Trek on Mythbusters?

[Warped9]

Here's one for fun.

Today at work someone asked me about the Vulcan nerve pinch and whether it was at all plausible. I told him I was inclined to think not, but what do I know I could be wrong. After all isn't it remotely plausible that if you hit someone at just the right spot on the neck and with just the right force you could render them unconcious? Hmm, beats me.

I know I've read articles in the past by reputable scientists who've debunked misconceptions regarding zero gravity and exploding bodies or whatever silly stuff often seen in older (and not so old) sci-fi films.

But wouldn't it be kinda fun if Mythbusters tackled a bunch of Trek and science fiction myths? Things we've seen often that seem plausible and actually may or may not be?

I'm suggesting the Vulcan neck pinch as well as would a ship in the vacuum of space actually be rocked if an explosion goes off near the hull (a near miss) instead of actually hitting the hull?

So anyone got any other suggestions?

I can just imagine Adam Savage dressed in a Trek uniform or as a Klingon.
Or Carrie in a TOS skant.

 

[USS Triumphant]

Wikipedia is our friend.

 

[All Seeing Eye]

What is Tachycardia? I'm suing!

 

[Forbin]

I was once at a friend's for dinner, when he threatened to serve me the dreaded Vulcan Death Grits.

 

[Vonstadt]

Wikipedia is our friend.

That is really cool! Learn something new everyday

Vons

 

[Ziz]

http://www.trekbbs.com/showthread.php?t=59508&highlight=mythbusters

I know, my photoediting skills leave a lot to be desired, but it gets the idea across.

 

[Valin]

So anyone got any other suggestions?

Or Carrie in a TOS skant.

I'd have a lot of "suggestions" for her. ;-)

 

[Forbin]

It's spelled "Kari," btw.
Here's her website:
http://www.karibyron.com/
Don't get excited, it's just a portfolio of her sculpture.

 

[Starbreaker]

Anyone want to volunteer to be knocked unconscious?

 

[M'Sharak]

What is Tachycardia? I'm suing!

Your answer was right there in front of you:

tach- or tachy- = rapid, accelerated
cardia or cardio = heart
tachy+cardia = high or elevated heart rate

And you can't sue; the word was coined in 1889.

 

[M.Robison]

What is Tachycardia? I'm suing!

Your answer was right there in front of you:

tach- or tachy- = rapid, accelerated
cardia or cardio = heart
tachy+cardia = high or elevated heart rate

And you can't sue; the word was coined in 1889.

^^^This is the reason why I love being here!^^^^

 

[Hofner]

The wiki article mentioned that Doc Savage used a similar technique to render opponents unconscious. Doc Savage was a pulp hero in magazines in the '30s and later reprinted in paperback books. I used to collect and read the books when I was younger, I still have the complete set.

Doc Savage was supposed to be a physical and mental marvel, very strong, athletic and a mental and scientific genius. Among other skills he was a medical doctor and knew how to pinch nerves to knock villains out. Heh, sometimes in the stories when he'd do this there would be a footnote basically saying don't try this at home kids. It told how in real life some guy used to demonstrate the technique and accidently killed someone. I suppose this is true, the author of most of the stories, Lester Dent was pretty well versed in science and stuff.

Another thing Doc Savage had in common with Vulcans is he was a completely unemotional and logical man, at least he never showed emotions or let them affect his actions. IIRC, he also never lied. But then he was a very tight-lipped person, he never said much. He'd drive people nuts because they could never figure out what he was thinking. If people asked him a question he didn't want to answer which was most of the time, he'd just say nothing at all.

No, I won't say Spock is a ripoff of Doc Savage, these concepts were hardly unique to the character . The Doc Savage stories were pure pulp but pretty entertaining and had some intiguing scientific concepts even for the 1930s.

Robert

 

[Forbin]

Mythbusters do some dangerous things, but I don't think their insurance company would let them try a potentially fatal physical attack. I'm just sayin'.