The BEST episodes of The Nature of Things season 21
Every episode of The Nature of Things season 21, ranked from best to worst by thousands of votes from fans of the show. The best episodes of The Nature of Things season 21!
Hosted by the world-renowned geneticist and environmentalist, David Suzuki, every week presents stories that are driven by a scientific understanding of the world.
#1 - Mount St. Helen
Season 21 - Episode 1 - Aired 10/8/1980
(Season Premiere) David Suzuki highlights the eruption of the Mount St. Helens volcano, the uses of hovercraft by the Canadian Coast Guard, new types of radar and the effects which a baseball has when it spins through the air.
#2 - The Moving Still
Season 21 - Episode 14 - Aired 2/11/1981
A look at the history of scientific photography from its beginnings in 1837 to the present-day use of high-speed cameras.
#3 - The Last of Life / The Cajuns
Season 21 - Episode 19 - Aired 4/1/1981
The Last of Life: A look at geriatric medicine and some aspects of research into the biology of aging. The Cajuns: The descendants of Nova Scotia's Acadians and their lifestyle are profiled at their adopted home, the Bayou Lafourche in southern Louisiana.
#4 - The Foxes' Earth
Season 21 - Episode 18 - Aired 3/25/1981
For centuries the people of the village of Huasicancha in Peru lived under the domination of others, from the last of the Inca rulers to the Spanish conquerors and subsequent regimes. How the people finally rose up to reclaim the poor land they farmed at a subsistence level is told in this documentary.
#5 - Blackfly / Desalination / Memory - Come to think of it / Dr. Karl Illmensee
Season 21 - Episode 17 - Aired 3/11/1981
Blackfly: A look at the life cycle of the blackfly, and its effects in northern Canada and Africa. Desalination: A practical method of desalination using reverse osmosis is presented. Memory - Come to think of it (repeat): A look at recent research into the brain's memory capacities. Dr. Karl Illmensee: A look at the work being done by Dr. Karl Illmensee (de) at the University of Geneva to study the possibility of causing cancerous cells to revert back to normal cells.
#6 - Tar Sands
Season 21 - Episode 16 - Aired 3/4/1981
Documentary about the oil sands.
#7 - Invisible Astronomy
Season 21 - Episode 9 - Aired 12/3/1980
Host David Suzuki visits the Algonquin Park Observatory and the Arecibo Observatory in Puerto Rico as he reports on the use of radio astronomy and the search for extraterrestrial intelligent life. The work of the National Research Council in studying unusual wave formations, recent developments in the exploration of outer space through radio astronomy, and a visit with scientist Joel Hildebrand of the University of California are featured.
#8 - Survival Instincts of the Insect World / Sickle Cell Anemia
Season 21 - Episode 8 - Aired 11/26/1980
A magazine edition features items about the survival instincts of the insect world and the research currently being conducted in regard to sickle cell anemia.
#9 - Modern China (2)
Season 21 - Episode 7 - Aired 11/19/1980
The professional and recreational activities of the Chinese people are examined in a tour of their homes, factories and parks, as well as the palaces which were formerly the homes of Emperors.
#10 - The Bare Necessity / Manatees / Ludhiana
Season 21 - Episode 3 - Aired 10/22/1980
Three films are featured: The Bare Necessity, dealing with the human skin; Manatees, concerning a unique vegetarian creature which lives in coastal waters, and Ludhiana, a profile of an Indian city which serves as the home base for 12,000 different business enterprises.
#11 - Cystic Fibrosis / Whooping Crane / Cold-Water Survival
Season 21 - Episode 2 - Aired 10/15/1980
A report on cystic fibrosis, a genetic respiratory ailment that afflicts young people; and a profile of one of its victims, 24-year-old nurse Susan McKellar. Other segments examine the International Crane Foundation's efforts to save the whooping crane from extinction; and research into cold-water survival techniques.
#12 - Sri Lanka: Island of Serendib
Season 21 - Episode 15 - Aired 2/18/1981
The island paradise of Sri Lanka is visited in a comprehensive study that examines the dangers its wildlife faces from cultural and technological changes.
#13 - Poisoned Playgrounds / Charlie
Season 21 - Episode 13 - Aired 1/28/1981
Poisoned Playgrounds - A report by producer Heather Cook on the use of pesticides in an Ontario community and the action taken by parents when insecticide spraying at a school proved hazardous to children's health. Charlie - A repeat of a film first telecast December 17, 1978 about a Canadian archaeologist.
#14 - Structure of Birds Eggs / Newfound land Oil
Season 21 - Episode 12 - Aired 1/14/1981
Magazine edition featuring the following items - a report from State University of New York at Buffalo on the structure of birds' eggs and how their porosity enables the growing chick to breathe inside the egg; film shows how oxygen enters the egg through the multitude of small holes and how this differs in small eggs and large; also, research into the incubating behaviour of herons and terns and how this affects the development of their eggs and chicks. Newfound land Oil. A look at the social and ecological changes occurring in some of the fishing villages of Newfoundland where oil exploration surveys are being conducted.
#15 - One of the Family
Season 21 - Episode 11 - Aired 1/7/1981
A film from OECA about a Toronto family whose youngest child, a boy, was born with cerebral palsy. Produced by Christa Singer. Also, "Oyster Culture" and a report on the American Association for the Advancement of Science convention held in Toronto.
#16 - Prenatal Diagnosis of Spina Bifida / Amniocentesis
Season 21 - Episode 10 - Aired 12/10/1980
Scheduled: Reports on prenatal diagnosis of spina bifida, Tay-Sachs disease and Down's syndrome using amniocentesis, ultrasonography and fetoscopy; the use of chinchillas in researching damage to human ears caused by exposure to noise.
#17 - Chinese Culture (1)
Season 21 - Episode 6 - Aired 11/12/1980
The first of two hours filmed in China examines traditional aspects of Chinese culture- herbal medicine, acupuncture, language- and provides a look at some of the country's famous landmarks, such as the Great Wall and the Imperial Palace in Peking.
#18 - Alternate Car Fuel / Surface Tension / Science Fair
Season 21 - Episode 5 - Aired 11/5/1980
Scheduled items include Alternate Car Fuel; Surface Tension and Science Fair.
#19 - Tar Wars
Season 21 - Episode 4 - Aired 10/29/1980
Documentary film on the tar sands Atabaska.