The Nature of Things
Season 23
The Nature of Things is a Canadian television series of documentary programs. It debuted on CBC Television on November 6, 1960. Many of the programs document nature and the effect that humans have on it. The program was one of the first to explore environmental issues, such as clear-cut logging.
The series is named after an epic poem by Roman philosopher Lucretius: "Dē Rērum Nātūrā" — On the Nature of Things.
The series is named after an epic poem by Roman philosopher Lucretius: "Dē Rērum Nātūrā" — On the Nature of Things.
Where to Watch The Nature of Things • Season 23
16 Episodes
- Gutenberg Revisited / Diving Birds / TulipsE1
Gutenberg Revisited / Diving Birds / TulipsGutenberg Revisited: A look at new developments in microelectronic information processing, focusing on the Telidon system, a Canadian invention offering two-way interactive television. Diving Birds: A look at adaptations in aquatic birds such as ducks and geese which allow them to make long dives under water. Tulips: An overview of the tulip industry in Holland. - Northern Games / Geothermal Energy / Ships of the Desert / Coriolis EffectE2
Northern Games / Geothermal Energy / Ships of the Desert / Coriolis EffectNorthern Games: A look at the traditional games of the Inuit as they are practised 800 km north of the Arctic Circle, by youth in competition from communities across the North. Geothermal Energy: A look at how geothermal energy has been adapted to supply human needs on Iceland. Ships of the Desert: An exploration of the dromedary camel, adapted for life in the desert. Coriolis Effect: A brief explanation of the coriolis effect - what it is, how it is demonstrable, and its effect on weather. - Bring Back My BonnieE3
Bring Back My BonnieA look at recovery after strokes. In previous years, strokes were frequently fatal, and brain damage was seen as permanent. Now, all this is changing. It has been found that with therapy many stroke victims can recover some or even most of the functions they have lost. - Living in a Sunhouse / Brittle Bones / DIALE5
Living in a Sunhouse / Brittle Bones / DIALFeatured: Solar techniques to improve the thermal efficiency of a house; treatment methods for fragile bones (osteoporosis); and a laser system called DIAL (Differential Absorption Lidar) that measures levels of environmental pollution. - Edge of the Cold (2)E8
Edge of the Cold (2)The Australian Broadcasting Corporation produced four half-hour films about the Macquarie Islands. This episode of The Nature of Things compiles two of them. The first was originally entitled 'Man the Hunter, Man the Keeper.' The second was originally entitled 'The Dominant Male.' The program looks at the delicate ecological balance which must be maintained for the populations of elephant seals and seabirds on the Macquarie Islands. Narrated by Sir Edmund Hillary.[347] The other two episodes were compiled into a Nature of Things broadcast of 28 October 1981. - To Be or Not to BeE9
To Be or Not to BeNumerous questions raised by new genetic testing techniques designed to identify fetal disorders are addressed. The evolving techniques of fetal diagnosis such as amniocentesis, ultrasound and fetoscopy are also considered.[349][350] This is a revised version of 'Prenatal Diagnosis' which was originally broadcast on December 10, 1980. - Decade of Delay / RH Laboratory / Hawaii TelescopeE12
Decade of Delay / RH Laboratory / Hawaii TelescopeDecade of Delay: A look at what can be done to make cars safer, and an inquiry into why it is not being done. RH Laboratory: A visit to the special Rh. laboratory in Winnipeg, which was the world pioneer in combating Rh disease, an infant condition that results from the presence or absence of the rhesus factor in individual blood cells. Hawaii Telescope: A look at the telescope and observatory erected by a joint venture of Canada and France on Mauna Kea volcano in Hawaii. - The Gentle Giants / Ancient Diseases / Water WeedsE14
The Gentle Giants / Ancient Diseases / Water WeedsThe Gentle Giants: A film on the gray whales who live off the pacific coast of North America. Ancient Diseases: A look at paleopathology and what can be learned about the past of man and the history of diseases through the autopsy of ancient human remains. Water Weeds: A look at an experimental project in Listowel, Ontario, using cattails to purify sewage. The cattails thrive in sewage where they also filter out some industrial contaminants as well as deal with organic compounds.