Science & Technology

This film is 48 minutes of flight footage. There is no dialogue or commentary, only a musical soundtrack. Some of the footage is computer generated. ~ Ed Atkinson, All Movie Guide

This film is part two of a five-part series on the scientific developments in various disciplines over the last century. The documentary is narrated by benign radio and television host Charles Osgood. Mr. Osgood takes the viewer on a journey through time and space to explore the findings and repercussions of recently discovered principles in the areas of mathematics, physics, and astronomy. The discoveries made question the very nature of reality and the place of humanity in it. ~ Rose of Sharon Winter, All Movie Guide

B-17: Flying Fortress is an historical documentary that chronicles the development of aerial weaponry. The 55-minute program takes an in-depth look at the following topics: the history of aerial warfare, the development of the atomic bomb, and strategic bombing formations, and the utilization of the B-17 bomber. Archival footage is featured. ~ Kathleen Wildasin, All Movie Guide

Hog Heaven: The Story of the Harley Davidson Empire explores the unsteady rise of this quintessentially American company. Tracing the roots of this multimillion-dollar manufacturer from the garage shop of two motorcycle purists, this video presents a true Horatio Alger tale. Featuring interviews with celebrity enthusiasts including Peter Fonda and Jay Leno, motorcycle historians, and plenty of footage of hogs past and present, the video provides a comprehensive look at this important slice of Americana. ~ Sean Hurley, All Movie Guide

Nova Video Library: B-29 Frozen in Time follows Darryl Greenamyer and his crew as they try to retrieve an almost intact B-29 from the Arctic Circle. The airplane crash-landed nearly 50 years earlier during a secret mission for the United States. The pilots survived the crash and were rescued, but the B-29 was left in the harsh and unforgiving climate 250 miles north of Thule, Greenland. Greenamyer, a former test pilot who set a low-altitude speed record in a jet he built from spare parts, believes that he can actually fly the plane after performing some maintenance and building a short runway. He flies in parts for the B-29 and a massive bulldozer to clear the runway, but every takeoff is dangerous in these conditions, and he and his crew have a short window for success due to the brief summer. Greenamyer also faces a limited budget and other difficult hurdles as they try to resurrect a piece of history and fly it home. ~ Thomas Carpenter, All Movie Guide

Ebola. Possibly the most terrifying virus to ever exist. In 1995 the lethal virus reared its ugly head in Zaire, swiftly killing 77% of those affected. The entire village of Kikwit was quarantined in an attempt to confine this deadly virus and keep it from spreading to other regions. Nova was there. For four weeks Nova videotaped the aftereffects of this terrifying virus, watching as it slowly ate away at the core life systems if its victims. The virus slowly breaks down and dissolves the internal organs and connective tissues. Nova talks to the disease specialists studying Ebola and illuminates their many fears about combating the next outbreak, which they expect to be even more deadly and unstoppable than the Kikwit strand. ~ Laura Mahnken, All Movie Guide

We may never know what drives people to risk life and limb tackling the most dangerous peak in the world, but Nova is there investigating the hard science of what happens to human bodies once they enter "the death zone." Frozen, oxygen-depleted, dehydrated, buffeted by high winds and solar radiation -- "Everest: The Death Zone" measures all of the biological and mental effects of such an environment through the use of brain scans taken before and after an expedition. Follow a group of Himalayan climbers on their trek to the summit, and find out first-hand why Everest claims human lives so easily. ~ Sarah Welsh, All Movie Guide

In Nova: Super Bridge, Nova checks out the rebuilding of the old Clark Bridge at Alton, IL. No longer structurally sound for its usual load of traffic across the Mississippi, the bridge had to be redesigned with new parameters. Engineers, construction crews, contractors, and surveyors faced the challenge of tower construction strong enough to support the weight of traffic, the road, and the bridge itself. In addition, the bridge should not hinder barge traffic below and the entire project had to come in under budget, as well as look aesthetically pleasing. ~ Alice Day, All Movie Guide

This National Geographic documentary follows several scientists from the American Museum of Natural History as they search the Gobi Desert in Mongolia for the oviraptor, a bird-like dinosaur. Capturing not only the dig and the surrounding desert landscape, National Geographic: Dinosaur Hunters also includes several computer-generated scenes that recreate the oviraptor in the flesh. ~ Ed Atkinson, All Movie Guide

The Hubble Space Telescope provided astronomers with some of their first views of the outer reaches of space. Some of the miraculous footage captured by the Hubble has been edited together for the documentary Stargaze. ~ Perry Seibert, All Movie Guide

This chilling and eye-opening documentary examines four very different cases of paranormal activity in the U.S. and England. From a Kentucky roadhouse to ancient English universities, viewers are taken on location and introduced to the people who encountered these poltergeists firsthand. As psychics and scientists grapple with the mystery of poltergeists, the real answers may lie hidden in the minds of those who have met them. Unexplained: Poltergeist features dramatic re-enactments that bring these terrifying encounters to life, as well as chilling interviews with victims who detail exactly what happened. ~ Scott Albright, All Movie Guide

Few who witnessed the awesome spectacle of the Titanic emerging from the darkness of the ocean depths in James Cameron's Ghosts of the Abyss are likely to forget that spectacular sight, and now the groundbreaking filmmaker journeys even deeper into unexplored territory with this look at some of nature's most elusive creations in Aliens of the Deep. Using the basic concepts of astrobiology as his foundation, Cameron enlists the aid of talented marine biologists and NASA researchers to reveal the fascinating and seldom-seen life forms of the sea and use their biological makeup to create a speculative blueprint for what life on other planets might look like. In the super-heated, mineral-charged water of hydrothermal vents, creatures such as a six-foot-tall worm with crimson plumes dance alongside blind white crabs and some of the strangest creatures you're ever likely to see. If Ghosts of the Abyss brought viewers as close as they're ever likely to get to standing on the ocean floor and beholding the majesty of one of history's most notorious tragedies, Aliens of the Deep brings them as close as they may ever come to standing face-to-face with an alien life form. ~ Jason Buchanan, All Movie Guide