To Boldly Go (2 Parts)

Synopsis

This two-part series traces the extraordinary journey that took humans from the depths of the ocean to the edge of space - and beyond. We think of ourselves as a global species, but in fact we can only comfortably survive on less than a quarter of the Earth’s surface.
Doctor of Extreme Medicine Kevin Fong looks at how we’ve managed to do it. In these two programmes he uses his own body to demonstrate how we are affected by extreme environments. Exploring the sophisticated technologies that protect us, he also showcases the artificial life systems and wizardry that have made our adventures possible. In this two-part series Kevin Fong sets out to discover how unsuited human biology is to living on much of the planet - and how we have developed the technology to let us survive there.

DOWN - In this first programme,about how to survive underwater, Dr Fong escapes from a sinking helicopter, walks through a tank of sharks in an antique diving suit and intentionally gives himself nitrogen narcosis. He also discovers how submarines operate by enclosing the crew in a hull strong enough to protect them from the extreme pressures outside - and lets them live in an atmosphere exactly like that at the surface.

UP - The second programme investigates how the body responds to altitude. The short answer to that question is ‘badly’ - as Dr Fong finds out, climbing one of the tallest mountains in the Alps and subjecting himself to a sudden depressurization to 25,000 feet. However, although we struggle to deal with altitude, the defining story of 20th-century technology was our quest to leave the surface of the earth behind and travel up through the atmosphere and into space.

Language

English

Country

Great Britain

Year of release

2012

Year of production

2012

Notes

Broadcast in two weekly parts on BBC2, beginning 15 January 2012

Subjects

Biology

Keywords

altitude; human biology; physiology - human

Credits

Contributor

Kevin Fong

Distribution Formats

Type

DVD

Format

Region 2 PAL

Price

£195.00 each part or £390.00 series

Availability

Sale

Duration/Size

50 minutes each

Year

2012

Production Company

Name

BBC Television

Distributor

Name

BBC Active

Email

bbcactive.bbcstudies@pearson.com

Web

http://www.bbcactive.com/ External site opens in new window

Fax

020 7010 6965

Address

Mezzanine
80 Strand
London
WC2R 0RL

Notes

No longer actively trading BBC videos. The BBC Active site was run by Pearson Education and brought together the previously separate BBC collections covering English Language Learning (formerly BBC ELT), resources for foreign language learning, and the Schools section. The main section of the old site was Broadcast Learning (previously known as BBC Videos for Education and Training and more recently BBC Learning) which listed a selection of general output broadcast programmes that BBC Active can supply for purchase by educational institutions.