Time Warp

HowStuffWorks Explainer

Behind the Science

SEND TO A FRIEND

To email this article, type in your friend's name and email address, your name and email address, and a message. Then click "submit."

Friend's name:
Friend's email:
Your name:
Your email:
Optional Message:

Message Sent!

close

While technology can show us things about our world we never imagined, sometimes an explanation is necessary to really understand what's going on around us. Get the lowdown from HowStuffWorks on the science behind some of the spectacular scenes of Time Warp.

Airbags and Flying Gases
What makes your air bags deploy at just the right moment?

Breaking a Beer Bottle
If you thought the creation of a vacuum was behind the popular college trick, think again.

Bubbles
Find out to what scientific principle the bubble owes its entire existence.

Conduction, Insulation and Firewalking
Is firewalking really mind over matter? Find out!

Elasticity and the Bungee Run
See why the power of elasticity is so important when bungee jumping.

Free Running
There's a good reason why free-runners don't break their bones at every leap and bound.

Fire Breathing
Learn what fire breathers must do to avoid certain disaster.

Instant Ice
See what you need to trigger a crystalization effect.

Lightning, Circuits and Tesla Coils
See how a Tesla coil drums up so much electricity.
Non-Newtonian Fluid
How do fluids move in response to stress? Find out!

Nucleation in a Soda Geyser
Learn what nucleation has to do with Mentos and Diet Coke.

Polar Molecules, Vaporization and Grease Fires
See why oil and water really don't mix.

Rockets: Action, Reaction and Mass
Newton's third law of motion determines if a rocket launches or not.

Rolling Friction and Hydroplaning
See what keeps a tire from sliding when the rubber hits the road.

Science of Sneezing
Sneezing is not just a simple act of getting rid of germs but a chain of physiological events.

Trebuchets, Levers and Mechanical Advantage
The secret to the success of a trebuchet is the hinge.

Venom, Spitting Cobras and Continuity Equation
Some cobras don't have to actually make contact to cause harm.

Violin and Standing Waves
The way music from a violin is played depends on its vibration waves.

On TV

No programs for this series have been scheduled for the next 2 weeks. More listings »

CREDITS	DCL \|
DISCOVERY SITES	Discovery Channel / TLC / Animal Planet / Discovery Health / Science Channel / Planet Green / Discovery Kids / Military Channel / Investigation Discovery / HD Theater / Turbo / FitTV / HowStuffWorks / TreeHugger / Petfinder / PetVideo / Discovery Education
VIDEO	Discovery Channel Video Player
SHOP	Toys / Games / Telescopes / DVD Sets / Planet Earth DVD Sets / Gift Sets
CUSTOMER SERVICE	Viewer Relations / Free Newsletters / RSS / TV FAQs
CORPORATE	Discovery Communications, LLC / Advertising / Careers @ Discovery / Privacy Policy / Visitor Agreement

Time Warp

HowStuffWorks Explainer

TIME WARP WEDNESDAYS @ 8 PM ET/PT

TV Schedule

About the Show

Episode Guide

Meet the Hosts

--------------------

Interactive Puzzles

Memory Match