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Explores the strange and relatively unknown world of sleep-a world in which we spend approximately one-third of our lives. Shows how the discovery of REM (Rapid Eye Movement) during our dream period in the early 1950s by Dr. Nathaniel Kleitman at the University of Chicago brought about an understanding of the mechanism of sleep. Before his discovery, it was believed that during sleep the brain was in a state of rest. Also, overviews the nature and frequency of dreams and nightmares, and sleep disorders such as insomnia, apnea, and narcolepsy that affect millions of Americans.
(Source: DCMP)
Imagine having the ability to manipulate light waves in order to see through a skull right into the brain, or being able to use lasers to diagnose a bacterial infection in a matter of minutes. At the Center for Biophotonic Sensors and Systems (CBSS) at Boston University, technologies enabling these abilities and many others are coming to light. With support from the National Science Foundation (NSF), mechanical engineer Thomas Bifano and his colleagues are developing optical microscopes that can image deep into biological tissue, helping scientists observe molecular-scale activity. Their goal is to revolutionize the diagnosis and treatment of disease. Part of the National Science Foundation Series “Science Nation.”
With support from the National Science Foundation, neurologist Ken Paller and his team at Northwestern University are studying the connection between memory and sleep, and the possibilities of boosting memory storage while sleeping. A lot of the evidence has shown that slow-wave sleep is particularly important for some types of memory, and Paller’s goal is to better understand the fundamental brain mechanisms responsible for memory. And that, in turn, may help people with memory problems, including those who find themselves more forgetful as they age. Part of the National Science Foundation Series “Science Nation.”
What is neuroplasticity? CEO and founder of TAO Connect, Sherry Benton, explains the brain's ability to reorganize itself by forming new neural connections throughout life. Part of the "Ask a Scientists" series.
The heart is the most symbolic organ of the human body. Across history, it has been seen as the source of emotions and the center of human existence. However, by the seventeenth century, scientific understanding overturned historical ideas, and the heart was recognized merely as a mechanical pump. More recently, Professor David Paterson from the University of Oxford has been doing extensive research that challenges this view. He has discovered that the heart has millions of specialized neurons just like those that are in the brain. Neurons are the cells that give humans the ability to think. So what does their presence in the heart mean?
Paleontologists have studied the fossil record of human evolution just like they have done for other major transitions, including the evolution of tetrapods from fish and the evolution of birds from dinosaurs. Sean Carroll and Tim White discuss the most important human fossils and how they illuminate key phases of human evolution, focusing in particular on three traits: larger brains, tool use, and bipedality.
With support from the National Science Foundation, computer scientists at the University of Illinois at Chicago are pushing science fiction closer to reality. They have created a wraparound virtual world in which a researcher wearing 3D glasses can take a walk through a human brain, fly over the surface of Mars, and more. In the system, known as CAVE2, an 8-foot-high screen encircles the viewer 320 degrees. A panorama of images springs from display panels, conveying a sense of being able to touch what's not really there. Part of the National Science Foundation Series “Science Nation.”
At the twilight of an active life, Anna is now bedridden due to a serious fall. What makes the elderly--even those who are in full possession of their mental and physical faculties--more prone to falling than younger people? As this program demonstrates, the answer lies not in the body or the brain alone, but in their interconnection. Exploring Anna's past dreams of becoming a ballerina, the film shows how complex physical motion, such as dancing or even typing, requires sophisticated coordination between the body's neural, muscular, and skeletal systems. How aging affects such coordination and how new artificial limb technology enables movement are running themes in the program.
Teachers often say to students, “Put your thinking caps on,” and one day, students might just do that for real. Vanderbilt University psychologist Geoffrey Woodman says that’s because scientists are being equipped with more and more tools they can use to better understand the brain, and now, they can even eavesdrop on individual neurons. Initial support from the National Science Foundation (NSF) allowed Woodman and his team at the Vanderbilt University Visual Cognitive Neuroscience Laboratory to study memory and perception. Then, the researchers tested their theory that electrical stimulation of the medial frontal cortex can boost learning and improve decision-making. Part of the National Science Foundation Series “Science Nation.”
Georgia Tech's Parag Chordia believes music is a universal part of human culture, and his research shows music education can inspire greater interest in math, physics, and computer science. Chordia heads Georgia Tech's "Music Intelligence Group." With support from the National Science Foundation, his goals are to program computers to understand music and study the brains of professional musicians as they play composed music versus when they improvise.
Part of the "Gunther's ER" series. The human brain suffers irreversible damage if deprived of oxygen for even a few minutes-a fact Dr. Gunther von Hagens demonstrates by utilizing human cadavers as examples. Simulating an artery injury to illustrate oxygen depletion through blood loss, von Hagens then focuses on problems affecting the trachea, the top priority for ER doctors. In order to show the major structures of the airway and how they can be blocked by foreign objects, von Hagens inserts an endoscope into his own throat and saws a frozen body's throat in half, revealing the major structures of the airway and their potential weaknesses. Red Cross first-aid expert Emma Rand explains simple techniques for clearing the airway, while emergency medicine consultant Dr. John Heyworth shows how paramedics treat complex trachea damage. NOTE: Viewer discretion is advised. Contains clinically explicit language and nudity.
Non-native plants in homeowner's yards endanger wildlife, and experts recommend planting more than 70 percent native plants so plants, insects, and birds can thrive. Additionally, researchers are tracking the spread of neurodegenerative diseases in brains. Other segments include fracking wastewater accumulation found in freshwater mussels' shells and a new protein sequencing method used in biological research. Part of the "4 Awesome Discoveries You Probably Didn't Hear About This Week" series.
An expert on exercise physiology discusses the importance of different elements of fitness, and teenagers share personal stories about how exercise helped them achieve and maintain a healthy weight. Exercise also helps build strength, develop endurance, improve agility, boost self-confidence, and connect socially. John Ratey, a professor of psychiatry, describes the growing evidence that aerobic exercise remodels our brains, making us sharper mentally, and providing protection against mood disorders. Teens describe how exercise helped them deal with depression, anxiety, and stress.
An electric eel can generate enough current to stun its prey. Johns Hopkins University neuroethologist Eric Fortune traveled to Ecuador to study electric knifefish in their native habitat. Back at Johns Hopkins University, research collaborator mechanical engineer Noah Cowan and the rest of the team use Fortune's field data to help with their observations and experiments in the lab. With support from the National Science Foundation, they are studying the knifefish to learn more about how the brains of animals work to control their behavior.
Professor Jim Al-Khalili shows that in our quest to understand the tiny atom, we unraveled the mystery of how the entire universe was created. It's a story with dramatic twists and turns, taking in world-changing discoveries like radioactivity, the Atomic Bomb, and the Big Bang Theory. All this forms part of an epic narrative in which the greatest brains of the 20th century competed to answer the biggest questions of all-why are we here and how were we made?
Showing collections 1 to 3 of 3
Collection of anatomy resources
A collection containing 21 resources, curated by Benetech
Biology related concepts
A collection containing 59 resources, curated by Benetech
Resources related to vision
A collection containing 12 resources, curated by Charles LaPierre
