Project Mercury Advances - America’s first manned space program finally puts a man in orbit; Camera Tracking - The array of special cameras that follow a spacecraft at launch; The International Space Station - The building and operation of the orbiting laboratory
The International Space Station - Since the 1970 the space powers have been sending to orbit craft in which people could live and work for extended periods, but the expense and complexity has been daunting. This episode focuses on the international collaboration required to maintain a permanently crewed laboratory orbiting the Earth.
Jupiter is the largest planet in our solar system but it’s only recently that we’ve been able to get a glimpse into the intricacies of this giant and the fascinating moons that orbit it. This episode looks at what we know about Jupiter and how we know it.
The documentary tells the story of the slow transformation of a man. Once democratic and pro-European, he is now a reactionary head of state with autocratic aims. From the abrupt cessation of Turkey's EU accession talks in 2010 to the colossal purges destabilizing the country today, we are studying the implementation of a ruthless strategy aimed at making the Turkish president the new Sultan of the Middle East.
Five years ago, in 2012, Russia was a second-rate power surrounded by the expanding NATO alliance. Putin was destabilized since his controversial reelection triggered waves of protest. Yet he turned out to be a brilliant strategist, exploiting the weaknesses of the West and positioning himself as the main player in international affairs.
Milk has long symbolized a healthy diet. But is it really true? Milk is not necessarily what we think it is. Experts explain the difference between traditional and industrial milk production. Increased efficiency through concentrated feed leads to cow diseases that are treated with antibiotics leaving drug residues in the milk. There are strong concerns that modern milk may cause allergies, even cancer. The dose makes the poison, and there are indications that our ‘dose’ of milk is an overdose.
A survey of World War II and the pivotal role propaganda played in it.
A survey of World War II and the pivotal role propaganda played in it.
The idea of postponing or even reversing the ageing process has always fascinated humanity. Some claim that immortality will be possible as little as thirty years from now - but will it just be for the rich? Our team visited research laboratories working on this objective and interviewed the world’s top researchers in the field. We ask just how long humans might be able to live, and what it could involve. The programme also looks into the popular wish to remain young and extend our lifespan.
It's the soft, natural fabric associated with high quality and versatility. Used to make everything from jeans and t-shirts to tarpaulins, oil and cattle feed, it powers a 37 billion euros a year industry. But is cotton really as pure as it seems? Claims of forced labour, pollution, and even slavery have stained its wholesome reputation, creating a market for 'ethical, responsible' cotton.
A fascinating story of conspiracy and revenge. On the 15th of March 1921, Armenian student Soghomon Tehlirian, walked up to Talat Pasha, the former ruler of the Ottoman Empire, and shot him in the head. There were numerous witnesses and everyone expected an easy trial, resulting in a death sentence for Tehlirian. But the trial turned into a judgement of his victim, one of the architects of the Armenian genocide.
After the Revolution in 1949, legislation regarding equality was passed, a huge step forward for China at the time. The economic reforms of recent decades have also improved women's lives. Yet China is still the only country in the world where more women than men commit suicide (WHO).
"A global revolution is underway to obtain what UN Secretary General Ban Ki Moon and Barack Obama call ‘the final frontier in human rights’: the universal decriminalization of homosexuality. Homosexuality is forbidden in almost half of the world. Out of 196 UN member states, there are 7 where it is punishable by death. In 84 others, it can merit prison and physical punishment. But today, momentum is building and the debate on gay rights is omnipresent - whether it be regarding legalization.
In just a few years, technology will merge with our bodies in unimaginable ways and push the boundaries of what it is to be human. While medical technology still aims at remediating disabilities, cyborgs strive to something else: a merging of man and machine with the goal of enhancing human capabilities.
For generations, we have believed that man is driven by ruthless self-interest. But over the past decade, this idea has been increasingly challenged. New research from fields as diverse as political science, psychology, sociology and experimental economics is forcing us to rethink human actions and motivation.
Caught between the Israeli occupation and the threat of radical Islamism, the Christians of Palestine are being driven into exile and their number is inexorably declining, even though their presence in the Holy Land goes back 2000 years. Faced with the apparent indifference of the West, today they are left helpless...against the Wall.
Sadaf Rahimi is the best female boxer in Afghanistan, but she must deal with her country’s traditions, fear and her own fate in order to be a free woman. Sadaf and her sister Shabnam joined the newly created women’s boxing team at the age of 13, when they returned to their country after being refugees in Iran.
For centuries, the Ama free divers of Japan have plunged into icy waters to depths of 50 feet without air tanks to retrieve shellfish to feed their families. But today, a pair of women in their eighties are among the last practitioners of this endangered tradition.
Tatiana, Paula, and Joyce are three officers patrolling the dangerous back alleys of Rio De Janeiro, tasked with reducing violence between drug traffickers and the city's military police, and wondering each day if they will be returning home to their families
In India, the Dalit are the lowest caste in the social order, and girls are especially vulnerable to mistreatment, but a group of young women from the city of Dindigul are breaking tradition by becoming the first female performers in a drumming competition.
The boundaries between man and machine, between technology and nature, are becoming increasingly blurred and might even disappear completely in the future. Information technology, genetic engineering and nanotechnology are not only making considerable inroads into society, but also more and more directly into human nature. The day when Homo sapiens is able to consciously design and radically change himself is not far away.
Amal Graafstra is an O.G. cyborg, known for his TED talks and interviews on international media outlets. But what some people might not know about Amal is that he's also the CEO of Dangerous Things, a company that creates and sells implantable consumer tech.
Anastasia Synn is a modern-day cyborg, pushing the limits of technology and her body as well as incorporating her implants into her magic performances.
Grindhouse Wetware is a startup challenging the medical industry to be more radical when it comes to saving lives. Would you become a cyborg to escape an early death?
Manel Munoz has implanted a new sensory organ that allows him to sense changes in atmospheric pressure.
Liviu Babitz and his company are turning humans into Cyborgs by giving them a new ability that allows them to sense North.
Neil Harbisson is an artist and a cyborg that has an antenna in his skull that allows him to hear color.
Justin Worst is a rock climber and archeologist who became a cyborg to get one step closer to his childhood dream.
The Cyborg Foundation aims to put together and empower people that are willing to unite with technology.
Spacesuits - Space is a hostile environment. For humans to live and work beyond the atmosphere requires a sophisticated suite of technology. This episode looks at the health effects of space on the human body and the techniques used to allow people to function in the micro-gravity vacuum.
