Natural Selection is a process which affects every species on Earth, including humans. This program illustrates how Natural Selection continues to affect us all in fundamental ways that will determine our future survival as a species. Included in the program is a brief explanation of Natural Selection, examples of how Natural Selection is operating all around us, how Natural Selection has affected human evolution and how it is still affecting our daily lives. The program concludes with the reciprocal view of how modern human society is affecting Natural Selection processes in the environment, and the consequences for the future of life on Earth.
Subjects: Life Science
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The African Savannah: Animals in Their Habitats 1
This program explores the open savannahs of Africa, particularly the mammals that inhabit them and the trees that border these grasslands. It shows how the different animals interact with each other and the non-living elements of their habitat to maintain a healthy balance. The threat from an increasing human population for homes, food and other resources, and the resultant threat to the survival of many animal groups, is also investigated. The program looks at international breeding programs around the world which were established to protect these animals and enable them to reproduce in captivity so their gene pool is preserved.
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All About Muscles
Within the human body there are more than 600 individual muscles. Without them you could not walk, talk or smile. But more so your heart would not beat and you wouldn’t breathe. This program explores the main functions of our muscles as well as looking at the major muscles, their types and how we control them.
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Biomechanics of the Body
The Human body performs a large range of movements every day. Elite sports people perform even more complex movements in the most efficient ways possible with the input from sports scientists known as biomechanists. Biomechanics is the study of how the physical laws of mechanics apply to human movement. This video clearly investigates the basic concepts of movement and applies these to human performance. This video includes: Forces; Levers; Motion; Friction; Balance and Stability.
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The Science of Death
The Science of Death is an entertaining and enlightening look at what may be the last taboo. Death is a subject most people aren’t comfortable talking about. This program changes all that. Combining a unique style with startling information and events, The Science of Death reaches a greater audience than a program that relies on jus the simple clichés of horror films to keep an audience entertained. Often seen as an event, dying is actually a process which, in some cases, can be stopped, and even reversed. Even after someone is clinically ‘dead’, life in many parts of our bodies carries on – for hours, days, and even weeks. After ignoring death for most of its history, the medical and scientific communities have begun to focus their attention on how our bodies behave on the journey to eternity. So will we, in a fascinating hour which uses state-of-the-art 3D graphics, captivating cinematography, and the latest science.
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First Scientists
They are the First Scientists of North America and now, slowly, their magnificent contributions are being recognized by today’s global scientific community. This groundbreaking documentary explores the science and the people behind some of the greatest scientific achievements of our time. Scientific disciplines like astronomy, ecology, engineering, zoology, and even artificial intelligence have all been influenced by the knowledge learned by the First Peoples of North America.
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The Life Cycle of Wasps and Bees
Wasps and bumblebees have a special type of social system. Their colonies are made up of many sterile female workers, who care for the offspring of one or a few fertile queens. Topics include after emerging from hibernation, the queen starts the new colony by herself; female workers are produced and start to forage; unfertilized eggs (males) are laid; males and new queen emerge, the colony disintegrates and the new queens hibernate.
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Genetics and Reproduction
This video explores the revolution in genetic medicine and highlights the social and ethical implications of the emerging reproductive technologies. Will it lead to designer babies? Through personal stories, students will realize the difficult decisions that parents confront when there is a family history of genetic disease.
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Insects and Plants – How they trap their prey
Insects and spiders have developed unique methods of catching prey – they trap them, or they ambush them. Creatures like spiders and the Venus fly-trap, lure their victims into elaborate traps. Others, like the praying-mantis and the diving beetle lie in wait before launching an attack.
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Infectious Diseases
This comprehensive two-part video examines our knowledge of the causes and controls of infectious diseases. The contents include: historical introduction; causes of infectious diseases; disease agents; disease transmission; controlling infectious diseases; the response to infection; vaccination; disease prevention; treatment. The video ends with a cautionary note about the ongoing challenges we face in managing infectious diseases around the world.