Ep 1. Hindenburg Mystery

In season 5 episode 1 of Mythbusters, titled "Hindenburg Mystery," the team sets out to solve one of the biggest mysteries in aviation history - the cause of the Hindenburg disaster. On May 6, 1937, the German airship caught fire and crashed while attempting to dock at the Lakehurst Naval Air Station in New Jersey, claiming the lives of 36 people.

The team begins by examining footage of the disaster and interviewing experts on the subject. They learn that there are several theories as to what caused the fire, including sabotage, static electricity, and hydrogen gas. To test each theory, the team constructs a scale model of the Hindenburg and uses it to conduct a series of experiments.

The first experiment tests the theory that a bomb was responsible for the disaster. To do this, the team places a small amount of explosives inside the model and sets them off. The results are inconclusive, as the explosion only damages a small portion of the model and does not result in a fire.

Next, the team investigates the theory that static electricity caused the disaster. They construct a metal frame around the model and attempt to create a spark by rubbing a balloon against it. While they are able to generate a spark, it is not strong enough to ignite the hydrogen gas.

The team then turns their attention to the theory that the hydrogen gas itself was responsible for the disaster. To test this theory, they fill the model with a mixture of hydrogen gas and air, and then try to set it on fire with a spark. Despite their efforts, they are unable to ignite the gas.

Undeterred, the team continues to explore different theories. They investigate the possibility that the material used to cover the airship was flammable, as well as the idea that faulty electrical wiring caused the disaster. They even consider the possibility that a UFO was responsible.

In the end, the team is able to come up with a plausible explanation for the Hindenburg disaster. While their conclusions may not be able to definitively prove the cause of the tragedy, they do shed new light on what may have happened that fateful day. Viewers of this episode of Mythbusters will gain a deeper understanding of this historic event and the many factors that may have contributed to it.