A Science Odyssey

Episode 1

Matters of Life and Death

Sun, Jan 11, 1998

The passion and determination of medical science in the twentieth century. Dramatic experiments, the politics of science, and races against the clock form a backdrop to the discovery of new treatments, antibiotics, and advances in surgery and medical technology that have lengthened our lives and force us to rethink our assumptions about life and death.

Episode 2

Mysteries of the Universe

Mon, Jan 12, 1998

At the beginning of the century, discoveries about the hidden workings of the everyday world suggest all is not as it seems. Quantum theory, relativity, nuclear power, and clues about the birth and death of the universe have rocked our deepest beliefs. Mysteries of the Universe journeys from the subatomic world of the atom to the farthest reaches of space and time, and into the laboratories of the men and women whose work has forever altered physics and astronomy.

Episode 3

In Search of Ourselves

Tue, Jan 13, 1998

"In Search of Ourselves" traces the pendulum swing of psychological theory from nature to nurture and back again. Case studies, classic experiments, and research on the brain blaze this trail of discovery, revealing what we have learned about ourselves and what still remains a riddle. We also see the dark side of our faith in the perfectibility of human nature, as scientific ideas are twisted to fit political agendas. "In Search of Ourselves" is a story of the lessons learned, as well as the ways in which we have learned them. As the century ends, the workings of our minds remain an irresistible frontier.

Episode 4

Bigger, Better, Faster

Wed, Jan 14, 1998

From a turn-of-the-century home to electricity and home appliances. The development of the automobiles and airplanes, radio and the other inventions of the 20th century through the Apollo moon landings and the development of personal computers and the world wide web.

Episode 5

Origins

Thu, Jan 1, 1998