theoretically I just pour this goop on this
and then eventually, a fire happens.
>> Yeah!
The glycerin is often used as a lubricant.
You can use it on dry skin and stuff like that.
It's in a lot of things.
Also, a powerful laxative, so...
You know, don't drink it.
>> Hoh boy! >> [sternly] Brian!
I'm looking at you.
>> I mean, maybe that's what I need!
You ever think of that?
I'm going to give another generous [trails off].
I mean we could [stammers]...
Maybe grab the fire extinguisher, just in case? Yeah. >> Yeah!
[vocalized gaffes] >> Up, bup.
This all seems bad.
[Jason's nervous laughter]
You got it? >> We're going to be fine.
[apprehensive exhale] >> I'm going to pour this goop on this
and theoretically, fire will come at us.
>> It could take a minute, the reaction...
It's science, man.
[Brian laughs] >> It doesn't look like this is how you start a fire!
[laughter]
>> Yeah, I don't know that you did it.
[Brian screams in disbelief]
>> Holy cow!
Oh my god!
[very high pitched] Oh my god, it's totally working!
That was amazing!
[back to normal tone] That was so much better than I dared hope.
>> Yeah!
>> That was amazing!
Wow.
Potassium permanganate and glycerin,
uh, cooler than lighters.
>> Yeah, because you know, science adjacent,
that's always cooler than something you can get
at a convenience store.
>> I mean anytime you get to put on your wizard robes
and start pulling out bottles and mixing stuff
and then fire comes at you
uh, that's pretty great.
♪ ♪
All right, well, you're welcome science.
>> Yeah. >> That's three for three.
>> Yeah, you're welcome.
I know you've been waiting for us to validate you, science.
>> The big thing is you want during that initial flash
to capture the flame and keep it going.
And that's why you have to bother to have a good
[distracted] ... teepee.
>> Part of the problem is,
you got the glycerine on the sticks
and so it made them wet.
But there's not enough potassium permaganate
on the sticks down here. >> Now hold on,
I poured the glycerin on the potassium,
what if we did the reverse?
♪ [soothing, light melody] ♪
You thought this would take time.
>> I did. I did.
I thought it was going to be like a couple of minutes,
but no, it was uh, it was pretty immediate.
>> BRIAN: There. >> JASON: More glycerin?
>> BRIAN: Yeah. >> JASON: Oh there it is.
>> Oh wow! Whoa! >> There we go.
>> Dude that's amazing!
>> Always throwing just dirt on it.
[laughter]
That's how fire works, right?
>> No, it really doesn't.
[muted laughter]
[Brian gasping]
>> I ruined it.
-- CC BY REV MODIFIED BY BIZARRE MAGIC --
[notably quieter] >> BRIAN: Per mag--per magnate.
>> JASON: Per-mang-a-nate.
[affecting a robotic voice] >> BRIAN: Permanganate.
Intergalactic. Intergalactic.
Permanganate.
[gutteral vocalizations]
>> Just step all that stuff, that's fine.
[both mumbling]
It's fine.
>> JASON: We need to...?
>> BRIAN: Let me--I'm going to kick it over to this...