Latest episodes in "Journey to Planet Earth" Series

The State of the Planet's Wildlife [DVD-1490]. Series: Journey to Planet Earth. 57 min. 2006.

Speculates that almost half of the world's wildlife species may become extinct in the next fifty years as a result of loss of habitat, climate change, predation by humans, and other human activities. Suggests possible strategies for averting such a catastrophe. Examines the situations of lowland gorillas in Africa and in the Bronx Zoo, grizzly bears in the Blackfoot River valley of Montana, migrating birds and wetlands habitat in the Florida everglades, and elephants in Zambia. Originally broadcast on PBS as an episode of the television program "Journey to Planet Earth" on Apr. 18th, 2006.

The State of the Ocean's Animals [DVD-1491]. Series: Journey to Planet Earth. 57 min. 2007.

Investigates why so many of our ocean's animals are disappearing. Case studies focus on global issues including climate change, sea-level rise, over-fishing and habitat destruction. Areas of focus include: Antarctica and the emperor penguin; Melbourne Beach, Florida and sea turtles; Klamath River, Oregon and salmon; Monterey Bay, California and sea otters. Originally broadcast as an episode of the television program "Journey to Planet Earth" in 2007.

Case Studies in Forensic Science

New Detectives Series. [DVD-1456 to DVD-1470, DVD-1473 to DVD-1474]. 53 min. each. 2007, c1997. Now on DVD.

Originally broadcast as episodes of the television program 'The New Detectives," this 18-part series covers the topics of ballistics ("Deadly Target"), forensic photography ("Camera Clues"), fingerprinting ("Death Grip"), serial bombers ("Short Fuse"), handwriting samples ("Signed in Blood"), murder victims ("Dead Men Do Talk"), forensic artists ("Faces of Tragedy"), osteology ("Burning Evidence"), poisonings ("Deadly Chemistry"), forensic geology and botany ("Seeds of Destruction"), DNA ("Double Helix"), evidence ("Bodies of Evidence"), fibers ("Shreds of Evidence"), serial killers ("Fatal Compulsion"), criminal profilers ("Mind Hunters"), insects ("Web of Clues"), missing persons ("Without a Trace"), and soldiers killed in battle ("Soldier Stories.").

Physics and Chemistry of Water

Physics and Chemistry of Water. [DVD-1472]. 21 min. 2007, c1967. Now on DVD.

Shows how the nature of the water molecule determines the physical properties of water. Points out that life is dependent on some of the unusual properties of water--its slow rate of evaporation, its high surface tension, its powers of solution, and the fact that it is heavier in the liquid than the solid form--and expains that all of these properties are determined by the nature and function of the hydrogen bond in water.

Legendary Black Singers

Wild Women Don't Have the Blues. [DVD-1455]. 58 min. 2007, c1989. Now on DVD.

Through historic performances and recordings, captures the spirit of such pioneering blues women as Bessie Smith, Ma Rainey, Ethel Waters, Alberta Hunter, Ida Cox, and others.

Poverty in America

Poverty in America Series. Born with a Wooden Spoon: Welcome to Poverty U.S.A. and The 51st State: America's working poor[DVD-1471]. 60 min. 2007.

One in eight Americans, approximately 37 million people, live below the poverty line although the United States is still the richest country in the world. This program looks at the various factors that contribute to this problem and what can be done to break the cycle of multigenerational poverty.

Applying Fair Use in Higher Education

Applying Fair Use in Higher Education: Clearing Up the Confusion. [CD-1241]. 60 min. 2008.

Interested in increasing your understanding of copyright? You're invited to listen to this one-hour audio conference on applying fair use in higher education, led by Laura N. Gasaway, an expert in the field. Topics include: Fair Use in the Classroom: What's Allowable? Applying Fair Use to Print, Analog & Digital Materials; Fair Use Liability Issues for Colleges & Universities.

The Fates of Human Societies

Guns, Germs, and Steel. [DVD-1077]. 2 discs, 165 min. 2005.

"A passionate, whirlwind tour through 13,000 years of history on all continents--a short history of everything about everybody. ...A convincing explanation for the differing developments of human societies on different continents." (Paul R. Ehrlich, Stanford University.) An epic detective story that offers a gripping expose on why the world is so unequal. Professor Jared Diamond traveled the globe for over 30 years trying to answer this question. Based on the Pulitzer Prize-winning book. Why did Eurasians conquer, displace, or decimate Native Americans, Australians, and Africans, instead of the reverse? Diamond dismantles racially based theories of human history by revealing the environmental factors actually responsible for history's broadest patterns.