There are experiments you think you know the answer to - "It's got to be easy to eat six saltines in a minute, right?!" Some theories you may have heard but could never quite find a straight answer for - "Why can't I find this on Google?!" And others you don't want to even consider - "Please tell me there's no way bacteria from the toilet can actually reach my toothbrush" ... gross!
In a new pop science series premiering tonight, Jan. 13, at 10 & 10:30 p.m. ET/PT, co-hosts Michael Ian Black ( @michaelianblack), Tom Papa ( @tompapa) and Seth Herzog ( @Thezog) assess the validity of these and other weird, unusual and over-the-top hypotheses through a series of interactive, original and often hilarious scientific tests. For more information, visit www.natgeotv.com and follow us on Twitter at @NGC_PR.
Michael, Tom and Seth challenge each other by presenting their best theories - ranging from "Is it possible to stretch a bathing suit cap so far that an adult can fit inside it?" to "When singing the same song, will choir members' heartbeats synchronize?" The guys put these questions to the test with real, in-studio experiments filmed on a warehouse-style set straight out of a gearhead's fantasy, with every possible piece of technology you could need. They build hovercrafts out of household appliances, attempt to scale walls using vacuum cleaners and suspend themselves upside down using just superglue. These guys are willing to do just about anything in the name of science!
During remote experiments, scientific experts weigh in to explain the why and the how behind some of the surprising results. Why exactly does wearing red make a woman appear more attractive? What makes the temperature of our noses rise when we tell a lie? We break down the unbelievable facts to reveal the science behind the outrageous theories.
Once each host has defended their honor by carrying out their experiments, the studio audience weighs in. Whose fact is the most impressive, outrageous or interesting? In each episode, only one host can be awarded the coveted "Golden Quack" trophy and of course, more importantly, bragging rights.
Premiere episodes include:
Duck Quacks Don't Echo: Hovercraft Grand Prix Premieres Monday, Jan. 13, at 10 PM ET/PT Seth presents a theory that is commonly debated: Is it really possible for bacteria from a flushing toilet to reach a toothbrush sitting on a bathroom counter 6 feet away? Our experiment puts the urban legend to rest once and for all (hint: the results are disturbing). Later, Tom challenges Seth and Michael to test a theory that is easier said than done: Will any of them be able to achieve the seemingly simple charge of eating six saltine crackers in a minute or less without a sip of water? And Michael brings out the heavy machinery for his fact: You can make a fully functional handmade hovercraft using a leaf blower, a fire extinguisher, a shower curtain and just a few other household items. Then Seth and Tom each race their own craft ... with mixed results.
Duck Quacks Don't Echo: Crushed by a Truck Premieres Monday, Jan. 13, at 10:30 PM ET/PT Things get heavy as a two-and-a-half-ton truck makes an appearance in-studio. Michael attempts to prove to Seth and Tom something no one can believe: Four ceramic coffee mugs placed under each tire can support the entire weight of a pick-up truck. Tom's challenge of writing the number six while rotating your leg on the same side of your body clockwise seems simple in comparison but proves to baffle everyone. Meanwhile, Seth finds out what's really behind door number one when he presents his theory: Does the stall closest to the door in a public restroom really have the least amount of germs?
Duck Quacks Don't Echo: Shrimp on a Treadmill Premieres Monday, Jan. 20, at 10:00 PM ET/PT What happens if you give someone a nonalcoholic drink but tell them it contains alcohol - will they act drunk? Seth puts this party theory to the test to find out if drunkenness is truly in the eye of the beer-holder. Michael believes his hypothesis can go the distance as he attempts to prove that a shrimp has greater endurance than the average human. Tom thinks he can taste victory with his experiment: Is it true that when your mouth is dry, you can't taste any flavor? And later, we find out the firm results of what happens if you feed a male enhancement drug to flowers.
Duck Quacks Don't Echo: Proof is in the Pudding Premieres Monday, Jan. 20, at 10:30 PM ET/PT Pigeons might be known to some as the rats of the sky, but are these city-dwelling birds smarter than we think? Seth is putting the nickname "bird brain" to the test as he hypothesizes that pigeons can actually remember human faces. And we all know that nothing feels as good as a little fun in the sun - but is your swimsuit making you ... stupider? Michael tests the theory that wearing a bathing suit can make you dumber. And Seth does his best "Flashdance" interpretation (or maybe it's more Olivia Newton-John) for Tom's interactive experiment: Is it possible to make pudding dance ... and to dance on top of pudding?
Duck Quacks Don't Echo: 105 (wt) Premieres Monday, Jan. 27, at 10 PM ET/PT Superglue is good at fixing things around the house, but what if you wanted to use it for hanging around the house? Tom puts the adhesive to the ultimate test as he finds out firsthand whether or not it can hold a grown man hanging from the ceiling. Michael thinks his egg-cellent trick will win him the Golden Quack trophy: You can separate an egg yolk from the white using an empty plastic bottle as suction. And Seth puts his matador skills to the test as he investigates whether or not the color red actually makes bulls angry.
Duck Quacks Don't Echo: 106 (wt) Premieres Monday, Jan. 27, at 10:30 PM ET/PT Could speaking in rhymes make you more ... believable? Seth presents this theory to the audience and the conclusion isn't just an illusion. Then, Seth
Suits up in the name of science to help Tom with his experiment: Can you stretch a swim cap so wide that an adult can fit inside it? And Michael's fact is just downright disturbing: Are microscopic mites living in your eyelashes?
Additional premiere episodes continue through Monday, March 3.
Duck Quacks Don't Echo continues to build upon franchises that complement the hit series Brain Games, which sizes up the human brain using an intricate string of mind-boggling experiments, optical illusions, brainteasers and hard science; and The Numbers Game, which looks at how science and statistics may hold the keys to a longer, wealthier, calmer life. Both series are in a second season of production.
About National Geographic Channels:
Based at the National Geographic Society headquarters in Washington, D.C., the National Geographic Channels US are a joint venture between National Geographic and
FOX Networks. The Channels contribute to the National Geographic Society's commitment to exploration, conservation and education with smart, innovative programming and profits that directly support its mission. Launched in January 2001,
National Geographic Channel (NGC) celebrated its fifth anniversary with the debut of NGC HD. In 2010, the wildlife and natural
HISTORY cable channel
NAT GEO WILD was launched, and in 2011, the Spanish-language network Nat Geo Mundo was unveiled. The Channels have carriage with all of the nation's major cable, telco and satellite television providers, with NGC currently available in 85 million U.S. homes. Globally,
National Geographic Channel is available in more than 440 million homes in 171 countries and 48 languages. For more information, visit www.natgeotv.com.
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