Lt. John Pike of the Davis, Calif., police department brought the wrath of the Internet on himself when he casually doused peaceful protestors with pepper spray. Find out what was in the can in this eye-watering episode of Stuff You Should Know.
Get ready to dive into the science and controversy behind pepper spray! Josh and Chuck explore this surprisingly complex topic, covering everything from the ancient history of weaponized peppers (including Japanese geishas hiding them in their kimonos) to the modern chemistry that makes pepper spray so effective. They break down how the Scoville heat scale works, compare pepper spray to ghost peppers and other scorching hot chilies, and explain exactly what happens to your body when you get sprayed - spoiler alert: it's not pleasant and definitely not just "a food product" as some might claim.
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