June 16, 2006

Myths busted

IBM research facility invites TV show to its 20th anniversary

By Daniel DeBolt
Staff Writer

At the top of the green hills of Almaden, some of the world’s brightest computer scientists toil away in IBM’s Almaden Research Center, as they have for the past quarter-century making some of the most important discoveries in computer history.

Adam Savage and Jamie Hyneman bust a myth on stage at IBM’s Almaden Research Center. They were out to figure out what cooled a can beer faster—a fire extinguisher, liquid nitrogen, ice water or ice water with salt. After a dazzling show that clouded the stage with the contents of a fire extinguisher, it was concluded by beer-tasting judges that the fire extinguisher worked best. The liquid nitrogen cracked the beer can in two, but didn’t chill the beer inside as well. Photo by Daniel DeBolt

But last week the facility became witness to some more unconventional science when it opened its gates to Adam Savage and Jamie Hyneman, the two stars of the Discovery Channel’s popular TV show, “MythBusters.” The pair like to prove and disprove myths, often blowing up things in the process.

After sharing breathtaking stories from the making of the show, they put on a demonstration for employees and their families involving beer, liquid nitrogen, and fire extinguishers. Viewers may consider them scientists, but they were quick to admit they were the least qualified scientists in the room.

And they were right. But more about them in a minute.

Hiroshi Ito is one of those world-class scientists the two myth busters would be humbled by. Ito, who lives in Almaden, made one of the most important discoveries in computer history at ARC at a time when people thought it wasn’t possible to make computer chips any smaller. Perfecting the standard process of using light or “photolithography” to make chips, Ito developed a material that allows circuits to be 500 times smaller than a human hair. Through his broken English you could get a feel for the sleepless nights, struggle and triumph involved in perfecting the process.

But nothing remains unchallenged at the IBM facility. In a room that looks like it could be used in a modern version of Frankenstein, IBM scientists are working on a whole new way to build chips that don’t use electricity in the usual way. It uses the magnetic charge of molecules in special materials to transfer information. If perfected, it would relegate modern electrically charged computer chips to the dustbin. It’s the kind of thing that at one point in history, Albert Einstein didn’t even think was possible but these scientists are accomplishing it. That laptop burning on your lap may not be as hot in the future because it won’t be using heat-producing electricity in its circuits.

ARC is one of eight IBM research facilities worldwide, but ARC is unique in being the heart of IBM’s research on database technology, earning attention for its work worldwide. Located at the end of Bernal Road, the facility was built in 1986 to replace an aging and outgrown facility on Cottle Road. ARC has 400 staff devoted to research in the science of storing and transferring information in computers.

City Councilmember Forest Williams used to be one of those staff members. In his 35 years at IBM he worked at ARC and the Cottle Road facility it replaced. He was manager of engineering for disk drive development before that part of IBM’s business was sold to Hitachi to make way for new technology that could replace disk drives.

Williams watched the evolution of the disk drive go from a slow behemoth to the small and quick drives we see today. He pointed out that modern and small computer devices use less energy, which is better for the environment.

“I’m excited about the future,” he said. “We’ll meet the global challenge; we are the technology capitol of the world. If it’s going to happen in the world, it’s going to happen in San Jose. That’s been my experience and I’m confident that will continue.”

Scientists at ARC are perfecting “non volatile memory,” the kind used in camera flash cards for use in computers in a way that would replace disk drives. If you thought cassette tape was dead, researchers here are working on that, too. It’s one of the most efficient ways of storing data for some applications, said Spike Narayan, an ARC research scientist. He recently helped developed a tape half the size of a common VHS tape that can hold seven terabytes of data. That is equal to 7,000 gigabytes.

At the end of the day when many were tired of the lab tours and difficult-to-understand presentations, attendants waited in a long line and filled an auditorium to see the guys who make science look fun on TV.

“Hopefully it doesn’t get too messy up here,” said Mark Dean, director of research at ARC. “This floor is a little difficult to clean,”

It was explained that the idea of getting the “MythBusters” to come seemed like a pipe dream at first, “but after a little arm twisting and a few laptops later” the two TV show hosts were sitting on the stage in ARC’s auditorium.

“We don’t even like each other,” said Adam Savage, co-host of the show, referring to the man he shares the spotlight with, Jaime Hyneman. But the two say they have learned to turn their differences into a strength by providing checks and balances for one another, and IBM employees were advised to follow the example.

“You are always working around someone you don’t like,” Savage said.

The two say they get tons of mail from science teachers around the country praising them for making science look fun. But the job isn’t as easy at seems. Hyneman describes the dynamic of working on the show as “long periods of boredom followed by abject terror.”

Nothing remains unchallenged at the IBM facility. In a room that looks like it could be used in a modern version of Frankenstein, IBM scientists are working on whole new way to build chips that don’t use electricity in the usual way. It uses the magnetic charge of molecules in special materials to transfer information. Photo by Daniel DeBolt

The myth busters told the story of making the “Dukes of Hazzard” episode where a car was launched into the air to see if it would fly as far as reported in production notes from the 1980s TV show.

After bringing in truckloads of dirt to make a jump and rigging a car for remote control, the two were following their test subject at over 70 mph on an Alameda runway. Hyneman recalls his nervousness about getting the $3,000 test car aimed directly at the ramp so he could go home on time without an expensive missed launch. Somehow he gets the car under control, he said, and the minivan they were following in followed closely behind as they watched the car launch into the air like an airplane. They veered to the right in the minivan and watched the car soar along next to them and get closer and closer until they had to stomp on the brakes. The test car smashed down in front of their eyes in a horrifying display of crushed metal sliding down the pavement narrowly missing their van.

Hyneman and Savage joke about it now, but at the end of the day the crew said the Savage and Hyneman had never been so quiet after a test.

An audience member asked the myth busters if they had ever broken a law doing the show.

“Most of the things we want to do are illegal,” Hyneman said.

They say the show has found a way around the law by involving law enforcement officials in the making of the show. If they want to blow something up and they can’t get a permit, they bring in the police or FBI’s bomb squad. It is a little weird at first to have FBI around, they said, but “they like it (the explosions) as much we do,” Savage said.

In front of some of the world’s brightest scientists, the two admitted that they weren’t college educated in the field of science. Savage said he has a high school diploma and Hyneman has a college degree in Russian.

“If we knew what we were doing it wouldn’t be fun to watch us,” Hyneman said.

For the finale, Savage and Hyneman would bust a myth right on stage. They were out to figure out what cooled a can beer faster—a fire extinguisher, liquid nitrogen, ice water or ice water with salt. After a dazzling show that clouded the stage with the contents of a fire extinguisher, it was concluded by beer-tasting judges that the fire extinguisher worked best. The liquid nitrogen cracked the beer can in two, but didn’t chill the beer inside as well.

Through several seasons of blowing up things, launching things into the air and shooting things, Savage and Hyneman said they’ve learned one valuable lesson, “If there is ever any question, run!