MatPat from Game Theory explores the science behind Minecraft's creeper, a blocky green monster that explodes when approached. He delves into the phenomenon of spontaneous human combustion (SHC) and the Wick Effect, but ultimately concludes that this theory doesn't apply to creepers due to the damage they cause.
Instead, he proposes that creepers are actually plants, specifically peat moss, which is known for its explosive properties when dispersing spores. The color, explosiveness, electrochemical properties, and texture of peat moss match the characteristics of creepers, and MatPat suggests that the explosion is a way for the peat moss to spread its spores.
He also explores why creepers might explode around players, suggesting that the explosion could be a way for the peat moss to spread its spores on the player's body, allowing them to be transported to other areas of the game world. Ultimately, MatPat concludes that the creeper is a "moss monster launching high-speed spores straight at your face."
Here are the key facts extracted from the text:
1. The Game Theory episode is about the Minecraft creeper and its explosive abilities.
2. Over 100,000 viewers chose to learn about creeper explosions over dating sims.
3. The host of Game Theory is a taken man and has an excuse for not being interested in dating sims.
4. Hatoful Boyfriend is a dating sim about a girl and a bunch of birds vying for her love.
5. The host agrees that dating sims are weird.
6. The first documented account of spontaneous human combustion (SHC) dates back to the 1400s.
7. SHC reports have been made as recently as September 2011.
8. SHC reports across the ages share eerie similarities, including:
* Most victims are chronic alcoholics.
* The hands and feet usually escape with little to no damage.
* The combustion of the body leaves a greasy residue and an offensive odor.
* The combustion causes very little damage to things around the body.
9. The Wick Effect is a scientific theory that explains SHC, where the body acts like an inside-out candle.
10. The host discovers that peat (also known as sphagnum) is a type of green and black moss that explodes to spread its spores.
11. Peat moss has the perfect electrochemical properties to create a battery.
12. Peat moss is one of the world's biggest storehouses of carbon, covering 1% of the Earth's surface but containing 30% of its carbon.
13. Peat has been used as a key fuel source around the world and has also been known to spontaneously erupt in flames.
14. The texture of a creeper matches moss, which Minecraft creator Notch described as having a texture similar to that of dried leaves.
15. A creeper's explosion can be explained by the rapid discharge of spores, which can reach speeds of up to 65mph (29 m/s) in less than a 1/1000 of a second.
16. If scaled up to creeper size (roughly 3 meters), the explosion would be able to reach speeds of up to 1,950mph (880 m/s) in a fraction of a second.
17. Creepers drop a lot of gunpowder, which is partly made from charcoal and sulfur, both of which are found in peat moss.
18. Peat moss has been used as a fuel source and has also been known to spontaneously erupt in flames.
19. A biologist studying peat moss wrote about experiencing the explosively discharged capsule lids striking his face when bending over a hammock of peat moss.