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Video title:
Beyond the Elements: Indestructible Preview
Video duration:
0m 30s
Video description:
Glass so strong you can jump on it, rubber so tough it protects a clay pot dropped from 50 feet, endless varieties of plastic. Scientists and engineers have created virtually indestructible versions of common materials by manipulating the chains of interlocking atoms that give them strength—but have they made them too tough? Host David Pogue explores the fantastic chemistry behind the everyday.
On February 1, 2003, the space shuttle Columbia disintegrated just 16 minutes before it was due to land. All seven astronauts aboard perished, and the implications for the future of the space shuttle program were enormous. Through interviews with astronauts and their families, and with members of the Columbia Accident Investigation Board, take a look at the Columbia tragedy — and at NASA itself.
Black chemist Percy Julian met with every possible barrier in a deeply segregated America. Here's how he rose to the highest levels of scientific and personal achievement.