The Nature of Things · SEASON 21

Volcanoes / Hovercraft / Curve Balls / Windshear / Xerography

Episode 1 · 1980-10-08

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Season 21Episode 1★ N/A/10
  • Documentary

Episode overview

Volcanoes: A look at the geological formation and environmental impact of volcanoes, focusing on the 1980 eruptions of Mt. St. Helens in Washington. Hovercraft: New uses for air-cushioned vehicles, including the possible future use of hovercraft over muskeg terrain. Curve Balls: A demonstration of how baseball pitchers throw curve balls, and the effects which a baseball has when it spins through the air. Windshear: Richard Malcolm, a physicist specializing in aircraft safety, discusses the problems created by different types of turbulence and the recent aircraft design changes to ameliorate the problems. Xerography: A presentation of how a photocopier works.

Season 21 episodes

1. Volcanoes / Hovercraft / Curve Balls / Windshear / Xerography1980-10-08 2. Cystic Fibrosis / Whooping Crane / Cold-Water Survival1980-10-15 3. Skin – The Bare Necessity / Manatees / Ludhiana1980-10-22 4. Tar Wars1980-10-29 5. Going Without Gas / Surface Tension / Science Fair1980-11-05 6. China Now – Its Roots in the Past (Part 1 of 2)1980-11-12 7. China Now – The Four Modernizations (Part 2 of 2)1980-11-19 8. Success Story / Sickle Cell Anemia1980-11-26 9. Freak Waves / Invisible Astronomy / Hildebrand1980-12-03 10. Prenatal Diagnosis / Hearing in Chinchillas1980-12-10 11. AAAS Report / One of the Family / Oyster Culture1981-01-07 12. Birds' Eggs / Newfoundland Oil / John Polanyi1981-01-14 13. Poisoned Playgrounds / Charlie1981-01-28 14. The Moving Still1981-02-11 15. Sri Lanka: Island of Serendib1981-02-18 16. Blackfly / Desalination / Memory – Come to think of it / Dr. Karl Illmensee1981-03-11 17. The Foxes' Earth1981-03-25