Running Time:
180 minutes (3 X 60)
Grade Level:
7 - Adult
Captions:
Closed Captions
,
Spanish Subtitles
AVP Release Date:
September 2010
Producer:
BBC
From the BBC a program about the atom... fundamental to studies in chemistry, physics and general science.
The discovery that everything is made of atoms is the greatest scientific find ever. How the vast variety and richness of everything we see around us is built up and how it fits together comes down to atoms and the mysterious laws they obey.
As scientists studied the atom they had to abandon everything they believed in and create a whole new science. A science that today underpins the whole of physics, chemistry, biology and maybe even life itself.
This series chronicles how humanity solved the mystery of the atom. It is an inspiring and remarkable history.
Series of 3 programs on 3 DVDs.
UPC 739815004841
- Program 1: Clash of Titans
The first of three programs in which nuclear physicist and host, Professor Jim Al-Khalili, tells the story of the greatest scientific discovery ever - the discovery that everything is made of atoms. As scientists delved deep into the atom, into the very heart of matter, they unravelled nature's most shocking secrets. They had to abandon everything they believed in and create a whole new science, which today underpins the whole of physics, chemistry, biology and maybe even life itself. 'Atom' tells a story of great geniuses, people like Albert Einstein and Werner Heisenberg who were driven by their thirst for knowledge and glory. It's a story of false starts and conflicts, ambition and revelation, a story which leads us through some of the most exciting and exhilarating ideas ever conceived of by the human race.
Chapters:
-The Grand Search for the Secrets of Matter
-The Atom Has Structure
-The Quantum Nature of the Atom
-The Atom's Wave-like Nature
-The Dual Nature of the Atom
-The Uncertainty Principle
- Program 2: Key to the Cosmos
This is the second of Professor Jim Al-Khalili's three part investigation into the basic building block of our universe - the atom. He shows that in our quest to understand the tiny atom, we unravelled the mystery of how the entire universe was created. It's a story with dramatic twists and turns, taking in world-changing discoveries like radioactivity, the Atom Bomb and the Big Bang. All this forms part of an epic narrative in which the greatest brains of the 20th century competed to answer the biggest questions of all - why are we here and how were we made?
Chapters:
-The Atom and the Creation of the Universe
- Manipulating the Atom
-The Structure of the Atom's Nucleus
-The Mysterious Proton and the Strong Nuclear Force
-The Atomic Bomb
- The Ever Changing Atom
-The Big Bang
- Program 3: Illusion of Reality
The last of Professor Jim Al-Khalili's three part series in which he tells the story of the greatest scientific discovery ever - the discovery that everything is made of atoms. In this film he explores how studying the atom forced us to rethink the nature of reality itself. He encounters ideas that seem like they're from science fiction but in fact are a central part of modern science. He discovers there might be parallel universes in which different versions of us exist and finds out that empty space isn't empty at all, but seething with activity. The world we think we know, the solid, re-assuring world of our senses, turns out to be a tiny sliver of an infinitely weirder and more wonderful universe than we had ever conceived of in our wildest fantasies.
Chapters:
-The Quantum Revolution Revisited
-The Anti-matter Universe
-The Theory of Nothing
-Quantum Electrodynamics
-Sub-atomic Particles
-Quarks
-The Atom's Paradoxes
Clip Length: 60 seconds
Reviews:
"In filmmaker Tim Usborne's entertaining three-part BBC-aired documentary, nuclear physicist and university professor Jim Al-Khalili chronicles the development of atomic science, which is presented as the foundational underpinning of physics, chemistry, and biology. The first program, "Clash of the Titans," tells the story of the great scientists who raced to unlock the secrets of the atom. In 1905, an ambitious young physicist named Albert Einstein conclusively proved the atom's existence with his study on why pollen "danced" in water rather than staying inert. Renowned figures, including Niels Bohr and Ernest Rutherford, joined the fray, extending our knowledge while often conducting surprisingly bitter, personal rivalries with other scientists. Part two, "Key to the Cosmos," explores how atomic research led to world-changing discoveries, as in Marie Curie's study of radioactivity, along with new theories such as the Big Bang. Also covered are components of the subatomic world and the "cosmic cauldrons" of the stars. In the last segment, "Illusion of Reality," Al-Khalili tackles such questions as the nature of reality itself, venturing into the fascinating realm of parallel universes, while also explaining terms and concepts such as quarks, anti-matter, and Schrodinger's cat. DVD extras include Spanish subtitles. Highlighting the vivid personalities who competed yet also fed off each other's creativity in an ongoing effort to reveal "nature's secret code," this inspiring documentary is highly recommended. Aud: H, C, P. (S. Rees)"
- Video Librarian - 3 1/2 stars
Read More Reviews
Reviews:
"In filmmaker Tim Usborne's entertaining three-part BBC-aired documentary, nuclear physicist and university professor Jim Al-Khalili chronicles the development of atomic science, which is presented as the foundational underpinning of physics, chemistry, and biology. The first program, "Clash of the Titans," tells the story of the great scientists who raced to unlock the secrets of the atom. In 1905, an ambitious young physicist named Albert Einstein conclusively proved the atom's existence with his study on why pollen "danced" in water rather than staying inert. Renowned figures, including Niels Bohr and Ernest Rutherford, joined the fray, extending our knowledge while often conducting surprisingly bitter, personal rivalries with other scientists. Part two, "Key to the Cosmos," explores how atomic research led to world-changing discoveries, as in Marie Curie's study of radioactivity, along with new theories such as the Big Bang. Also covered are components of the subatomic world and the "cosmic cauldrons" of the stars. In the last segment, "Illusion of Reality," Al-Khalili tackles such questions as the nature of reality itself, venturing into the fascinating realm of parallel universes, while also explaining terms and concepts such as quarks, anti-matter, and Schrodinger's cat. DVD extras include Spanish subtitles. Highlighting the vivid personalities who competed yet also fed off each other's creativity in an ongoing effort to reveal "nature's secret code," this inspiring documentary is highly recommended. Aud: H, C, P. (S. Rees)"
- Video Librarian - 3 1/2 stars
"This series delves into the history of the atom, primarily focusing on the research of 20th century physicists. University of Surrey professor and theoretical physicist Jim Al-Khalili serves as an enthusiastic guide through the labyrinthine concepts of quantum mechanics. He explains the contributions to the field from such notables as Werner Heisenberg, Albert Einstein, Richard Feynman, and many more. The program visualizes the cerebral concepts with real-world demonstrations whenever possible and makes generous use of computer animation. Excellent sound and picture quality enhance the overall production values. Filmed at numerous historic locations important to the development of atomic science, Al-Khalili examines original documents, tools, and other artifacts... Overall, this well-done program is appropriate to supplement instruction in upper level science classes.."
- School Library Journal
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