Turning Points in the Physical Sciences

Watching the first volume of Turning Points in the Physical Sciences, which looks at scientific advances from 130 A.D. to 1819 in 27 minutes (including opening and closing credits), I was reminded of Neal Stephenson's staggering near-3,000-page fictional trilogy The Baroque Cycle, which--among other topics--dealt with the alchemical search for the so-called philosopher's stone (a reference to the transformation of base metals into gold) among legendary men of science, including Robert Boyle and Isaac Newton, both of whom make brief appearances here. While it may hardly be fair to compare a sprawling series of novels with a filmed survey of scientific highlights, the fact remains that the former is fascinating and rich, while the latter is rather dull and extremely cursory. Boasting impeccable production values, the initial program here utilizes illustrations, graphics, and re-enactment footage to chart the evolution of scientific thinking, beginning with the foundation laid by the Greeks: that the world was knowable and operated according to specific immutable laws. Chronicling the shift from Ptolemy's erroneous Earth-centered model of the universe to the Copernican revolution that proved the planets orbited the sun, the video also touches on the additional insights of Johannes Kepler regarding elliptical orbits, Galileo's findings through the telescope, and Newton's laws of motions, before shifting to the work of Ben Franklin (et al) in electricity, and Christian Huygens in theories related to light (the segment on the spectral analysis of light is so superficial that it's sure to baffle students lacking any prior instruction in the subject). The other discs--covering the periods from 1820-1845, 1846-1902, 1903-1928, and 1929-2004--address electromagnetism, particle physics, quantum mechanics, and phenomena such as black holes and dark matter. DVD extras include a printable teacher's guide and other relevant documents, charts, and diagrams. While this might serve as a useful supplement to a more detailed curriculum or as a refresher, this series is too much of a highlights reel to stand alone. Optional. Aud: J, H, C, P. (R. Pitman)