The Royal Institution Christmas Lectures
Tony Ryan: Smart Stuff
The 2002 CHRISTMAS LECTURES reveal the molecular miracles behind the everyday objects that define our modern world. From the planes, trains and trainers that get us from A to B, to the tasty burgers, chips and ice cream that refuel our bodies...everything around us is the product of ingenious chemical wizardry. Through unique experiments, demonstrations and audience participation events, this lecture series reveals the secrets of how it's all done and contemplates how it could be done even better.
Where to Watch The Royal Institution Christmas Lectures • Tony Ryan: Smart Stuff
5 Episodes
- The Spider That Spun a Suspension BridgeE1
The Spider That Spun a Suspension BridgeSpider silk is an engineering marvel, stronger than steel and tougher than Kevlar. Everything about a spider's web - from the material it is spun from, to the glue that binds it together - is an engineering masterpiece. Built in seconds, each strand in the web is a highly engineered polymer fibre, 10-times stronger than steel. Like spiders, we use a wide range of polymer fibres to build the world around us. This lecture explores how chemistry is trying to mimic the natural world and construct a more ambitious and efficient man-made one. - The Trainer That Ran Over the WorldE2
The Trainer That Ran Over the WorldWhat connects the trainers on your feet to a jumbo jet flying 40,000 feet up in the air? The trainer is a miracle of modern science. The average pair lasts just six months, but in that time, they will have run 3,000 miles, absorbed 400 litres of sweat and withstood 400 tonnes of impact. How they survive this battering is down to some miraculous chemistry that lurks beneath their flashy skin - a hidden world of impact cushioning gel, moisture absorbing insoles, and breathable foot-hugging coatings. So tune in and explore the chemistry that propels us around the planet. - The Phone That Shrank the PlanetE3
The Phone That Shrank the PlanetWhat connects the mobile phone in your pocket with the web of surveillance cameras that span the world? Ten years ago mobile phones were the size of bricks, as heavy as a bag of sugar and the property of only the very rich. Now they are everywhere, smaller than a credit card and lighter than a Mars bar. But what shrunk the mobile phone, and how come we all have one? Join Tony as he explores the chemistry that connects people and asks what does the electronic chemistry have in store for us? - The Plaster That Stretches LifeE4
The Plaster That Stretches LifeWhat connects the sticky plaster with replacing damaged parts of our bodies? The humble plaster is one of the simplest steps on the road to repairing the damaged body, yet it is a marvel of chemical engineering - a miniature hospital, dispensing everything from antibiotics to aftercare. But how does the plaster stick, and how does it allow the wound to breathe, while at the same time keep it dry? Our knowledge of the chemistry of our bodies now extends far beyond plasters. Now we have soap, toothpaste & shampoo that make us smell nice, our parents look younger and our teeth last as long as we do. Check out the lecture to discover more! - The Ice Cream That Will Freeze GrannyE5
The Ice Cream That Will Freeze GrannyWhat connects creating the perfect tasting ice cream with bringing people back to life after cryogenic freezing? Creating ice cream that will re-freeze time after time but still remains as tasty as the day it was made, is a major culinary conundrum. New ways of conjuring up this faultless cuisine may come from the most unlikely places - serving up the perfect ice cream may depend on understanding how Arctic fishes stop themselves from freezing in their icy homes. But if we can mimic this seemingly magical feat, could we do far more than make the perfect raspberry ripple? Could we cryogenically freeze your granny and then defrost her back to her radiant self again?