Photograph by Kate Olsen
Mythbuster Grant Imahara answers a question during his visit to UW-P April 21.

UW-Platteville was buzzing April 21 when two members of the Discovery Channel show Mythbusters answered questions from members of an audience of nearly 2,000 at the Williams Fieldhouse.

Mythbusters is a television show where modern and ancient myths are put to the test, and the members of the show try to determine if the myths are possible by trying to re-enact them. Some memorable myths include: using mirrors to create a death ray, testing whether water is bulletproof and testing whether or not an explosion can cushion someone’s fall.

Val Wetzel, the assistant director of the Pioneer Student Center, said the two members of the Mythbusters build team, Grant Imahara and Kari Byron, were brought to Platteville as part of the campus’ celebration of 100-years of engineering at UW-P. Wetzel said the original idea to bring in the Mythbusters came from Dan Winter and Nick Conifer, two senior engineering students at UW-P.

Imahara and Byron first stopped into a press conference where they talked about their time in Platteville.

“We just got here last night,’ Imahara said. “We saw the gym, worked out at 24/7 Fitness and went to Quiznos.’

Imahara and Byron said they love coming to speak at college campuses because it gives them a chance to connect with people who like the show.

“It’s fun to be with people who like the show as much as we do,’ Imahara said.

“We have a really cool fan base,’ Byron said. “We have a more intelligent fan base than most shows and they like to get involved and give ideas. We have the best fans.’

The Mythbusters said they like how the show has made science cool again.

“I think this is really important,’ Byron said. “I would love to see more money put into science.’

When asked what the main thing they hope viewers get out of their show, both Mythbusters agreed it was for them to never take for granted something is true.

“Challenge what you are told,’ Imahara said.

A half-hour later the Mythbusters were welcomed with a large ovation as they walked onto the stage. Imahara and Byron introduced themselves and began by showing a blooper real from the show.

“These are not necessarily our shiniest moments,’ Imahara said.

The clip consisted of several funny moments from the show that never made it to television. It showed several pranks the team has played on each other, some fun the team had with a machine dentists use to keep patient’s mouth’s open and using mannequins in what some people might call unorthodox positions.

The Mythbusters talked about their life before the show and how they seemed almost destined to be where they are today.

“I did experiments on my little sister,’ Byron said. “I tried the 360 swing set on her and I almost had her down the laundry shoot when my mom walked in.’

Photograph by Kate Olsen
Mythbuster Kari Byron listens to a question during her visit to UW-P. The Mythbusters answered questions from the crowd.

Imahara decided to create a rather large magnet at the age of nine that would be powered not by a small battery, like most are, but a wall socket.

“It created a large black spot and burnt a hole in the rug,’ Imahara said. “I was just old enough to be dangerous.’

The Mythbusters also talked about their experiences on the show.

“We’ve had the cops called on us a lot,’ Byron said.

“We were doing a myth where we were testing how many balloons it would take to lift a child, and to pop the balloons our security officer was shooting them with a BB gun,’ Imahara said. “So the cops come in and make everyone, including the eight-year-old girl, get on the ground.’

“We moved to a bad neighborhood now,’ Imahara said. “There, gunshots and explosions are no big deal.’

The Mythbusters said they love their job.

“I like it when I get to build something dangerous,’ Imahara said. “You no something you made is dangerous when right before it goes everyone takes one, unconscious half step backwards.’

“We’re doing our part to make it cool to be a geek again,’ Imahara said. “To my peeps.’

Several of the children who asked questions asked about the explosives used for the show. Byron started answering the question and then realized they legally couldn’t.

“Oopsies,’ Byron said. “Mentos and coke?’

After another child in the audience asked where they buy the explosives used on the show.

“The internet,’ Imahara said jokingly. “Watch that kid.’

The Mythbusters said they had several reasons for being on the show and doing these speeches.

“We want to make being a nerd cool again,’ Imahara said.