TCM status is rising internationally. People are paying attention to TCM because there is a paradigm shift in medicine today. Traditional Chinese medicine is a science based mainly on natural science and integrated with the social sciences or humanities. Its way of observing diseases and the human body, its idea of treating a disease before it arises, its methods of health preservation, its focus on adjusting the state of the body is catching the...

When polio vaccines were first developed, many experts thought the disease would be fully eradicated within decades. Tragically, as this film shows, it has survived in places like Afghanistan and northern Nigeria. These locations are now acting as disease reservoirs, with children the hardest-hit demographic and with travelers re-infecting other countries once thought invulnerable. Additionally, in the pre-vaccine world, everyone had a degree of natural...

After sustaining a life-altering head injury, a young girl is given a second chance at a normal childhood thanks to her mobility assistance dog, Portia. In Lodi, California, a capuchin monkey named Siggy inspires newfound purpose in the life of Travis, a quadriplegic with a cervical spine injury.

The invention pioneered by Elvira Fortunato, Rodrigo Martins and their team at New University of Lisbon, consists of transistors crafted from cellulose fiber – in other words paper exploited for electronics purposes. The paper-based transistors open new applications for low cost and disposable electronics, require much less energy to manufacture, are made from readily available materials, and can be recycled safely as opposed to the standard silicon...

Scientists are developing a universal flu vaccine. A brand new vaccine against seasonal flu has to be created once a year for both the northern and southern hemispheres. The constant and rapid evolution of the virus means an effective vaccine this year, can be useless by the next. Scientists in Belgium are determined to beat the virus by producing a vaccine that works long-term, against many types of flu, including pandemic strains. Professor Saelens...

Michael Mosley finds out whether a glass of wine can protect your blood vessels from the harmful effects of junk food. Giles Yeo sets out to test home breathalyser kits - and uncovers a potentially dangerous weakness in the drink-drive laws in England, Wales and Northern Ireland. Zoe Williams finds out what you can do to improve your health if you are living with cancer. And Gabriel Weston has the lowdown on what is safe to eat and drink when you...

Another journey into the confusing world of health claims and headline-grabbing stories with Michael Mosley and his team of doctors. This time, they recruit over 200 volunteers to test a surprising way to cure food cravings. Michael tries a new technique to beat the habits that people find hardest to kick. Dr. Chris van Tulleken looks at whether organic food is better for your health, while surgeon Gabriel Weston investigates a potentially groundbreaking...

One of the most important stories in genetics is the race to understand DNA. This intro-level program guides viewers through that story, focusing on the biological and chemical processes central to the transfer of genetic material. Beginning in the middle of the 19th century, the program describes how competing scientists in Europe and America zeroed in on the DNA molecule and determined its structure. Friedrich Miescher's identification of "nuclein,"...

Robotic surgery is transforming modern medicine. Large movements of the surgeons hands in the operating theater translate into very small movements of the robotic instruments. It is less tiring for the surgeons and for the patient, it means less scarring, a quicker recovery, and reduced risk of infection. It is cutting edge medicine. Robotic arms – including a powerful camera – are slid into the patient through small incisions. At the end of the...

Most of the 70 students at this unique school in Irvine, California have ADHD, autism, or anxiety issues. The school’s curriculum is based on extensive research from the NIH and the University of California. Find out how these kids are learning life lessons that will help them just as much as reading, writing, and arithmetic.