Understanding Fire

Every animal possesses its own adaptive advantage in its native environment, and while most other creatures have superior sight, or hearing, or poison, early humankind's greatest advantage was having the brain power to harness fire. Guaranteed to fire the imagination of adults and children alike, this episode from the Discovery Channel's Assignment Discovery series offers a fast moving but detailed account of the history of fire, including looks at glassmaking, iron, steel, electricity, arson, napalm, firefighting, and Hollywood stunts. Considering that (human-made) fire likely has a one million year-plus history, was one of the founding blocks of civilization, reaches into numerous aspects of society, and that, uh, kids love to see stuff blow up, this is a pretty solid presentation that strikes a good balance between the scientific and sensational. Sure to fan the flames of curiosity, this is highly recommended. Aud: J, H, P. (R. Ray)