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May 7 2009

How can a lake explode?

22 min 2 movies discussed
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Lakes are usually tranquil bodies of water, but in rare instances, they can be deadly. Tune in to this podcast from HowStuffWorks.com to hear Josh and Chuck discuss lakes that have exploded -- and the factors that create a killer lake.

AI Summary

This Stuff You Should Know episode dives into the terrifying phenomenon of exploding lakes, focusing on the deadly 1986 disaster at Lake Nyos in Cameroon where a massive cloud of carbon dioxide erupted from the water and killed 1,700 people up to 15 miles away. Josh and Chuck explain the fascinating science behind these "limnic eruptions," exploring how volcanic activity and unique atmospheric conditions can turn peaceful crater lakes into ticking time bombs. They also discuss ongoing efforts to prevent future disasters and reveal why there are still dangerous lakes around the world that could explode at any time.


Movies Discussed

Ghostbusters
Ghostbusters
1984 1h 47m
★ 7.5
"1986 Chuck, um, what? Ghostbusters is sweeping the nation. — Josh referenced Ghostbusters when establishing the timeframe of 1986 during their time travel segment explaining Lake Nios." — Josh
The X-Files
The X-Files
1993
★ 8.4
"Sounds like an X files episode. Definitely. It's exactly what it sounds like. — Chuck compared the mysterious Lake Nios explosion that killed 1700 people to something that would be featured on The X-Files." — Chuck

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