| Cosmic
Prisons: Black Holes & Dark Stars |
Join respected scientists as
they explore the most fascinating non-place in the universe—the black
hole. Renowned physicist Stephen Hawking, astronomer John Wheeler, who
coined the term, and others take viewers to the very center of a black
hole, where they discuss both the known and unknown realities of the
mysterious phenomenon. Explore the mystery behind it; study the latest
scientific information gleaned from images beamed back from the Hubble
telescope. Superb animation depicts the fate of cosmic matter when it
confronts a black hole, while scientists, aided by spectacular galactic
footage, discuss how light is swallowed. Einstein’s space/time theory
and its relevance to the phenomenon are discussed by Hawking. Astronomers
at the La Palma Observatory offer viewers a guided tour of these
"freeways to the stars." A Discovery Channel Production. (56
minutes, color) (C)1997 |
VHS8286
DVD8286 |
149.95
149.95 |
Call 800-776-8093 to Order |
| Fireballs from Space: Meteors & Comets |
The same kind of catastrophe
that is believed to have wiped out the dinosaurs—a giant meteorite or
comet’s impact—may have started life on Earth in the first place. And
such an impact could happen again. This program explores many fascinating
aspects concerning meteors and comets, from the Oort Cloud beyond Pluto
where comets are formed to the most recent meteorites recovered for study.
The effects of a large impact are seen in a computer simulation and from
experiments at the NASA Ames Vertical Gun Range. Research into space
debris reaches a new level as NASA scientists land the NEAR satellite on
the surface of an asteroid. A Discovery Channel Production. (53 minutes,
color) (C)2001 |
VHS29796
DVD29796 |
89.95
89.95 |
Call 800-776-8093 to Order |
| Galileo's Dialogue |
It is said that the apple fell
on Newton’s head, but it was Galileo who planted the tree. This program
examines The Dialogue—arguably the most controversial book of its
time—and the tumultuous events revolving around Galileo’s visionary
scientific achievements. The insights of Harvard University’s Owen
Gingerich, emeritus professor of the history of science; George Coyne,
director of the Vatican Observatory; and others, plus dramatizations of
scenes from the book and Galileo’s trial, capture the intellectual
fervor of the Scientific Revolution and the Church’s struggle to
discourage acceptance of Copernican cosmology. A Discovery University
Production. (53 minutes, color) (C)1997 |
VHS11528
DVD11528 |
129.95
129.95 |
Call 800-776-8093 to Order |
| It Came From Outer Space |
The discovery that rudimentary
life forms were present during Earth’s "late heavy
bombardment" period sank the long-held theory that life developed
slowly in Precambrian oceans. This comprehensive program presents the
radical yet plausible theories of intergalactic and interplanetary
panspermia, which postulate that dormant bacteria traveling via meteors
and asteroids colonized Earth. The research of scientists continuing to
seek evidence that terrestrial life developed solely on Earth, either on
the surface or perhaps in aquifers and near hydrothermal vents, is
examined in juxtaposition with the ascendant panspermia theories. Not
available in French-speaking Canada. A Discovery Channel Production. (53
minutes, color) (C)1998 |
VHS9039
DVD9039 |
89.95
89.95 |
Call 800-776-8093 to Order |
| The Sun |
In the heart of the Sun, five
million tons of hydrogen fuse into helium every second, temperatures
exceed 15 million degrees, and gases become as dense as lead. How did this
incredible powerhouse come to be, and how does it function? Filled with
visits to observatories and laboratories and footage of significant
historical sites, this program—an outstanding overview of the
Sun—gathers together the observations and insights of Newton, Galileo,
the ancient Anasazi, and others. In addition, interviews with leading
researchers including Gerald Wasserburg, Sir Martin Rees, Herbert
Friedman, and Mark Giampapa provide details on topics ranging from
sunspots and solar storms to neutrinos and photons. A Discovery Channel
Production. (52 minutes, color) (C)1999 |
VHS29732
DVD29732 |
89.95
89.95 |
Call 800-776-8093 to Order |
| The Unfolding Universe |
Black holes devouring stars,
galaxies colliding, supernovae—the night sky is not as placid as it
looks. In this beautifully filmed program, astronomers reconstruct the
history of the universe and work to predict events to come, such as the
fate of our sun and the Milky Way. With the help of outstanding computer
simulations, astrophysicists explain the formation of stars, galaxies, and
black holes. A number of leading experts provide informative commentary,
including Neil Tyson, director of the Hayden Planetarium at The American
Museum of Natural History. A Discovery Channel Production. (51 minutes,
color) |
VHS30771
DVD30771 |
129.95
129.95 |
Call 800-776-8093 to Order |
| Inside an
Earthquake |
In 45 seconds on a summer night in Turkey, a
shift in the Earth left 250,000 people homeless—and more than 17,000
dead. In this program, a geologist, seismologist, geophysicist, and others
extract the painful lessons from Izmit’s tragic upheaval so that other
high-risk cities—nearby Istanbul, for instance, and Los Angeles, which
lies on a fault line nearly identical to the one in Turkey—might better
prepare themselves for the earthquakes that scientists see as inevitable.
Gripping news footage captures the devastation and high-tech rescue
efforts while animated computer graphics and demonstrations reveal the
earth science behind such cataclysms. A Discovery Channel Production. (26
minutes, color) Click here to view a clip from Inside an Earthquake low
bandwidth version high
bandwidth version |
VHS33091
DVD33091 |
89.95
89.95 |
Call 800-776-8093 to Order |
| Landslide: Gravity Kills |
Each year, landslides kill more people and
cause more property damage than all other natural disasters combined. In
this program, experts from the U.S. Geological Survey examine the causes
of these deadly phenomena and discuss new ways of predicting their
occurrence. Using experiments, newsreel footage, and engaging computer
graphics, geological engineers illustrate how water pressure built up in a
slope can unleash debris flows up to 100 miles per hour. Interviews with
witnesses and survivors of major landslides further emphasize how gravity
inevitably prevails over all other geological forces. A Discovery Channel
Production. (53 minutes, color) (C)1999 |
VHS11926
DVD11956 |
129.95
129.95 |
Call 800-776-8093 to Order |
| Surviving the Ice Age |
Another Ice Age is only a matter of time, and
the clock is ticking. In this program, James Fastook and Harold Borns, of
The University of Maine’s Institute for Quaternary and Climate Studies;
glaciologist Per Holmlund; paleoecologist Scott Elias; geoscientist
Richard Alley; and Stefan Rahmstorf, of the Potsdam Climate Institute,
share their knowledge of the history and mechanics of glaciation, recent
glaciology research in the Arctic and Antarctic regions and Scandinavia,
migratory patterns in prehistoric Beringia, and the impact of the
greenhouse effect on atmospheric/oceanic equilibrium. A Discovery Channel
Production. (52 minutes, color) |
VHS30056
DVD30056 |
89.95
89.95 |
Call 800-776-8093 to Order |
| Understanding Volcanoes |
From its crust to its molten core, Earth is a
planet under immense pressure. How does it let off steam? This program
explores the workings of shield volcanoes, cinder cones, and composite
volcanoes by examining how the planet formed and how its tectonic plates
continue to shift. In addition, scientists explain the methods they use to
predict impending volcanic eruptions. Spectacular news footage of
volcanoes’ awesome power is included as well. A Discovery Channel
Production. (46 minutes, color) |
VHS11934
DVD11934 |
129.95
129.95 |
Call 800-776-8093 to Order |
| America's Prairie: Where the Sky Began |
Only 200 years ago, 400 million
acres of the United States were covered in lush grass—and nearly a third
of it was more than ten feet high. Graced by beautiful nature photography,
this program travels to the Midwest to study what remains of the American
prairie: its geological origins, its life cycle as an ecosystem, its flora
and fauna, the changes wrought by America’s westward expansion, and
reclamation efforts targeted at saving this precious biome. Interviews
with a historian, a biologist from the Walnut Creek National Wildlife
Refuge, and representatives of the USDA’s soil lab and The Nature
Conservancy provide additional insights. A Discovery Channel Production.
(53 minutes, color) (C)1998 |
VHS11995
DVD11995 |
129.95
129.95 |
Call 800-776-8093 to Order |
| Black Tide |
In 1989, the world found out how
much devastation could be wrought from a single oil-shipping mishap when
the Exxon Valdez ran aground, spilling eleven million
gallons of crude oil off the coast of Alaska. Filmed shortly after the
disaster, this program focuses on the Exxon Valdez case in
order to investigate the environmental hazards posed by oil transportation
around the world. Dramatic on-site footage and newsreel coverage are
combined with interviews with the Mayor of Valdez, Exxon’s CEO, the
spill clean-up coordinator for the State of Alaska, and National Oceanic
and Atmospheric Administration scientists. A Discovery Channel Production.
(51 minutes, color) (C)1990 |
VHS32635
DVD32635 |
129.95
129.95 |
Call 800-776-8093 to Order |
| Finite Oceans |
The demonstrated fragility of a
body of water as large as the Great Lakes raises an ominous ecological
warning. This classic program, presented and narrated by renowned
biologist Dr. Roger Payne, offers a view quite contrary to the familiar
misconception that the oceans are a limitless resource. Dr. Payne embarks
on a political, economic, and environmental journey through the earth’s
seas, not only examining the devastating impact of human pollutants such
as PCBs, DDT, and petrochemicals, but also providing solutions to these
complex problems through alternative power sources and aquaculture. A
Discovery Channel Production. (51 minutes, color) (C)1995 |
VHS11993
DVD11993 |
89.95
89.95 |
Call 800-776-8093 to Order |
| In Celebration of Trees |
Filmed by Emmy Award-winning
cinematographer Al Giddings, this timeless program takes a stirring look
at the largest, tallest, longest-living things on the planet: trees.
Stunning location footage captures the variety and the grandeur of the
Pacific Northwest, the Florida Everglades, the Shenandoah Valley, and the
Great Sonoran Desert. Quotations from Sierra Club founder John Muir and
others who revere nature are interwoven with information on topics ranging
from the function of forest ecosystems, to the effects of deforestation,
to the integration of parks into urban landscapes. A Discovery Channel
Production. (52 minutes, color) (C)1991 |
VHS33092
DVD33092 |
89.95
89.95 |
Call 800-776-8093 to Order |
| Midwater Mysteries |
A combination of cutting-edge
research and spectacular video footage, this spellbinding program
spotlights three pioneering expeditions as they study the exotic creatures
inhabiting the largest ecosystem on Earth: the ocean’s mesopelagic zone.
Laurence Madin, of the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, sets sail to
learn about the impact of salps on the global environment. Edie Widder, of
the Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institution, tests a seabed stealth
camera, Eye-in-the-Sea. And Marsh Youngbluth, also of HBOI, chases
siphonophores in a submersible to determine whether their predatory habits
might upset the world’s undersea food chain. A Discovery Channel
Production. (50 minutes, color) (C)2003 |
VHS33090
DVD33090 |
89.95
89.95 |
Call 800-776-8093 to Order |
| Mysteries
of El Niño |
El Niño has impacted people
globally for the past 15,000 years, causing storms, floods, fires,
drought, disease, famine, and even the extinction of entire societies. In
this program, experts from the National Center for Atmospheric Research,
the Pacific Marine Environmental Laboratory, and elsewhere study the
causes, impact, and implications of the dreaded natural cataclysm that is
both a climatic and social phenomenon. High-tech El Niño surveillance,
analysis of recent super-El Niños, and research into the extinction of
Peru’s ancient Moche people are featured, along with outstanding
computer-modeled imaging and riveting archival footage. A Discovery
Channel Production. (51 minutes, color) (C)2000 |
VHS32592
DVD32592 |
129.95
129.95 |
Call 800-776-8093 to Order |
| Understanding Oceans |
The seas of the world are
teeming with scientific potential, from cures for deadly diseases to
undiscovered species of aquatic life. This program makes key concepts of
oceanography easy to understand while addressing some of humankind’s
most pressing concerns, including ocean pollution and global warming.
Computer animation, archival news footage, and interviews with luminary
Thor Heyerdahl and experts from George Mason University, Scripps
Institution of Oceanography, Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institution, the
Smithsonian Institution, and the U.S. Navy enhance this multifaceted
overview of ocean science. A Discovery Channel Production. (53 minutes,
color) (C)1996 |
VHS11928
DVD11928 |
89.95
89.95 |
Call 800-776-8093 to Order |
| Understanding Weather |
What causes the cycles of
weather? How is it possible to forecast where they are headed and when
they will arrive? This program takes a comprehensive look at weather, from
the history of meteorology to the global network of satellites, balloons,
ocean buoys, and reports from aviators that enables scientists to chart
and predict its course. Experts from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration show how the incredible mass of meteorological data is
constantly being turned into a global weather map. Geochemists and
research meteorologists from NOAA and the National Severe Storms
Laboratory discuss such topics as tornadoes and the earth’s long-term
forecast. A Discovery Channel Production. (51 minutes, color) (C)1999 |
VHS11938
DVD11983 |
129.95
129.95 |
Call 800-776-8093 to Order |
| Understanding Electricty |
From
the lighting of homes to the beating of a heart, electricity is an
integral and fundamental force in human life. In this program, a variety
of experts discuss the study and wide-ranging uses of this pervasive
phenomenon, from the physics of motors and neon lights to the output of
the Hoover Dam. Engaging computer graphics are used to explain voltage,
amps, and watts. Dr. Martin Uman of the University of Florida Lightning
Research Lab conducts modern versions of the experiment Ben Franklin made
famous. Dr. Hugh Calkins, Director of Electrophysiology at Johns Hopkins
Hospital, discusses innovations in defibrillators that can now be
installed in the patient. A Discovery Channel Production. (53 minutes,
color) (C)1997 Click here to view a clip from Understanding Electricity
low
bandwidth version high
bandwidth version |
VHS11937
DVD11937 |
89.95
89.95 |
Call 800-776-8093 to Order |
| Understanding Magnetism |
Taking a chronological approach
to magnetism, this classic program examines the concepts, phenomena, and
inventions involved with a force so fundamental and so powerful that
without it nothing in the universe could exist. Experts such as Nobel
Laureate Leon Lederman, California Polytechnic Institute’s Richard
Frankel, and Steve Fairfax, of MIT’s Plasma Science and Fusion Center,
explain the relationships between magnetic fields and biomagnetism,
geophysics and Earth’s magnetic reversals, and electromagnetic waves and
TV signals. The principles behind MRIs, MagLev monorails, MIT’s Tokamak
fusion reactor, and Fermilab’s Tevatron particle accelerator are also
discussed. A Discovery Channel Production. (51 minutes, color) (C)1994 |
VHS11933
DVD11993 |
89.95
89.95 |
Call 800-776-8093 to Order |
| Understanding Time |
This program narrated by Jane
Curtin explores planetary orbits, circadian rhythms, time dilation,
intergalactic wormholes, and other phenomena to quantify the common
denominator of all that exists: time. Experts from Harvard, Columbia, and
Tulane Universities; the Center for Biological Timing; and the U.S. Naval
Observatory discuss timekeeping innovations, including the pendulum,
marine chronometer, atomic clock, and Global Positioning System, and
applications of time-related scientific and technologic advances to areas
such as navigation, genetics, and space exploration. A Discovery Channel
Production. (53 minutes, color) (C)1996 |
VHS8941
DVD8941 |
129.95
129.95 |
Call 800-776-8093 to Order |
| Understanding Uncertainty |
In the world of subatomic
particles, where mere observation of a system actually changes the system,
intuitive logic—what seems to make sense—does not apply. This program
provides an entertaining overview of physics at the microcosmic level:
quantum mechanics. Demonstrations, experiments, and video graphics, along
with commentary by Leon Lederman of the Fermi National Accelerator
Laboratory, elucidate such topics as Einstein’s theories of general and
special relativity, the photoelectric effect, particle/wave duality, and
Heisenberg’s Uncertainty Principle. The program brings the quantum
physics discussion up to date by looking at David Bohm’s Seamless Whole
Theory and the implications of Bell’s Theorem. A Discovery Channel
Production. (48 minutes, color) (C)1996 |
VHS11939
DVD11939 |
89.95
89.95 |
Call 800-776-8093 to Order |