Spirit of Discovery

"Exploration" From the conquest of the South Pole in 1912, to man's first tentative steps on the moon and then further into space, this looks at explorations throughout the 20th century. It shows how the spirit of the explorer has driven people into the most inhospitable of territories to map every inch of the world's surface. The program also looks at the problems the explorer leaves in his or her wake. Includes interviews with Sir Ranulph Fiennes, Buzz Aldrin and scientist Richard Taylor. "Inventions" This explores the changes brought by mass production, the invention of new materials, how the needs of war fueled rapid technological progress, and how the invention of products for the home changed everyday life. The program takes a particularly close look at communications, and the importance of development in this area from the radio to the Internet. Several inventors are featured. Two tape set - 48 minutes each.