Making Stuff: Stronger, Smaller, Cleaner, Smarter (4 Parts)

Synopsis

We are facing a revolution in the science of materials. From carbon nanotubes to spider silk, sticky gecko feet to bulletproof foam, scientists are combining high-technology with nature’s most incredible inventions to create a new generation of materials which are stronger, smaller, cleaner, and smarter than anything we’ve seen before. In this 4-part series David Pogue, the New York Times’ technology correspondent, explores the talent, luck, and determination that can turn a wild idea into a cutting-edge material or high-tech breakthrough. For thousands of years, humans have been manipulating the elements and the world’s raw materials. Now, scientists are generating new materials that function differently and stronger, smaller, smarter, and cleaner than ever and have the capability to revolutionise medicine and technology.

Episodes include
MAKING STUFF: STRONGER - What is the strongest material in the world? Is it iron? Are Kevlar and carbon nanotubes the way of the future, or will the powerful properties discovered in natural spider silk one day replace steel?

MAKING STUFF: SMALLER - How small can we go? Could we one day have robots taking "fantastic voyages" in our bodies to kill rogue cells? The triumphs of tiny are seen all around us in the Information Age: transistors, microchips, laptops, mobile phones.

MAKING STUFF: SMARTER - What can nature teach us in building smarter materials? Can we create materials that sense and respond?

MAKING STUFF: CLEANER - Most modern materials are dangerous to the environment, but what about cleaning up our world? Batteries grown from viruses, tyres made from orange peel oil, plastics made of sugar, and solar cells that cook up hydrogen - these are just a few glimpses of a new generation of clean materials that could power devices of the future.

Language

English

Country

United States

Year of release

2011

Year of production

2011

Subjects

Technology

Keywords

materials; technological innovation

Online availability

URI

http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/tech/making-stuff.html

Price

free

Delivery

Streamed

Credits

Contributor

David Pogue

Distribution Formats

Type

DVD

Format

Region 1 NTSC

Price

$19.99

Availability

Sale

Duration/Size

4 x 60 minutes

Year

2011

Production Company

Name

PBS

Web

http://www.pbs.org External site opens in new window

Sponsor

Name

Materials Research Society, USA

Distributor

Name

PBS Shop

Web

http://www.shoppbs.org External site opens in new window