Recent struggles with hurricanes, also in Poland, showed, that there are no jokes with nature. Information provided on damage after a storm, such as fallen yachts and torn roofs, they could shock you a lot. The hurricane is very powerful, which destroys everything, what will stand in her way. Most people know the main risks, which it brings with it. And what, when the threat is less obvious and comes from a small straw? In one of the popular science programs, Mythbusters (Polish translation: True or false – Mythbusters), aired on the Discovery Channel, it was decided to devote an entire episode to researching a few myths about the hurricane and its power. Theory, with which the first line was measured, she said, that in a great hurricane the wind can be so strong, that the straw is able to pierce the trunk of a palm tree. Where does such a myth come from? Well, the average wind blows during a hurricane with a speed close 160 km/h, and in extreme cases, over 400 km / h. No wonder, that it easily destroys buildings, uproots trees, it lifts everything, what he meets on his way. Therefore, the thesis concerning the straw seems plausible. How the show team approached the topic? To test the destructive potential of the hurricane, a gigantic one was built “windbreaker” emitting wind close to speed 500 km/h (this is the record wind speed recorded in the United States). The most common palm trees on the coast were selected for the tests (the so-called. queen palm). Straws made of various materials were checked, palm standing straight and bent, as it happens in strong winds. And it turned out, that the straw is capable of digging into the tree, but is unable to penetrate it. One threat eliminated. The rest debunked or, horror, Confirmed myths can be seen on the Mythbusters show.
Can the straw be dangerous in a hurricane??
