Chemical Engineering: Videos and Visuals

Chemist Martin Hanczyc makes “protocells” in his lab, blobs of chemicals that he hopes will behave like living cells. His work demonstrates how life might have first occurred on Earth ... and how it may occur elsewhere in the universe, too. In this fascinating TEDTalk, Hanczyc describes the experiments that mix nonliving ingredients to make new structures that might have the characteristics of organic life.

While the Sydney Harbor is as blue and sparkling as ever, beneath the surface lurks a dark menace that is eliminating as much as 40% of the invertebrate population. The levels of dioxins in fish from Sydney Harbor are now so high that even eating just one in an entire year is enough to put you in danger. In this video segment, meet geochemist Gavin Birch and hear about his investigation of this problem.

From ancient Chinese firecrackers to medieval alchemy to the anxieties of the nuclear age, this program looks at a variety of explosive materials and shows how we have learned to harness their power. British engineer Jem Stansfield demonstrates the inner workings and fiery effects of several different chemical concoctions. He goes underground to show how gunpowder was used in the mines of Cornwall, recreates the first test of gun-cotton for use in quarrying, visits a modern high explosives factory with a noble history, and even splits an atom with the help of improvised equipment. Ground-breaking high speed photography makes for some startling revelations that are sure to spark further study.

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