We know from this fan site's message boards that many of you have strong opinions about the experiments you see on the show. But do you have what it takes to bust a myth?

We're looking for viewers to participate in an upcoming special episode of MythBusters. All you need to do is construct and test an experiment you've designed and send it to us on videotape.

We will judge the top entries in the two categories listed below. If selected to participate, you'll be off to the MythBusters' headquarters in San Francisco to meet Adam, Jamie and the team and show us in person — and on camera — how your experiment works.

Think you can handle it? Read on.

Have you ever seen Jamie and Adam perform an experiment and thought, "I could do better than that!"? Well, here's your chance to put together an experiment — specifically one that tests the "ancient death ray" myth — and prove you can do it better than the 'Busters, or maybe even show they got it wrong the first time.

If you'll remember, in Ancient Death Ray, the boys conclusively busted the claim that Archimedes of Syracuse designed and built a solar death ray in 215 B.C.

Your challenge is to build your own solar death ray capable of setting the timbers of a replica Roman trireme (an ancient ship or section of ship) alight and to film all steps. The target trireme, which will be used to test the successful challenger's experiments, will be constructed by the MythBuilders from authentic materials including fir timber, wax, oakum and pine pitch, and iron nails.

You are invited to participate in the challenge in either of the following two categories:

Category 1: To build any device capable of igniting the target at a distance of 5 feet.

Category 2: To build a full-scale replica of Archimedes' mirror capable of igniting the target at a minimum distance of 100 feet.

To participate in the challenge you must:

(a) meet the eligibility criteria set out below;
(b) follow the "How to Apply" instructions set out below;
(c) refrain from doing anything dangerous or illegal in the preparation or execution of your experiment (or you will be disqualified);
(d) design, execute and film an experiment in either category in accordance with the Terms and Conditions, challenge rules set out below and video instructions that are set out in the application form, which you will receive after you have submitted the Waiver and Release of Liability; and
(e) submit your entry to the MythBusters team for judging.

You only need to participate in one category. If you choose to participate in both categories, you must still send in only one videotape that contains both experiments. Entries will be judged in accordance with the policies set out below.

Flights, accommodation and daily meals will be supplied to each selected Challenger brought to San Francisco to participate in MythBusters.

You must be:

* at least 21 years old.
* a legal U.S. resident.
* willing to submit medical information to the producers and submit to a medical examination, psychological examination and background check.
* ready to travel at a moment's notice as determined by the producers at their sole discretion, and be available to stay in San Francisco for seven days during production of the episodes.

Additional requirements:

* You must not be a candidate for elected public office, and if selected as a participant, you will not become a candidate for elected public office until 12 months after the initial broadcast of the last episode of the series in which you appear.

* You must never have been convicted of a felony and have never had a restraining order or other injunctive relief entered against you. There must not be any outstanding criminal warrants against you.

* Neither you, nor any of your immediate family members (spouse, ex-spouse, parents, siblings, children, regardless of where they live) and household members (whether related or not) may be or know any employees, officers, directors, representatives or agents of the producers, DCI, Sullivan Compliance Company/Skycastle Entertainment, known sponsors of the series or their advertising agencies, any cable service provider of DCI programming, and/or any of their respective parent, subsidiary, or affiliated companies, licensees, partners or assigns.

(a) You must act in accordance with the Terms and Conditions of the challenge, included in the downloadable form below.

(b) You must NOT DO anything dangerous or illegal in the preparation or execution of your experiment or you will be disqualified.

(c) Designs in both categories must employ only solar power in the design and construction of the experiment. No explosives, pyrotechnics or other flammable materials will be permitted under any circumstances.

(d) You will be responsible for all time spent and costs associated with your building, performing and filming your solar death ray.

(e) Any and all materials submitted to MythBusters as part of this application (including without limitation the application form and video) shall become the property of the Beyond Productions Pty Limited ("Beyond") and will not be returned. The video may be used as part of the program or as part of the promotion of the program.

(f) Anybody appearing in the video will need to sign a participant release form, which will be sent to you as part of the competition pack once we've received your signed Waiver and Release of Liability. One form will need to be signed by each person.

(g) Videos that are longer than 10 minutes in duration will not be considered.

(h) In deciding which applicants will be selected to demonstrate their experiment in San Francisco with Adam and Jamie, the applicant's experiments in Category 1 and Category 2 will be considered individually on their own merits within the appropriate category.

Judging of the applications and the finalists will be based on subjective and objective factors including (without limitation) the:

(a) success of the rig that is the basis of the experiment;
(b) ease of aiming of the experiment;
(c) scientific basis of the experiment;
(d) innovative use of materials including regard to use of authentic third-century B.C. materials; and;
(e) time to ignite the target.

In addition to the objective criteria set out above, applications and finalists will also be considered with regard to the following subjective factors (including without limitation):

(a) how the challenger comes across on video (i.e., the challenger's overall on-camera ability);
(b) the challenger's suitability to participate in MythBusters; and
(c) the originality and creativity of the experiments.

Beyond will select the participants, if any, to be featured as part of MythBusters at their sole discretion and any correspondence will not be entered into.

If selected, we'll bring the top entries to San Francisco where the finalists will be judged by Jamie, Adam and Beyond at their sole discretion. By virtue of judging in this manner, Adam, Jamie and Beyond will decide which of the challengers' experiments effectively bust or confirm the myth.

Before you commence any part of your experiment, you must send us a signed copy of the Waiver and Release of Liability either by fax to 1-415-550-0688, or by mail to: Mythbusters; 4104 24th St. #543; San Francisco, CA 94114-3615. Download the Waiver and Release of Liability form by clicking on the link below, going to "file: save as" and saving it to your C drive. Then just open it from your C drive.

Once we receive your Waiver and Release of Liability, we will then email you confirmation and approval that you may commence your experiment and send you a competition pack, which will include the following documents:

* Terms and Conditions (also included in the downloadable form below)
* application form
* additional participant release form
* filming guidelines

Mail all the above materials together with your video in one package to the address set out in the competition pack. Completed application materials must be postmarked by Friday, Aug. 5, 2005, so be sure to send in your signed waiver as soon as possible!

No responsibility is accepted for late, lost or misdirected entries. Beyond and Discovery Communications Inc. reserve the right to extend this deadline at their sole discretion and to change the application in part or in its entirety.