My fiancee and I were just now woken up by the sound of a large explosion right in our bedroom. Almost like a gunshot but not quite that loud. And I think I saw a flash of light. Both seemed to come from near the ceiling by the door. I turned on one of the lights but there's no residue I can see from anything. Nothing seems to be broken in terms of lights or circuits. Was it some kind of giant static discharge? [more inside]
posted by kmz on Oct 16, 2009 - 30 answers

I just had a Pyrex dish explode in my oven. (It happens, apparently.) I’ve removed all the pieces I can see, but undoubtedly there are shards that fell into cracks below. Is it okay to use the oven with those remnants in there? I don’t think I’ll be able to lift the oven over my head and shake it until everything falls out, so if it’s not okay to leave those shards in there, what can I do short of buying a new oven?
posted by ericc on Aug 25, 2009 - 8 answers

What's the best way to blow up a TV for an art project? It should be easy to set up, relatively safe, and reasonably priced. I plan on filming it so it should look good on camera. If I need to buy anything, I'm in Los Angeles.
posted by alitorbati on May 10, 2009 - 10 answers

I just heard a loud boom, and felt a shockwave rattle my trailer here in Santa Cruz, CA. My neighbors felt it too and were very curious. Could it have been an earthquake? [more inside]
posted by gavtaylor on Mar 4, 2009 - 20 answers

I need an audio clip of a nuclear attack warning. Double points go to 50s-style announcer versus EAS computer voice. Triple points go to clips that are free and easy to get. I've got the explosion part, I just need that foreboding warning before it happens. Thanks!
posted by ictow on Nov 19, 2008 - 10 answers

I'm looking for a scientific explanation of how this "confetti bomb" prank works. It uses compressed air squirted inside a film canister, then quickly filled with confetti and sealed. After a few seconds, the canister explodes. Why? [more inside]
posted by phonepimpster on Feb 10, 2008 - 15 answers

Can you identify these scenes? LA's highway Stack, a bull in an arena, a 60's Alfa Romeo radio, a wall clock, and an explosion. [more inside]
posted by stereo on Aug 28, 2007 - 6 answers

Can anyone tell me why a 9v battery would explode? Description of the event... [more inside]
posted by snsranch on Nov 2, 2006 - 11 answers

Electric Arc of Death's video is gone, and I really want to see it again. Does anyone have a copy or know where to look?
posted by stoneegg21 on May 23, 2006 - 6 answers

Last Sunday's Grey's Anatomy episode is bothering me. At the end of the episode, Dylan (the bomb squad guy) takes the bazooka shell from Meredith and slowly walks out of the room. This seems illogical/silly/non-bomb-squady to me. [more inside]
posted by Kololo on Feb 16, 2006 - 39 answers

My brother claims that the miners who died "could have walked right out". Is he full of it?
posted by goethean on Jan 6, 2006 - 43 answers

On Thursday night, my stove's glass door exploded for no discernable reason whatsoever. Since MeFi's population encompass many trades, I'm hoping there's someone with a background in physics, engineering, or an appropriate tradesman who either knows or can venture a fairly educated guess as to why it happened. [more inside]
posted by WCityMike on Dec 21, 2005 - 25 answers

In the original 1978 Superman movie Lex Luther plans to split apart the San Andreas fault-line using Nuclear armaments - the resulting explosion destined to send the entire Californian coastline and its inhabitants to murky ocean depths.

How much explosive force would be needed to cause any such kind of earthquake? And, using the San Andreas fault as a model, could Lex Luther's diabolic plan have any degree of success? [more inside]
posted by 0bvious on Dec 7, 2005 - 19 answers

I'm transcribing a speech and the speaker just did that thing where you simulate an explosion noise with your throat. What should I write?
posted by cillit bang on Oct 8, 2005 - 20 answers

In the event of full-scale nuclear war, will there be survivors in places like Mbuji-Mayi, Wekweti, and Noril'sk? If they were to survive the initial blast, would the fallout get them?
posted by trharlan on Jul 1, 2004 - 33 answers

Could a small nuclear device, sunk to the bottom of Yellowstone lake and detonated, actually cause the Yellowstone super-caldera to erupt? (more inside)
posted by troutfishing on May 4, 2004 - 25 answers

An empty gasoline container stored on the carpeted floor of a vehicle: good idea or forthcoming explosive disaster?
posted by keli on Mar 4, 2004 - 15 answers