The Nature of Things

Season 36

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.

Where to Watch The Nature of Things • Season 36

18 Episodes

  • Where The Heron Finds Its Home
    E1
    Where The Heron Finds Its HomeNorth America's Great Blue Heron is being discovered by biologists to be a sensitive indicator of the state of our wetlands. If herons are abundant, the wetlands they inhabit form a healthy ecosystem.
  • Alternative Medicine: Teaching New Doctors Old Tricks
    E2
    Alternative Medicine: Teaching New Doctors Old TricksInterviews with doctors regarding alternative medicine. Topics include acupuncture, homeopathy, ayurveda, and aboriginal medicine.
  • Martin Gardner: Mathemagician
    E3
    Martin Gardner: MathemagicianIntroduces Martin Gardner, the American mathematician and his influence on not only leading mathematicians, computer scientists, but card-sharks, jugglers and circus stars as well.
  • Mysteries of the Ocean Wanderers: Albatross
    E4
    Mysteries of the Ocean Wanderers: Albatross
  • Back Pain: Back to the Basics
    E5
    Back Pain: Back to the Basics
  • The Struggle of the Gwich'in
    E6
    The Struggle of the Gwich'inThe struggle of the Gwich'in people of Alaska to preserve the environment of those in developing oil fields.
  • The Island of the Ghost Bear
    E7
    The Island of the Ghost BearThe White Bear habitat off the coast of British Columbia.
  • Cheetah and Lions
    E8
    Cheetah and LionsThe leading cause for the death of the cheetah : the lion.
  • Why Sex?
    E9
    Why Sex?Sexual reproduction has been the driving force behind numerous traits and characteristics, including the human propensity to feel love.
  • National parks: forever wild?
    E10
    National parks: forever wild?Explores the crises faced by Canada's national parks as they attempt to steer a path between the competing interests of tourism, ecology and business.
  • Antibiotics: Growing Resistance
    E11
    Antibiotics: Growing ResistanceDoctors fear that overuse of antibiotics will lead to resistant bacterias.
  • The Child Who Couldn't Play
    E12
    The Child Who Couldn't PlayWe look at autism, a mysterious disorder that impedes normal development in humans and looks at new developments in its treatment. It was once believed that autism was caused by remote, cold parents; most often the mother was blamed. Today, autism is recognized as a partly genetic biological disorder, but its cause is still a mystery. The Child Who Couldn't Play examines the latest research on autism. At the Princeton Child Development Institute, the results of the science-based approach to autism attract professionals from around the world. Of the children under the age of five who are treated, over half progress to regular school classrooms. Winner of the Chris Award, Columbus International Film and Video Festival 1996; International Health & Medical Film Festival finalist.
  • Food or Famine?
    E13
    Food or Famine?(Episodes order to be confirmed) - Is the human population going to outstrip the earth's food supply? This is the central question in this provocative new two-hour special. Side effects of recent food surpluses include environmental problems such as soil erosion, salinization and chemical pollution. Food or Famine looks at projects in North America, Chile, Indonesia, Africa and India that are participating in a worldwide movement to return to agricultural methods based on sound ecological principles. But as the world population continues to increase, new crops with higher yields will have to be developed. This special also examines the worldwide imbalance between food consumption and production.
  • Learning to Love Creepy Crawlies
    E14
    Learning to Love Creepy CrawliesIn this video entomologist and Harvard Professor E.O. Wilson discuss the vital role insects play in ecology and in all life on earth. If insects disappeared, the natural world as known now would collapse in a matter of months. Insects are an integral part of life. They pollinate most of the world's flowering plants, break down organic wastes to produce soil, and they are a source of food for many animals and plants.
  • The Natural History of a Point of View: John Livingston
    E15
    The Natural History of a Point of View: John LivingstonNaturalist John Livingston explores the roots of the ecological movement and illuminates modern environmentalism. He pleads for recognition and the intrinsic value of nature.
  • Echo of the Elephants: The Next Generation
    E16
    Echo of the Elephants: The Next Generation
  • Dealing with Drugs: Update
    E17
    Dealing with Drugs: UpdateUpdated documentary, presented in 1991, on drug consumers.
  • The Great Buffalo Delta
    E18
    The Great Buffalo DeltaVisit the area of Peace and the Athabasca River in northern Alberta, dens herds of bison and wolf packs.

 

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