[CREW] Whatever this is, take whatever. [SAM] That wasn't necessary.
[CREW] Whatever this is, take whatever. [SAM] That wasn't necessary.

Hi, I'm Samantha Jones, I have a PhD in biomedical science, and today we're going to be looking at some
Hi, I'm Samantha Jones, I have a PhD in biomedical science, and today we're going to be looking at some

cartoon chemistry.
cartoon chemistry.

[SPONGEBOB] Patrick, banana peel, don't!
[SPONGEBOB] Patrick, banana peel, don't!

[SAM] Ah yes, Spongebob. My sister and I watched so much
[SAM] Ah yes, Spongebob. My sister and I watched so much

Spongebob growing up. Sorry mom and dad. Slipping on a banana peel is definitely
Spongebob growing up. Sorry mom and dad. Slipping on a banana peel is definitely

something that you see in a lot of cartoons. How legit is that, could you
something that you see in a lot of cartoons. How legit is that, could you

really wipe out by stepping on a banana peel? Actually there was a research group
really wipe out by stepping on a banana peel? Actually there was a research group

that a few years back asked that question, and so they looked at the
that a few years back asked that question, and so they looked at the

slipperiness of a shoe sole on floor board, versus a shoe sole on a banana peel
slipperiness of a shoe sole on floor board, versus a shoe sole on a banana peel

and what they found was that a shoe sole stepping on a banana peel, it was
and what they found was that a shoe sole stepping on a banana peel, it was

actually six times as slippery. That's as slippery as a ski is on the surface of
actually six times as slippery. That's as slippery as a ski is on the surface of

snow. And so then they also tested a bunch of other fruits, like apple peels
snow. And so then they also tested a bunch of other fruits, like apple peels

and tangerine skin, and they found that the banana peel still won out. And so it
and tangerine skin, and they found that the banana peel still won out. And so it

turns out that what makes a banana peel so slippery is the mucus. If you
turns out that what makes a banana peel so slippery is the mucus. If you

look through a microscope at the inside of a banana, so that white part, you'll
look through a microscope at the inside of a banana, so that white part, you'll

actually see cells, and when you step on a banana peel those cells will burst, and
actually see cells, and when you step on a banana peel those cells will burst, and

then you're left with this layer of slippery mucus. So scientists think
then you're left with this layer of slippery mucus. So scientists think

that that probably comes from sugars, and I guess that would make sense because a
that that probably comes from sugars, and I guess that would make sense because a

lot of really sweet fruits are the ones that produce the thickest mucus. Will a
lot of really sweet fruits are the ones that produce the thickest mucus. Will a

banana peel make you slip and do a back flip? Probably not, but it can definitely
banana peel make you slip and do a back flip? Probably not, but it can definitely

do some damage, so, beware. All right, bring on the next one
do some damage, so, beware. All right, bring on the next one

Oh, Popeye! He's a crazy-looking dude. So could I get super jacked, super muscly, if
Oh, Popeye! He's a crazy-looking dude. So could I get super jacked, super muscly, if

I ate as much spinach is Popeye? No, definitely not.
I ate as much spinach is Popeye? No, definitely not.

It's actually kind of a myth within a myth. So why did Popeye eat spinach?
It's actually kind of a myth within a myth. So why did Popeye eat spinach?

[POPEYE] Ya has to eat it to get health, strenth, and vitaliky!
[POPEYE] Ya has to eat it to get health, strenth, and vitaliky!

[SAM] I grew up thinking it was
[SAM] I grew up thinking it was

because of the iron in spinach that he was eating it, but there is actually no
because of the iron in spinach that he was eating it, but there is actually no

account of Popeye saying it's the iron in spinach that makes him strong. What he
account of Popeye saying it's the iron in spinach that makes him strong. What he

does mention, once in a drawn cartoon, is the vitamin A that makes him strong.
does mention, once in a drawn cartoon, is the vitamin A that makes him strong.

Yeah, spinach is a good source of vitamin A. It contains beta carotene, which is
Yeah, spinach is a good source of vitamin A. It contains beta carotene, which is

converted to vitamin A in your body, and it doesn't make you strong, but it is
converted to vitamin A in your body, and it doesn't make you strong, but it is

really good for you. Too much vitamin A, though, can also be really dangerous.
really good for you. Too much vitamin A, though, can also be really dangerous.

Beta carotene, which is what you get from spinach, that's a form of pro vitamin A.
Beta carotene, which is what you get from spinach, that's a form of pro vitamin A.

So if you eat a ton of it it'll turn you orange, but it's actually still pretty
So if you eat a ton of it it'll turn you orange, but it's actually still pretty

safe. Popeye looks pretty normally colored here, but really if he's eating
safe. Popeye looks pretty normally colored here, but really if he's eating

that much spinach he should probably be orange as well. Preformed vitamin A is
that much spinach he should probably be orange as well. Preformed vitamin A is

actually the scary version of vitamin A, it's the form that you get from most
actually the scary version of vitamin A, it's the form that you get from most

supplements and medications, and too much of that is what can kill you, and it can
supplements and medications, and too much of that is what can kill you, and it can

also cause birth defects. Back to that iron myth. So Popeye never said that he
also cause birth defects. Back to that iron myth. So Popeye never said that he

was eating spinach for iron, and if he was, it was a bad choice on his part
was eating spinach for iron, and if he was, it was a bad choice on his part

because even though spinach has a good amount of iron on paper, when you eat
because even though spinach has a good amount of iron on paper, when you eat

spinach, there are actually a bunch of compounds in it that make it really hard
spinach, there are actually a bunch of compounds in it that make it really hard

for you to absorb the iron. Actually recently I came across a paper, it's a
for you to absorb the iron. Actually recently I came across a paper, it's a

study that was done just a few months ago I believe, where they gave athletes
study that was done just a few months ago I believe, where they gave athletes

spinach extract, and they found that it actually made them stronger. And so that
spinach extract, and they found that it actually made them stronger. And so that

had nothing to do with vitamin A or iron. It actually had to do with a hormone
had nothing to do with vitamin A or iron. It actually had to do with a hormone

that's found in spinach extract, that helps you build muscle mass. Popeye was
that's found in spinach extract, that helps you build muscle mass. Popeye was

not taking spinach extract, he was just
not taking spinach extract, he was just

eating an insane amount of spinach, and that definitely would not have made him
eating an insane amount of spinach, and that definitely would not have made him

Hulk out, definitely not like this. So my best guess is that Popeye's canned
Hulk out, definitely not like this. So my best guess is that Popeye's canned

spinach was fortified with a combination of amphetamines and steroids.
spinach was fortified with a combination of amphetamines and steroids.

Okay what's up next?
Okay what's up next?

Who Framed Roger Rabbit, I love this one. Yeah, all the characters
Who Framed Roger Rabbit, I love this one. Yeah, all the characters

in this are so ridiculous. Judge Doom, spoiler alert,
in this are so ridiculous. Judge Doom, spoiler alert,

he's a toon. So from what I remember his goal was to spray the dip, or toon acid,
he's a toon. So from what I remember his goal was to spray the dip, or toon acid,

all over toontown to make room for freeways and malls, and essentially
all over toontown to make room for freeways and malls, and essentially

create the world that we're in today. And so I guess the question is, kind of, could
create the world that we're in today. And so I guess the question is, kind of, could

the dip or toon acid actually kill a toon? So first off, this movie was made in
the dip or toon acid actually kill a toon? So first off, this movie was made in

a way that's very different from how animated movies are made today. So this
a way that's very different from how animated movies are made today. So this

was created, the toons were created by hand which is, like, just mind-blowing.
was created, the toons were created by hand which is, like, just mind-blowing.

What they would do is you'd have these cartoons, they would be sketched and then
What they would do is you'd have these cartoons, they would be sketched and then

they'd actually be transferred over to an animation cel, it's kind of like,
they'd actually be transferred over to an animation cel, it's kind of like,

think of it as a sheet of, kind of like a sheet of plastic. And then from
think of it as a sheet of, kind of like a sheet of plastic. And then from

there there would be artists that would come in and they would hand paint, with
there there would be artists that would come in and they would hand paint, with

acrylic based paint, on each of the frames in this movie, or whatever was
acrylic based paint, on each of the frames in this movie, or whatever was

being made, so you could get you know a few minutes of animation, and it would
being made, so you could get you know a few minutes of animation, and it would

take thousands and thousands of these painted animation cels, which is
take thousands and thousands of these painted animation cels, which is

unbelievable. And so toon acid, or the dip, is actually a combo of turpentine,
unbelievable. And so toon acid, or the dip, is actually a combo of turpentine,

acetone, and benzene. And so actually all those are paint thinners, so individually
acetone, and benzene. And so actually all those are paint thinners, so individually

they would definitely erase an acrylic based toon, so in combination
they would definitely erase an acrylic based toon, so in combination

definitely a hundred percent this could kill a toon. Yeah, chemistry checks out.
definitely a hundred percent this could kill a toon. Yeah, chemistry checks out.

So that's a wrap for cartoon chemistry, cue the music, I'm out.
So that's a wrap for cartoon chemistry, cue the music, I'm out.