Ep 10. Flu Fiction

In MythBusters season 8 episode 10, titled "Flu Fiction," the team of mythbusters sets out to explore some popular beliefs about the flu. The episode begins with a discussion about common ways people contract the flu, such as shaking hands or sharing a telephone. The team then explores the myth that holding your breath while passing someone with the flu can prevent you from getting sick. To test this theory, the team conducts an experiment where one member of the team pretends to be sick with the flu while the other members walk past him, some holding their breath and others not. They then monitor everyone's health to see who, if anyone, gets sick.

Next, the team looks into the myth that vitamin C can help prevent or cure the flu. To test this theory, they give some members of the team high doses of vitamin C while others get a placebo. They then expose everyone to the flu virus and monitor their symptoms to see if there is any difference between those who received the vitamin C and those who did not.

The myth that weather can affect the spread of the flu is also explored in this episode. The team looks at whether cold, dry air and low humidity levels can make it easier for the flu virus to spread. To test this theory, they create a fake office environment with controlled temperature and humidity levels and expose some of the team members to the flu virus while others are kept healthy. They then monitor the spread of the virus to see if there is any correlation with the weather conditions.

The episode also takes a look at the myth that you can get the flu from a flu shot. The team investigates this by giving some members of the team flu shots and monitoring their health. They then expose everyone to the flu virus to see if there is any difference in the severity of their symptoms.

Throughout the episode, the team explains the science behind each myth and how they are testing it, making it both informative and entertaining. The episode ends with the team discussing their findings and whether or not the myths they tested are true or false.

Overall, "Flu Fiction" is a thought-provoking episode that explores some popular beliefs about the flu and puts them to the test. Fans of MythBusters and science enthusiasts alike will enjoy this episode and the team's unique approach to debunking myths.