With over 35,000 kilometres of coastline, surfing is easily a national Australian pastime. Find out how scientists are taking advantage of the sun’s rays to improve Australian energy sources. Whale watching is growing in popularity each year. But with increased boat traffic in the ocean, especially for viewing the migration of the humpback whales to Antarctica, these mammals are now competing for space in the ocean waters. Daily Planet takes on misconceptions about one of Australia’s most iconic animals – the dingo. Delve deep below the North Australian waters to get better acquainted with a deadly creature lurking below the surface. Australia’s southern coast is home to one of the country’s busiest fishing ports. As with many other coastal fishing ports, the stock of fish is often threatened or depleted.
Grade levels: Senior High (10-12)
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Daily Planet Goes to Brazil
From the kinetic energy of Rio’s Carnival – the world’s largest party – to the clean energy produced by Itaipu – the world’s largest hydroelectric dam – Daily Planet Goes to Brasil explores a land of technological, scientific and environmental extremes. Special guest host Ed Robertson – of Barenaked Ladies fame – takes viewers on a journey through this country’s most fascinating advancements, Daily Planet style.
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After The Fall
On September 11, 2001, the world watched in horror as New York’s World Trade Center towers went from 110 stories to 110 feet high in a matter of seconds. The shocking destruction raised many questions: What caused the towers to fall? Why didn’t they collapse right away, and why did they pancake down instead of toppling sideways? Following the disaster a documentary team was granted unique and exclusive access to Ground Zero and the Fresh Kills disposal/investigation sites. The result is After the Fall. This films documents the scientific, technological and engineering effort involved in unearthing the details of the collapse from beneath the rubble.
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Factory City
They live there. They eat there. Their children attend school there. But most of all, they work there. They are the 17000 employees of EUPA, a “Factory City” in the southeast corner of China. EUPA’s massive workforce pumps out 15 million irons per year, millions of sandwich grills, microwaves, coffee makers and blenders. Now they are about to take the manufacturing world by storm with their introduction of solar powered products. The show will focus not on how the goods are made, but how the Factory City operates. It is a novel concept for the rest of the world but it has become a way of life in China, where a new industrial revolution is unfolding on a scale the world has never seen before.