So says Heinz Haber in Disneyland's "Our Friend the Atom" -- a fantastic effort at explaining atomic physics that holds up 50 years later. Like Disney's other Tomorrowland documentaries, it combines accurate science and marvelous illustration. You could show this in any high school class -- heck, it should be shown in the first class of most college-level physics 101 courses.
Its descriptions of complicated applications, such as how radioactivity can be used for medicine and biology, sill hold as fairly accurate. (Note, listen carefully, he's not saying radiation will make plants and animals grow, but could be used to tag other molecules as they are processed by plants and animals -- something that HAS been a mightily useful tool in science.)
It also describes the potential of commercially available atomic energy. While it might seem naive to some, this was made before the naive and irrational fear of nuclear energy took root in the United States. Don't dismiss this unique documentary as Cold War propaganda. Like Haber said, the coal and oil we use now is finite and we have better uses for them as raw materials.
Also, safely ignore Leonard Maltin's apologetic introduction on the DVD (all Disney Treasures DVDs, for that matter, we don't need someone to explain to us it is wrong for Donald to use a gun!).
I only wish someone could make documentaries like this again.
Its descriptions of complicated applications, such as how radioactivity can be used for medicine and biology, sill hold as fairly accurate. (Note, listen carefully, he's not saying radiation will make plants and animals grow, but could be used to tag other molecules as they are processed by plants and animals -- something that HAS been a mightily useful tool in science.)
It also describes the potential of commercially available atomic energy. While it might seem naive to some, this was made before the naive and irrational fear of nuclear energy took root in the United States. Don't dismiss this unique documentary as Cold War propaganda. Like Haber said, the coal and oil we use now is finite and we have better uses for them as raw materials.
Also, safely ignore Leonard Maltin's apologetic introduction on the DVD (all Disney Treasures DVDs, for that matter, we don't need someone to explain to us it is wrong for Donald to use a gun!).
I only wish someone could make documentaries like this again.