We introduce students to the concept that the movement of an object is always relative to something else. We call it "sunrise" but does the sun really rise? Can we stand still and move around from place to place at the same time? If a car is moving forwards, can it also be moving backwards at the same time? And can we throw a single ball towards the left and towards the right at the same time? The answers to all these questions will be answered and...

Nuclear radiation can be incredibly dangerous, but it can also be incredibly useful to us. The "Shedding Light on Nuclear Radiation" series teaches students what nuclear radiation is and how humans have harnessed its awesome power."Episode 6: Radiocarbon Dating" looks at how scientists use the presence of radioactive carbon-14 atoms in nature to determine the age of ancient artifacts. This dating technique is called radiocarbon dating. The program...

Astronaut Russell "Rusty"Schweickart, who traveled into space aboard Apollo 9, introduces this documentary that addresses the questions: what is the universe and could there be life in the universe? Appropriately narrated by actor William Shatner (Star Trek), this program goes beyond the Earth, the Solar System and the Milky Way, deep into the vast reaches of the cosmos. Utilizing new and archival footage, along with computer-generated animation,...

Airports implemented full body scanners as a security measure. This video identifiesthe three companies that manufacture commercial full body scanners, the two types of scanners, and how the scanners work.

In this episode, we look at the ways robotic engineers are mimicking the natural world. BionicWheelBot and the BionicFlyingFox have been developed to navigate difficult terrain, like their biological counterparts. Robots like the canine-inspired models produced by Boston Dynamic are already being used in hazardousenvironments to reduce the need for humans to be exposed to risk. We’ll also see how robots are covering new ground in space exploration,...

Spectral Band Replication (SBR) is a novel method for compressing digital audio files making it possible for millions of people around the world to enjoy either higher quality sound or higher compression easily and affordably. SBR was conceived by the Swedish inventor Lars Liljeryd and turned into a real-world application by a team of engineers that included Kristofer Kjörling, Per Ekstrand and Fredrik Henn. Liljeryd’s ideas revolutionized an entire...

This is the story of plastics—the result of human genius that has changed the face of our world for both good and bad. Plastics have replaced traditional materials and have made their way into homes all across this planet. This program will explore the development and use of plastics in our technological world. Learn about the history of plastics, the first polymers (wool, rubber, silk, and cellulose), Charles Goodyear and the vulcanizing of rubber,...

Explorers Hannah, Oliver and Reiann visit Nina in her workshop and discover that light from the sun only shines on one side of the moon.

Mars was once a blue water-world studded with active volcanoes. But when its magnetic field and protective atmosphere faded, it became the frozen desert planet we know today. With so many necessary elements in place, did life ever form on Mars?

Dr. Catherine Low discusses difficulties students have with models and concepts of light and matter. Catherine recently completed her PhD in Theoretical Particle Physics and is currently teaching senior physics in New Zealand. Catherine Bell discusses the importance of phase in understanding the behavior of waves. She is completing a PhD on Phase Microscopy and is currently teaching senior Physics.