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"A Light in Nature " Scientific Discovery (1960)

1960 · Short film · 33 min

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Synopsis

This film "A Light in Nature" was directed by Ramsay Short and Michael Orrom (:36) and details scientific advances in the 1960’s. Topics covered include study of radioactivity, astronomy, materials science, geology, biophysics, oceanography and the discovery of DNA, among others. It features cinematography by the incredible Winton Hotch. Production of the film was to coincide with tercentenary of the Royal Society as tribute. It is a Shell Oil Company film (:43). Opening scenes show men carrying wooden canoes into a cold river in Scotland (:55). Snow crusted mountains rise in the background ( 1:18 ). Scientists drag up a specimen of nitella ( 1:28 ). Nitella is a genus of charophyte green algae. A scientist looks at the specimen under a microscope ( 1:45 ). The narrator mentions nitella has electrical properties similar to that of human nerves. A view is presented looking through the microscope ( 2:07 ). The BARC Atomic Reactor ( 2:13 ) appears in Trombay; the eastern suburb of Mumbai (Bombay). A scientist works to release the energy from the atoms of a heavy metal ( 2:24 ). The 200 inch Hale telescope is angled on Palomar mountain ( 2:37 ). This telescope is used to explore the life and death of stars. In the Cambridge Laboratory ( 3:00 ), scientists work to put together a display a molecule of the protein, myoglobin ( 3:08 ). A radioactive isotopes are examined ( 3:24 ). Oceanographers ( 3:39 ) pull samples from the ocean. Samples are examined ( 3:52 ). Scientists meet to…

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Details

Running time
33 minutes
Collection
Ephemeral Films

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