But, as it happens, we all dropped out of school to work in the breathtaking world of tech journalism, so this here is just an innocent experiment. What happens when you smash a semi-functional television set with a sledgehammer? We captured the process on an ultra-slow-motion Phantom camera to find out. All in the name of science.
Five amazing, clean technologies that will set us free, in this month's energy-focused issue. Also: how to build a better bomb detector, the robotic toys that are raising your children, a human catapult, the world's smallest arcade, and much more.


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I love slomo videos shot on the Phantom, but the key is that the slomo has to reveal something you can't see in real time. This is just really slow smashing.
Man, it feels good to be a gansta.
You should've strapped down the TV or hit it while the back was firm against the ground so more of the force from the sledge would've gone into smashing the set
I never realized how fast glass fractures until now.
Where is the video? No link or anything...
@alis007
I definitely didn't realize how fast it fractures. It would be cool to see it slowed down even more to watch it fracture!
My Internet connection speed decided to challenge the Phantom Camera
I saw a slight ripple in the glass, watching the initial hit in super super slow motion would be very cool. I'm withalias007 and mike13323 to in a list of waiting people.
I saw a slight ripple in the glass, watching the initial hit in super super slow motion would be very cool. I'm with alias007 and mike13323 to in a list of waiting people.
Stupid idiots!
Breaking these open is a dangerous test. They are full of toxic materials that can easily be inhaled, left for some kid to play with or go into your drinking water.
They are also quite an impact hazard.
Almost every state regulates the disposal of them.
You need to get a toxic spill team in to clean up that mess.
Go to your doctor and see if you have been exposed to dangerous levels but a blood test.
What next, cut open some asbestos to see what it does?
how much did dasani pay to have a bottle in the corner of that video?
@borges911 yeah agreed. I did this (but with an axe) for one of my short films in college with an 800$ camera (it won 2nd place in Jay Sanders Film Festival).
with an 80,000$ camera lets see some stuff you cant do with a off the shelf camera.
(its the last shot of the film)
www.myspace.com/video/theend-productions/fluid-hope/2460210
(my first film... mega amateur)
I am amazed and marvel by this old TV. Where were they keeping this old TV set and why?
The sledge hammer thing I am not so impressed.
....................................
Amun-Re, She was banned into a female form, but lived her life free with passion.
She was a King! "BEAUTIFUL!"
What's not cool is our subjection to a tomato advertisement....that just cheapens Popsci..which otherwise is an amazing website!
This has to be the absolute most BORING video I have ever seen on PopSci. Perhaps their brains are fried by the insanely LOUD eardrum shattering sound that emanated from my PC speakers (set to a reasonable volume for everyday use) when I started the video. You guys DEAF or what??