Watch Pure Science Specials

2003
1 Season

Pure Science Specials is a fascinating series that looks into some of the most compelling topics in science and technology today. Produced by Pure Science TV, this series digs into various fields of science and brings in experts from around the world to help explain complex theories and ideas.

Each episode dives into a new topic with the aim to uncover the latest breakthroughs in the field. With an emphasis on cutting-edge research and innovation, Pure Science Specials is ideal for anyone who is passionate about science and technology.

In each episode of the show, viewers get to explore the most interesting and exciting scientific topics of our time. From AI and robotics to quantum computing and advanced materials, the show covers a wide range of topics that will pique the interest of anyone who loves science.

What sets Pure Science Specials apart from other science programs is its focus on real-world applications. By exploring the latest scientific breakthroughs and examining how they can be applied in the real world, the show offers a unique perspective on how science is shaping the world around us.

One aspect of the show that viewers should appreciate is its focus on accessibility. Despite often discussing complex scientific theories and concepts, the show strives to make them understandable to the average viewer. This is accomplished through the use of clear and concise language, as well as engaging visual aids and demonstrations.

Another strength of the show is its ability to bring in experts from diverse fields. Whether it's a physicist discussing the latest quantum computing research, or a chemist talking about new materials, the show consistently features guests who are at the forefront of their respective fields.

Above all, Pure Science Specials is a show that is dedicated to exploring science in all its forms. Whether it's looking at the inner workings of the human brain or exploring the mysteries of the universe, the show never strays far from its core goal of understanding the world through the lens of science.

Overall, Pure Science Specials is a must-watch show for anyone who is passionate about science and technology. With its engaging format, informative content, and focus on real-world applications, the show is sure to be a hit with viewers of all ages and backgrounds. Whether you are a scientist yourself or simply someone who is interested in the latest breakthroughs in the field, this series is the perfect way to stay on top of all the latest developments in science and technology.

Pure Science Specials is a series that ran for 1 seasons (88 episodes) between June 22, 2003 and on Pure Science

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Seasons

99. The Science of Bubbles

April 9, 2013

To most people, bubbles are just toys that children play with... but they're so much more! They are amazingly powerful tools that are pushing back the boundaries of technology. These tiny marvels of physics may hold the key to many scientific problems.

99. Something Old Something New

June 28, 2011

Today, all perfumers face the same challenge: how to make their fragrance stand out in a market crowded with product. We spend a year with two very different perfume houses as they attempt to win over the next generation of consumer.

97. Out On a Limb

November 10, 2013

Explore the evolution and exciting advancements of prosthetics. The narrative unfolds through interviews with scientists, prosthetists, innovators and inventors, as well as the individuals whom this technology will ultimately benefit.

96. Think

February 24, 2015

Featuring experts and case studies from across the globe, Planet Re: Think shows how our dependency on cheap energy is jeopardizing our survival, and how we need to increase resource efficiency and recycling of critical materials.

95. Legally High

August 6, 2013

Recent years have seen a sweeping change in Britain's drug culture. Out go the 'old' illegal drugs - cocaine, heroin, speed - swept to one side by a younger generation who can get their hits not only more cheaply- but also legally.

94. How to Be a Billionaire

March 13, 2014

How to Be a Billionaire meets some of the world's wealthiest and most successful individuals, finding out about their lives, their lifestyle, their dreams for the future and how they have achieved their success.

93. Intersexion

April 5, 2012

The first question any new parent asks... "Is it a boy or a girl?" What if it's neither? In this groundbreaking documentary, intersex individuals reveal the secrets of their unconventional lives.

90. Immortality

February 10, 2015

In this thought-provoking documentary, we bring together the most recent and groundbreaking scientific research relating to slowing down or reversing the effects of aging, and increasing our life span.

87. All Dolled up

August 1, 2013

All Dolled Up is a documentary about high end love dolls, and the men and women who own them. Light-hearted but serious, this show goes deeper into the culture than any before.

85. The Brain That Changes Itself

January 4, 2015

As new discoveries are made about the brain, scientists are finding that our minds are not hard-wired by age 18. Hear the amazing stories of men and women whose brains have changed and adapted, on their own, to overcome physical and mental disabilities.

84. Changing Your Mind

January 3, 2015

Until very recently, the world's best scientists and physicians believed that the adult brain couldn't change. New research shows that brain formation does not end in childhood; the mind remains 'plastic', or changeable, for our entire lives.

83. The Virus Empire

December 9, 2009

In the 20th Century more people died from viral infections than from all the wars around the globe. The Virus Empire takes a look at how deadly infections like SARS have warped to become scourges like Ebola.

82. The Cars That Ate China

July 29, 2008

China is in an automotive revolution and cars are now the ultimate symbol of status in a country that is on its way to becoming the biggest economy in the world. Take a look at a nation gone car crazy and the impact it has had on global stability.

81. The Strongest Woman Ever

August 2, 2010

How and why did an ordinary girl become the strongest woman on the planet? Strongest Ever documents the passion, pain, and endless dedication of Becca Swanson, the most physically powerful woman in the world.

80. How to Colonize the Stars

April 20, 2009

Leading physicists and engineers in the field of interstellar travel discuss some of the deep issues we face when considering the problem of sending spacecraft to other starsWill mankind ever truly become a space fairing civilization?

79. Cloning the Dead

October 2, 2004

Professor Zavos is heading the only scientific team attempting to clone a human being successfully produced as embryo from tissue taken from a dead man.After a mother loses her daughter in a tragic car crash, Zavos attempts to bring her daughter back.

78. Building "Sea City"

December 10, 2014

Eighty five miles south of Kuwait City lies a near-barren landscape of sand and silt baking in some of the hottest temperatures on the planet. Little lives or grows here, and few people have ever chosen to live here. Until now.

77. The First Human Clone

September 7, 2003

This powerful documentary looks at the controversial attempts to clone a human being by a small group of doctors and scientists, led by Dr. Panos Zavos, in the face of ferocious opposition from many governments and most of society.

75. Super Fungi

November 5, 2014

Mushrooms could be man's best allies in the struggle against sanitary and environmental challenges that are threatening our societies. From digesting oil waste to allowing trees to grow in the desert, these Super Fungi are truly incredible organisms.

74. Bosom Buddies

October 16, 2014

Then they found out they had breast cancer, they formed a support group, The Pansies. This is the story of how friendship kept a group of women going through pain, fear, and adversity.

73. Living With Robots

October 13, 2014

Robots are everywhere! They build our cars, entertain our kids, and clean our floors. As they continue to creep into our lives with ever-greater capabilities and intelligence, they will fundamentally rewrite our relationship with machines.

72. Resurrection Science: Defying Evolution

October 5, 2014

Imagine a living, breathing dinosaur, mammoth, or Neanderthal. Far from science fiction, 3 scientists have made it their mission to turn this dream into reality. It is no longer a matter of "if", but only a matter of "when".

71. Superfactories: Breitling

August 22, 2012

Visit Switzerland to reveal the meticulous step-by-step process of creating one of the world's most famous watches, and get to know the Breitling aviators. Actor John Travolta expresses his admiration for the company and the intracacy of its products.

70. Mega-Tanker Makeover

November 11, 2009

Follow the extreme makeover of the Pioneer, a rusty 17 year old tanker as it gets converted into a state-of-the-art FPSO. If the makeover succeeds, it will be the first ever FPSO in American waters and will tap oil wells at record breaking depths.

69. China's Long March Into Space

July 7, 2014

Inside a spaceship at Jiuquan Launch Facility, three men sit on top of 500 tons of liquid fuel. A controlled explosion will blast them three hundred kilometers into space, and into the record books. This is China's next great leap into space.

68. The Impossible Lens

September 30, 2011

This is the extraordinary true story of Australian wildlife cinematographer and inventor Jim Frazier, and his fight to keep his crowning achievement, the impossible lens, from being taken away.

67. The Last Trimate

September 9, 2008

This stunning documentary is a compelling account of the work of Dr Biruté Galdikas and her lifelong fight to save the diminishing world of Indonesia's wild Orangutans - a habitat threatened by rampant deforestation and palm oil plantations.

66. Psychopath

December 7, 2000

A look at recent research into the brains and behavior of psychopaths and the prospects for treatment or containment of this antisocial group. Psychopaths who have been convicted of appalling crimes explain with disturbing clarity what motivated them.

65. Castles of the Underworld

April 8, 1991

This award-winning film looks at the ethereal world of New Zealand's limestone caverns. The rocks and caves reveal ancient whale fossils, moa hunter art and evolutionary anomalies such as giant carnivorous snails that are preserved in a limestone world.

64. A Volcano Odyssey

May 7, 2014

Follow the story of 65 millions years of evolution around a volcanic hotspot in the Indian Ocean. These catastrophic events have shaped life as we know it from the smallest microbes to the largest beasts to ever live, the dinosaurs.

63. The Cure

September 1, 2004

At the turn of the century, nearly one million Americans were killed every year by heart attacks and strokes caused by deposits of cholesterol plaques. The Cure takes you inside the quest to eradicate heart disease - a disease thought to be incurable.

62. Curse of the Mermaid

January 30, 2006

Meet the Peruvian baby Milagros, a child born with Sirenomelia, or "˜Mermaid Syndrome' - a birth defect that resulted in her legs being fused together. This is her family's story as they prepare for an operation to separate her legs.

61. Global Health Frontiers: Dark Forest, Black Fly

September 9, 2013

Caused by microscopic worms that migrate under the skin, leading to intense itching and eventual loss of sight, river blindness is transmitted by small black flies that breed in fast-flowing rivers and streams.

59. Powering the Planet

April 22, 2012

In the past, technological concerns limited the adoption of clean, sustainable energy solutions. Today, economic and political issues often represent the biggest obstacles. What does the future of sustainable energy hold on a world-wide scale?

57. The Quantum Tamers

March 2, 2014

The Quantum Tamers brings together over a dozen of the planet's brightest minds to show how the weird is becoming wired and why a new era of quantum technologies is going to rock your world.

55. Automatic Brain: The Magic of the Unconscious Mind

February 24, 2014

Over 90 percent of our daily actions are done unconsciously, an "autopilot" in our head. Automatic Brain takes a look at how unconscious processes steer the lives of two ordinary people, from everyday routines to life choices such as finding a partner.

54. Hyper Hurricane

November 25, 2013

As Scientists race to understand recent increases Atlantic hurricane violence, their research reveals ancient clues of extreme hurricane cycles in unlikely places. Are we about to experience one the deadliest hurricane super cycle ever known?

53. Ring of Fire

November 20, 2013

Beneath the Pacific Ocean lies a fault that is home to almost 90% of the world's volcanoes, 80% of the world's earthquake zones, and nearly one third of the global population. Now, new evidence suggests this ring of fire is more active than ever before.

52. Malaria: The Serial Killer

August 25, 2008

Today, malaria kills twice as many people as AIDS, yet its progress is marked with relative indifference. In a time when global travel is easier than ever - for people and diseases - it is more important than ever to find a counter to this deadly ailment.

51. China's Raging Sands

February 16, 2010

Giant sand storms are wreaking havoc in throughout China. Once a rare occurrence, sand storms are now a frequent blight on Beijing life, and have reached the most destructive levels in recorded history.

50. Plastic: The Real Sea Monster

June 6, 2012

Six million metric tons of plastic wind up in the world's ocean every year. Unlike other refuse, plastic can stay in the water forever without breaking down. How is this deadly killer affecting the world's oceans, and how will it affect humanity?

49. Changing Sexes: Female to Male

July 22, 2008

It is one of the most provocative personal statements a person can make: I was born the wrong sex. To express this dilemma, and the desire to resolve it, is to be transsexual. Meet four transsexual women, and share their journey to live as men.

47. Curing a Dangerous Sleepwalker

October 1, 2013

Jumping through first floor windows, being caught in the street naked, and fighting people... James Du Gard has done it all while completely sound asleep. The challenge is on to help him find out what causes his sleepwalking and find a cure.

46. The World's Highest Railway

August 20, 2013

Opened in 2006, the Qinghai-Tibet Railway is the first rail link into the heart of Tibet. The railway runs an incredible five kilometers above sea level.

45. Hit by Lightning

August 14, 2013

We think of lightning strikes as fatal, but nine out of ten victims actually survive the hit. However, the victim's experiences, memories, and the physical consequences last a lifetime.

44. Megastructures: World's Tallest TV Tower

July 31, 2013

Soaring a dizzying 610 meters skyward, Guangzhou's Sightseeing and TV Tower is the tallest television tower on earth. It's a testimony to the vision of a small architectural team who dared to dream big. Follow each phase of constructing this masterpiece.

43. Of Hearts and Minds

July 30, 2013

The heart is the most symbolic organ of the human body. Trace its conflicting histories as an emotional symbol and a physical organ, and reveal what the latest science has learnt about its structures, its capacities, and its role.

41. The Leech Remedy

February 3, 2006

By harnessing the leech, ancient healers were able to cure many common maladies. Now, modern medicine is beginning to relearn the ancient art of leeching. What advances will doctors find by utilizing these primordial creatures?

40. Man Versus Earth

April 22, 2011

Extreme snow can be a massive destructive force. But is this destruction avoidable? With scientific understanding growing all the time, is this the first time in history that we are gaining the upper hand on controlling the awesome power of nature?

39. Spellbound: Crimes of the Mind

April 30, 2010

Sometimes just a tap on the shoulder is enough to put you under a stranger's control. The mystery of mind manipulation, or "pukau" has long since been an enigma. Unravel the secrets behind these crimes of the mind.

38. Westall '66: A Suburban UFO Mystery

June 4, 2010

In 1966, in the Australian suburb of Westall, hundreds of students, teachers, and local residents saw the unimaginable: a UFO. Silenced by authorities at the time, now they revisit the extraordinary experience as a tenacious sleuth searches for answers.

36. Transplanting Memories

May 29, 2013

In recent years, several transplant recipients have reported unexpected side effects... including new memories, habits, and desires that they have never had before. Is there any explanation behind this phenomenon?

35. Sudden Death

May 22, 2013

Sudden Unexplained Death Syndrome is a lethal disease that targets seemingly healthy people in the prime of their lives. Now, as scientists race to discover a cure, what they unravel is a disease steeped in both mythology and 21st century medical science.

34. Super Cyclone

January 20, 2007

Follow the studios of an Indian meteorological team and a pair of Australian scientists as they work to record the geological signatures left by super cyclones in their home regions. Can their studies give an insight into the nature of these cyclones?

33. Super Cells

May 21, 2013

Many believe stem cells will be the future of medicine, but in Asia the future is now. More Western patients are flying to Asia for stem cell treatment - many against their doctor's advice. Are they being rash, or forging a new frontier in medical science?

32. Space Crabs

March 16, 2005

Science is always striving to unlocking the secrets of the cosmos. Discover how one of the most ancient creatures on earth may hold the key to NASA's ability to detect life in outer space and learn what is being done to ensure the species survives.

31. Typhoon Hunters

May 20, 2013

To unlock the secrets of typhoons, an international team of meteorologists will fly four aircraft into the very heart of these storms. If they can unlock the secret of these deadly storms, many lives around the world will be saved. But can they do it?

30. Trading Faces

June 8, 2005

Plastic surgery is a booming industry in Asia. But is getting a nose job becoming as casual an affair as getting a facial? With events like "Ms. Artificial Beauty", what lies ahead for the Asian plastic surgery market - and its patients?

29. Chasing Earthquakes

November 16, 2006

Embark on a journey into the strange world of earthquake prediction. Inexplicable evidence, considered scientific in some parts of the world and debunked in others, is used to foretell devastating disasters. But is there any truth behind these theories?

28. Green China Rising

May 13, 2013

In the war to save our planet's future, the battleground is China ... the world's largest emitter of greenhouse gases. We meet the many pioneers across China who are stepping up with new innovations and new ideas that crash through conventional thinking.

27. Manapouri: The Toughest Tunnel

April 29, 2013

It would take 16 lives to build Manapouri power station 700 feet inside the New Zealand mountain, an undertaking lasting decades and faced with constant failure. This was indeed one of the toughest tunnels ever attempted by man.

26. Master Imitators: What Makes Us Human?

April 15, 2013

Evolution. It's an idea that has long fascinated scientists. Humans have the uncanny ability to see something and mimic it. But are there other animals with this type of social understanding? What is it that truly sets humans apart from other beings?

25. Mystery of the Mind: What Makes Us Human?

April 12, 2013

Evolution. It's an idea that has long fascinated scientists. Many have tried to bridge the gap between humans and our nearest cousins: apes. But what really sets us apart? What secrets does the human brain hold, and just what is it that makes us human?

24. The Boy With a Tumor for a Face, Part 2

June 11, 2006

Less than a year since his life-saving operations, and Novemthree Siahaan is forced to return to the hospital. His tumors have grown much faster than doctors had anticipated, and this time even their medical prowess may not be enough to save him.

23. The Boy With a Tumor for a Face, Part 1

June 4, 2006

Novemthree Siahaan was born a normal Indonesian boy. But by age five, Novemthree's face was completely taken over by tumors growing from his mouth. Follow the trials that his doctors and family faced as they fought to save him and give him a normal life.

21. The Oldest People in the World

March 20, 2013

We visit the oldest people in the world and learn how they feel about the lives they have lived and are currently living.

20. The Boy Whose Skin Fell Off

March 19, 2013

Johnny Kennedy was born with Epidermolysis Bullosa, a horrific genetic disease that makes day-to-day life a nightmarish struggle.

19. Sex On the Brain

March 4, 2013

This is the bizarre story of a 40-year-old schoolteacher who suddenly found himself victim of uncontrollable deviant impulses. Something foreign in his brain may be the cause.

18. Half Ton Man

February 27, 2013

Patrick Deuel is a morbidly obese man who is literally eating himself to death. Weighing over 1000 lbs, Patrick was the world's largest man. Although having had a life changing gastric bypass, he still struggles against his compulsion to eat.

17. Born With Two Heads

February 26, 2013

Manar Maged was born with an extremely rare birth defect that has only occurred 10 times in medical history. Although her twin head had no body or organs of its own, it displayed consciousness. It could blink, smile, and even cry.

16. Munchausen Moms

October 8, 2007

The bond between mother and child is one of the strongest in a human's life. But in a lethal form of child abuse known as Munchausen by Proxy, mothers cause their children to be sick to gain attention, and the once sacred relationship can turn deadly.

15. The Devil's Sea: Beyond the Bermuda Triangle

January 19, 2013

Why have so many ships met their doom in the sea off the south coast of Japan? Could this stretch of water be the Bermuda Triangle of the Pacific? One man sets out to find a long lost wreck, and separate fact from fantasy as he explores The Devil's Sea.

14. Magnetic Storm

November 17, 2003

Generated deep within the Earth's molten core, the magnetic field protects our planet from deadly radiation from space. Yet scientists have discovered that it is weakening. Could our world lose its vital magnetic shield, and what will happen if we do?

13. Double Identity

November 26, 2012

The study of twins is changing our understanding of how personality traits are linked to genes. Double Identity brings you inside these studies, to understand how much of twins' actions are due to their environments, and how much is hardwired from birth.

12. The World's First Time Machine

December 2, 2003

Time travel is one of mankind's favorite fantasies. But what if it were possible to build a real time machine? To travel into the future, or the past? Scientists are now teetering on making that impossible dream, reality.

11. Super Worm

November 11, 2012

The worm, a living tube of flesh, has become a lab star due to its beautiful simplicity. Worms have helped scientists solve great puzzles in genetics and disease; they've even helped map the human genome.

10. The Cleverest Ape in the World

October 21, 2012

Journey with psychologist Susan Blackmore to find out if apes possess the same cognitive skills as humans. Can they use language, maps, or conscious choice? Find out the answer to these questions and more as you meet the cleverest apes in the world.

9. The Treasure

October 14, 2012

In the middle of the Java Sea in Indonesia, a substantial merchant ship was lost. It's wreckage holds invaluable information to the past on the surfaces of hundreds of thousands of ceramic pieces. What other wonders will be found?

8. The Art and Science of Freeflight

November 19, 2004

Most people have had the "flying dream", imagining soaring high above the clouds or skimming the surface of the ocean. Technology today has allowed hobbiests to take hold of their own wings in the recreational sport of freeflight.

8. Icebound: 100 Years of Antarctic Discovery

April 11, 2010

Follow in the wake of the legion of adventurers, explorers, and scientists who pitted themselves against the challenges of the most extreme environment on earth. These men and women shaped Antarctica as an international continent of scientific discovery.

7. Super Cockroach

July 21, 2007

Dirty, repugnant, and invasive, the roach is the most loathed insect on every continent. Yet, the roach has a second nature: simple, robust, alert, and prolific. These insects are providing inspiration for scientists in the field of robotics.

6. Dream Life of Rats

October 11, 2007

Who would have thought that a creature so despised a century ago would be responsible for so many medical and scientific breakthroughs. Without the rat, the mysteries of thought and emotion would remain an enigma.

5. Chasing El Nino

October 13, 1998

Scientists search for a theory to explain the weather phenomenon, El Niño, which only occurs once or twice per decade. The information they gather is fed into a computer to predict when and how hard El Niño will strike.

4. The Diva Mummy

July 13, 2004

Scientists perform an autopsy on the best preserved mummy ever discovered: that of a Han aristocrat named Lady Dai. More than 2000 years after her death her flesh is resilient and her blood still red. What can she tell us about life in ancient China?

3. In the Mind of Plants

July 1, 2010

Can plants perceive their environments? Can they feel? Sleep? Remember? In some ways, plants have surpassed animal on their evolutionary path. Find out how in one of the most interesting documentaries you will ever see.

2. Megawheel

October 11, 2008

The Singapore Flyer, or simply "TheFlyer," is a giant observation wheel in Singapore. "MEGAWHEEL" documents the incredible engineering feat it took to create the world's largest Ferris Wheel.

1. Hell On Ice

June 22, 2003

Despite numerous attempts, the Antarctic Peninsula had never been crossed unassisted. Share the frustration, exhaustion, and calamity of two men who tackle one of the world's most extreme and unpredictable regions.

104. Fire in the Hole

February 14, 2012

Alison Thompson's team is called to investigate the case of a man who died at the scene of a suspicious fire, and an unusual road traffic fatality.

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Where to Watch Pure Science Specials

Pure Science Specials is available for streaming on the Pure Science website, both individual episodes and full seasons. You can also watch Pure Science Specials on demand at Amazon Prime and Tubi TV.