How to Make an iPod Bomb

Okay. Not really. But here's what to avoid doing to keep your iPod (or any device with a lithium-based battery for that matter) from exploding: don't soak it in water. If you do happen to soak it in water and try to see if it works immediately after removing it from water, don't try to take it apart yourself to see what is broken. It's wet. That's what is broken.

In any case, a kid in Australia accidently left his iPod in his dirty laundry and it ended up going through the wash, he decided to take it apart and boom! The iPod popped open, burning the cover, and emitting some toxic fumes. The boy inhaled the fumes and was treated for breathing difficulties afterwards but is okay, albeit sans an iPod.

I, myself, have dropped multiple cellphones in the toilet multiple times (cell phone on belt clip, belt clip hits toilet seat as I'm pulling up my pants, cellphone plops into recently flushed toilet). None of them have broken. Why? Because I follow very careful steps whenever I get electronics wet. I dry them off with a towel. I don't turn them on to see if they work, as running electricity will fry the circuits. I remove the battery, if it is removable (with a towel between me and the battery). I then let it sit and dry out for a good 48 hours. And then if it was dropped in the toilet I nuke it with some anti-bacterial spray to boot.

[via iPod Hacks]