Horizon – 1987
Episodes
The Twenty-Five Hour Clock
Report on research into biological body clocks, which can effect emotional and physical health and well-being.
The Search for the Disappeared
Report on how forensic scientists ae identifying individual victims amongst the people murdered by Argentina's military juntas, by examination and genetic testing of their remains.
The Blind Watchmaker
In this interview by Horizon, zoologist Richard Dawkins investigates an attack on evolution by scientific creationists, based on the book of the same name by the famous zoologist.
Riding the Stack
Astronauts and space shuttle designers talk about the risks of space flight, in the light of the space shuttle disaster of January 1986.
Bruno Bettelheim: The Man Who Cared for Children
Two part documentary on psychologist Bruno Bettelheim and his work with emotionally disturbed children.
Bruno Bettelheim: A Sense of Surviving
Two part documentary on psychologist Bruno Bettelheim and his work with emotionally disturbed children.
Energy from Outer Space
Report on exploration into releasing energy sources which came from outer space during the formation of the earth, 4,500 million years ago, and have lain dormant under the earth's crust. In Sweden a five mile deep drill hole was made to unleash this energy.
The Return of the Osprey
Documentary on the Osprey in north east America, where its natural habitat was being damaged by the use of DDT, but after some conservation work the Osprey is returning to the area.
Can AIDS Be Stopped?
Report on the development of the AIDS virus, and current research into vaccines to combat the disease.
Police Stress: The John Wayne Syndrome
Documentary on the increasing pressure put on the British police resulting in stress and psychological disorders, and also on the work of Dr. Douglas Duckworth, a psychologist at Leeds University who has worked with the police on these problems.
To Engineer Is Human
Engineer Henry Petroski explains why engineering can never be an exact science and looks at examples of engineering failures.
The Magma Chamber
Report on the research into volcanoes by British scientists Professor Geoff Brow n and Dr. Hazel Rymer, who have developed a technique of exploring the magma chambers of volcanoes and predicting when they will erupt.
Broken Images
Report on two sufferers of visual agnosia. The condition affects their ability to impose order on the visual world, even though they are not blind, but it does reveal a great deal about normal perception.
Trial Babies
Report on the different tests done on pregnant women to detect abnormalities in the foetus, with investigation of why these tests are not available in all pregnancies.
After Chernobyl - Closer to Home
Report on the safety of UK nuclear power stations, following the accident at Chernobyl in the USSR in 1986. The programme focuses on the nuclear installation at Hartlepool on Teeside, which has the smallest evacuation zone in the western world.
Making Sex Pay
James Gould, Professor of Biology at Princeton University, lectures on the mating habits of animals and humans.
The Anthropic Principle
Discussion of the Anthropic Principle, a scientific theory for man's place in th e Universe.
Aircrash: The Burning Issue
Report on the need for improved safety features on airplanes in particular the desirability of smoke hoods, plus an interview with a survivor of the 1985 Manchester aircrash.
The Riddle of the Joints
Report on research into rheumatoid arthritis.
To Catch a Falling Star
Report on the future and commercial benefit of research into astronomy conducted by the Royal Greenwich Observatory and other scientific institutions in Great Britain.
In the Light of New Information
Report on the evolution of laser light technology for communication in the 21st century, with a dramatised account of the effect of the technology on our daily lives.
Janice's Choice
Janice Blenkharn's mother died of Huntington's Chorea, which any child of a victim has a 50-50 chance of inheriting. Janice is faced with the choice of having a test, developed after research in South America, to see if she has this incurable genetic disease.