Can a Solar Still Generate Enough Fresh Water for Survival? | MythBusters

Stranded on an island with just duct tape and plastic wrap, Jamie constructs a solar still to create drinkable water from condensation.

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[thomasdevlin]

"we're stranded on a deserted island with nothing but several miles of duct tape" that sounds like the plot of an awesome reality show

[c_saragusa]

Adam: *Gets stranded on an island with a bunch of duct tape*

*Spends 3 hours making a hat out of it*

[pirobotbeta]

The US Army taught us about solar stills, but warned us that making enough water to drink was not the point!
In order of importance:
1) They keep you anchored to one spot, basically immobile while waiting for the water to drip, drip, drip.
You chances of being found rise if you don't wander around. Your camp and stills are easy-peasy to spot from the air.
2) By staying still and in some shade, your need for water and food decreases. Less chance of falling/getting hurt. Less chance of encroaching on animal territories.
3) Staying focused on one task prevents 'option panic'; a state where desperate people will 'try anything' to save themselves. "Let's burn the tents and make lots of smoke!"
4) Hope. You see the water droplets form, you don't feel so helpless and alone. A sense of mastery is returned. Fear is displaced by curiosity. "Can we make the still work better?" instead of "Is the still gonna make enough water?"
5) You get enough water to wet your mouth and talk about your big plans for when you all go home.
Their usefulness goes way beyond the water they provide.

[nrvinl]

Y'all just need two buckets of water and make an infinite water source

[HLPIVFALLN]

This episode was my favorite when I was about 7 or so. I bought so much duct tape and made shoes and little boats and wallets. Thanks for the great memories

[FalconFastest]

The water stil was a good idea, but I bet the duct tape seams prevented many of the drops from getting to the bucket.

[maddymetzger]

“why does everything have to be so difficult?”

*mood*

[DangrMouSe]

Having experienced brutal abdominal pain drinking straight from flowing mountain streams even when near their source I'd choose better made, multiple & well fed solar stills if there was no way to disinfect the water. You can adapt over time to the far less dangerous microorganisms drinking from fresh water sources but there's still always a chance you'll catch a real nasty one that can straight up kill you without medical assistance.

[MMedic]

If they had some Flex Tape on them, they could just repair the ship they came in using only Flex Tape and leave just fine, even through shark infested waters!

[yourneighbour]

With flex tape, Adam and Jamie has built a new nation with nuclear weapons on day 7

[brettzolstick]

I swear, Mythbusters is just one big Duct Tape ad.

[exudeku]

"I have to kill for a workbench right now"
-Adam Savage

bruh its just like, 4 wooden planks

[GatlingHawk]

Now rehire the mythbusters and try with *Flextape*

[VietNoodleSoupProductions]

3:49 Adam slurps the water...
Adam:"MMM! ITS FRESH!"
3 days later hes in the hospital

[raxzyO]

Yes I always pack 300 rolls of flex tape in case of plane crashing

[felix-b]

It's funny how I watched this on live TV years ago and it helped me once in a physics test in begging of middle school because one exercise was about this specific method and the cycle of water

[pirobotbeta]

In the Army, they taught us how to make a solar still using similar techniques. They had us use prickly-pear cactus as the moisture source.
When asked, the instructor admitted that the thing doesn't save your life by giving you enough clean water to drink every day, it saves your life because you stay in one place tending the thing!
Wandering while lost uses up more water than you are likely to find and it makes it harder for searchers to find you!

[jordanmicahcook]

Well, I’ll remember these survival lessons the next time I’m stranded on a desolate island with only a huge pile of duct tape...

[MegaNewboyz]

These guys literally have the best job ever.

[FriezaSucks]

That duct-tape waterskin is amazing, considering he didn't even have a good, flat area to work in. I wish the water still worked better, it's also an ingenious idea, I think Adam's point about seams is what kinda worked against the still. Amazing regardless.