Was SpongeBob Based On Real Life Nuclear Testing?

Matt investigates the theory that Spongebob Squarepants is based on the real life nuclear testing of Bikini Atoll.

MUSIC
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Licensed via Audio Network

STILLS
A child skipping rope on the rainbow
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VIDEO
Beautiful view of holiday foldable sponge Bob figure on blue sky and white clouds background. Sweden.
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95th Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade
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Bikini Atoll map zoom
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Close-Up Beautiful Shot Of Waves Splashing Underwater - Oahu, Hawaii
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Aerial view of nuclear explosions in space, mushroom clouds, nuclear war
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Huge nuclear bomb explosion, weapon of mass destruction
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Female IT Engineer Working and coding Program at Night
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Atomic explosion - atomic weapon test Able
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Atomic explosion - atomic weapon test Able
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Boeing B-17 drones fly through atomic mushroom clouds during the Able Day tests of Operation Crossroads.
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Hydrogen bomb mushroom cloud from sea
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Small fringed jellyfish in the dark of underwater world of deep sea animal
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Stephen Hillenberg at 2017 Princess Grace Awards Kick-Off Event
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Princess Charlene of Monaco, Stephen Hillenberg, Tom Kenny, Bill Fagerbakke, Sirena Irwin, Dee Bradley Baker at 2017 Princess Grace Awards Kick-Off Event
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Princess Charlene of Monaco, Stephen Hillenberg, Tom Kenny at 2017 Princess Grace Awards Kick-Off Event
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"Gilda," first atomic bomb in US's Operation Crossroads nuclear weapon tests, detonates at Bikini Atoll
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Graphic animation of route to drop first test atomic bomb on Bikini Atoll in Operation Crossroads
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Japanese fisherman affected by radiation from US hydrogen bomb test on Bikini Atoll receiving treatment in hospital in Tokyo
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SpongeBob SquarePants, Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, New York City, 2016
Tomas Abad - Footage/Getty Images
Child draws animated cartoon characters timelaps
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1969: PLANKTON: HD: MACRO: VS Tiny animals moving w/ jerky movements, round ones drifting, CU Translucent puffs floating. MICROSCOPIC: PHYTOPLANKTON: VS Diatoms, CU Cluster of long cylinder organisms, larger cluster moving positions.
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Planes Prepare For Takeoff Before Bikini Atoll Atomic Weapons Test
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Chipmunk eating sunflower seeds
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PAN Camera captures the Thanks Giving Day Parade and balloons which are moving through Manhattan skyscrapers.
Toshio Sasaki - Footage/Getty Images
Castle-Bravo Hydrogen Bomb Test
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View of Several plankton / Guanacaste, Costa Rica
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WS ZI CU SpongeBob SquarePants parade balloon on Thanksgiving Day parade, New York City, New York, USA
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'The Spongebob Squarepants Movie' World Premiere
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1946 AERIAL atomic bomb explosion in water at Bikini Atoll, part of Operation Crossroads / newsreel
Archive Films - Editorial/Getty Images
B/W 1946 atomic bomb test at Bikini Atoll as a part of Operation Crossroads / newsreel
Archive Films - Editorial/Getty Images
B/W 1946 wide shot atomic bomb test at Bikini Atoll, part of Operation Crossroads / newsreel
Archive Films - Editorial/Getty Images

[biffabacon]

Hillenberg himself said Spongebob was inspired by the nautical-themed concept album The Mollusk from the band WEEN, which he was a fan of.

[amelia]

I feel bad for those who lived on that island.

[lindalou]

Matt you have found your calling! Starting with the set and your chosen attire and ending with the content and your unique voice (and everything in between) you have nailed it! Keep it coming please!

[Nikki-rxri]

I hope you interviewed Chris for this, he knows all about SpongeBob

[dreamsteddybearsmaster]

A lot of euphemisms disguised as children's content such as tv series/shows, books, movies etc, it seems!!! Very clever yet very scary & thought-provoking in many ways!

[SageBaka]

The greater mystery of this episode is who was Matt on the phone with when the screen cut back to him.

[TheRJB]

BUN has really found its stride with Conspiracy Explained and Haunting History. Both of these shows have great themes, are fun and interesting, and have their own unique flavor. The hosts are great too. I hope this keeps up!

[robby]

No. We had prehistoric versions of the characters already living in a civilization.

[DrPotato]

I like how people said thats why the fish in rock bottom was so mutated when if you looks at real fish in he mariana trench

[haileyherrington]

The damages the US left for the Marshallese are inexcusable and terrible. Most of the population has come to the US as refugees because their home is now uninhabitable. The reparations owed are astronomical and so irreversible it's heartbreaking.

[getehehh]

ITS BASED ON THE GREATEST ALBUM EVER: WEEN'S THE MOLLUSK

[succboiii]

this series is breathing new life into buzzfeed unsolved and I'm so happy I love the vibes :))

[sjeabee]

This is such a great vibe. Reminds me of “The Twilight Zone.” I think you just finally hit the right note for the new Buzzfeed Unsolved. Keep it up!! 🙌🙌

[pluto]

Well we already know from DocuDubery that Mr Krabs joined the Axis Powers, Squidward started the Russian Revolution, Plankton prevented the use of nukes in the Korean War and Larry the Lobster sank the Bismarck, so I wouldn’t be shocked.

[reeseromeo]

Shane and Ryan in the cut rubbing their hands like Birdman 😂

[ImaCountryGirl]

I am too old to even understand this concept. And I'm not going to start now. I approve this message. That's six minutes of my life I'll never get back.

[KingKobra]

Don’t even try to spoil our childhood 😭

[maayanpraiss]

the way he says “spongebob squarepants” so *accusingly* is just too funny I CANTT 🤣

[julesafool]

Thank you for your service, Matt Real

[TheSaneHatter]

The new format continues to seve you very well, and even shows improvements over the previous installment. Now, the writers need to give you the best possible stories to work with: this epsiode is cute, but their are bigger "bombs" you can drop on the audience.