Campus myth not busted...yet

Have you ever wondered if talking on your cell phone while filling up on gas will really cause an explosion? Or if you could really attach enough balloons to a chair that you would float up into the air? How about driving your truck with the tailgate down to get better mileage? These are the myths the "Mythbusters" test and bust. (If you want to know the conclusions to the above myths, visit their Web site at www.discovery.com/mythbusters.)

Two of the Mythbusters were on campus Monday to talk about their work, the myths they bust, and their embarrassing moments. Grant Imahara and Kari Byron spoke in the Turnhalle Monday to a packed house. Imahara, who is one of three certified R2D2 operators in the country, talked about his work with Star Wars and what it's like to operate an R2D2 and act as C3PO. Imahara, who has also played C3PO for movie openings, recalled advice he received from Anthony Daniels, the man who played C3PO in the movies: think of C3PO as a fussy English butler and make jerky head and arm movements.

Imahara also discussed his experiences competing in BattleBots and Robot Wars-like pro-wrestling for robots. Imahara's cast mate, Jamie Hyneman, is the creator of Blendo, one of Robot Wars' most feared robots. Imahara confirmed rumors that Hyneman would intimidate competitors by sharpening Blendo's blades in front of his opponents. Blendo was so dangerous he was eventually banned from competition.

Byron, the sexy Mythbuster (one audience member asked for her phone number and another offered his place for her to crash should snow prevent the two from leaving), talked about some of her most embarrassing moments, even airing un-aired footage from the "Mythbusters" segment on flatulence. The myths: Do beans really increase flatulence and can you really fart enough that you'd suffocate? The myth that went un-aired: Do pretty girls fart? This was the myth Imahara and Byron showed in the Turnhalle and guess who the pretty girl was that tested the girl farting myth? Kari Byron. Aside from the fart myth, Byron also said she's extraordinarily clumsy, even sporting a scab from a recent run-in with some safety equipment on the set.

They even shared some advice for people looking to do work like the Mythbusters do: internship, internship, internship. Byron said the best way to get a great job is through who you know and you make friends and colleagues through doing internships, even working for free if you have to. Imahara said if you like robots, the best fields of study are mechanical or electrical engineering.

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