Catch Incredible Disasters on the Science Channel - Destroyed in Seconds

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the Science Channel show "Destroyed in Seconds," which features various disasters and explosions. Participants share their thoughts on the show's content, its relation to science, and specific incidents depicted in the series, including the Pepcon disaster and other notable explosions.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Debate/contested
  • Conceptual clarification

Main Points Raised

  • Some participants express enjoyment of the show, highlighting its focus on incredible disasters.
  • Others critique the show's sensationalist approach, comparing it to tabloid media.
  • There are mentions of specific incidents, such as the Pepcon disaster, with discussions about the causes and implications of the explosions.
  • Some participants question the scientific relevance of the show, with varying opinions on how it relates to scientific principles like conservation of momentum.
  • Participants share anecdotes and personal experiences related to fire safety and disaster response.
  • There is a discussion about the nature of the videos shown, with some asserting that they do not depict significant loss of life.
  • References to other disaster-related shows and videos are made, indicating a broader interest in the topic.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants do not reach a consensus on the scientific merit of the show, with some arguing it has educational value while others believe it lacks scientific relevance. The discussion includes multiple competing views on the nature of the content and its presentation.

Contextual Notes

Some participants provide clarifications regarding specific incidents, such as the causes of the Pepcon disaster, but these explanations are not universally accepted. The discussion reflects a range of assumptions and interpretations regarding the events depicted in the show.

Who May Find This Useful

Individuals interested in disaster events, explosions, and their scientific implications may find this discussion relevant. It may also appeal to those who enjoy media representations of such incidents.

Evo
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This is an incredible show, if you like watching incredible disasters. It's on right now on the Science Channel.

Try to catch it.
 
Physics news on Phys.org
Hmm, catchy title. At first I thought this thread was going to be about a pf user. Whew sign...
 
It is at the tabloid end of the discovery channel.
I have been told off for shouting at the TV set!

announcer> "his car/boat/etc crashed at 100mph and only the safety cage survived and by a miracle Mr Idiot was unhurt"
me> yes that's the point of the $%^&*% safety cage you idiot, it's called engineering!
 


Some idiot at a jet fuel plant throws a lit cigarette into a waste fuel deposit.



https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_KuGizBjDXo

MGB, that idiot in the boat...well, I'd have to ban myself if I said what needed to be done with that guy.
 
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This is why I don't work at a jet fuel plant...
 
what said:
Hmm, catchy title. At first I thought this thread was going to be about a pf user. Whew sign...

:smile: :rofl i thought tthat too and was thinking evo needed to have her ban hammer taken away :P
 
I'm just glad this thread didn't involve the Ravine of Doom.
 
Is this like Darwin awards on video?
 
Evo said:
Some idiot at a jet fuel plant throws a lit cigarette into a waste fuel deposit.
That was Pepcon, and they made a component of rocket fuel, ammonium perchlorate, used for the shuttles, not jet fuel. They had been stock piling the stuff because the Challenger disaster shut down shuttle missions for a while. In addition, there was a 16 inch diameter high pressure natural gas line running through the middle of a plant making an explosive chemical. The large explosion is sometimes claimed to be due to the gas line rupturing, but the wiki article doesn't mention this. The initial fire was due to a welding accident. Wiki link:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PEPCON_disaster

In the video made by Dennis Todd, who was part of a television crew on a mountain (with antennas) overlooking the site, you can see the approaching shock waves from the two large explosions, then hear the sound. Destroyed in seconds has various versions of that video along with interviews. There are numerous versions at youtube.
 
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  • #10
rcgldr said:
That was Pepcon, and they made a component of rocket fuel, ammonium perchlorate, used for the shuttles, not jet fuel. They had been stock piling the stuff because the Challenger disaster shut down shuttle missions for a while. In addition, there was a 16 inch diameter high pressure natural gas line running through the middle of a plant making an explosive chemical. The large explosion was due to the gas line. The initial fire was due to a welding accident. Wiki link:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PEPCON_disaster

In the video made by Dennis Todd, who was working on an antenna on a mountain overlooking the side, you can see the approaching shock waves from the two large explosions, then hear the sound. Destroyed in seconds split up that video with interviews. There are numerous versions at youtube.
Thanks for the clarification. A horrendous accident with luckily only 2 lives lost.
 
  • #11
Jerbearrrrrr said:
Is this like Darwin awards on video?
No, most of the videos show no loss of life, or very little.
 
  • #12
There is a similar one about the San Bernardino train crash.
A train's brakes fail, there is a community next the railroad tracks at the bottom of the hill, and they don't know there is a gasoline pipeline running under the town and the valves don't work...

It's like a calvin and hobbes cartoon.
 
  • #13
Did you see the fuel tanker explosion? OMG!
 
  • #14
How exactly is this show related to Science?
 
  • #15
Dickfore said:
How exactly is this show related to Science?
It's not.
 
  • #16
Dickfore said:
How exactly is this show related to Science?

A combination of explosions, crashes, idiots, and conservation of momentum - what more is there to science?
 
  • #17
Dickfore said:
How exactly is this show related to Science?

It's posted on a science forum.
 
  • #18
Darn, I can't find that gas tanker explosion, it was incredible, in the Phillipines, IIRC. A semi ran into a gas tanker truck.
 
  • #19
This one maybe?



The firework explosion in Enschede The Netherlands 2000 was rather devastating too with many casualties.

 
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  • #20
No, it was a tanker truck on a road that was hit by another truck. It was an amazing explosion.
 
  • #21
Evo said:
No, it was a tanker truck on a road that was hit by another truck. It was an amazing explosion.

there's quite a few on youtube when you type in gas tanker (explosion)

this could easily become 'its notagoshawk'
 
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  • #22
There is also the "seconds from disaster" series on NGC.
 
  • #23
I was a volunteer fireman for a year. During our training, they made sure that we knew what a http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/BLEVE" was (Boiling liquid expanding vapor explosion).

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xf3WKTwHpIU
 
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