the myth is that if you take a pine cone (i'd test all types if i was adam and jamie) that has it's "flaps" closed and you spray it with hair spray, give it a nice even coating, and toss it into a campfire. then the "flaps" open up and the pine cone explodes and will give you a nasty burn from the shratnell. it won't kill you you but it may injur you seriously if it hits you in the eye or something.
if some one could tell me the physics involved that would be nice.

I would say that probably has to do with the sap inside boiling off, building up pressure, and then the whole thing shatters and explodes (assuming it's possible). The hairspray probably just helps to heat it up more, and maybe seal it up some to help build up the pressure.

Sounds more like a stick of dynamite (similar ignition, by flame, but dynamite has a fuse, of course!) than a grenade to me.

yeah that sounds like a good explanation, but of couse it would be fun to watch the mythbusters do it, and have the graphics guy make a cartoon of that.

I heard that it also works if you just soak it in water and throw it in. I heard that the water gets into the core and steam builds up and the pinecone blows up. It's something that boyscout headmasters tell you to tell you not to burn pinecones.

it would have to be a fresh cone still on the tree. pinecones open up on the tree to let the seeds float out, so when they are on the ground they are already open.

at least from what ive noticed but im no expert or tree Dr.

i think that it is a cool myth!
dudeman2488 aka new member