Pure Science Specials

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 is currently running and has 1 seasons (88 episodes). The series first aired on June 22, 2003.

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The Science of Bubbles
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.
Something Old Something New
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.
Out On a Limb
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.
Think
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.
Legally High
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.
How to Be a Billionaire
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.
Intersexion
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.
Immortality
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.
All Dolled up
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.
The Brain That Changes Itself
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.
Changing Your Mind
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.
The Virus Empire
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.
The Cars That Ate China
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.
The Strongest Woman Ever
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.
How to Colonize the Stars
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?
Cloning the Dead
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.
Building
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.
The First Human Clone
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.
Super Fungi
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.
Bosom Buddies
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.
Living With Robots
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.
Resurrection Science: Defying Evolution
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".
Superfactories: Breitling
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.
Mega-Tanker Makeover
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.
China's Long March Into Space
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.
The Impossible Lens
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.
The Last Trimate
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.
Psychopath
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.
Castles of the Underworld
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.
A Volcano Odyssey
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.
The Cure
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.
Curse of the Mermaid
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.
Global Health Frontiers: Dark Forest, Black Fly
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.
Powering the Planet
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?
The Quantum Tamers
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.
Automatic Brain: The Magic of the Unconscious Mind
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.
Hyper Hurricane
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?
Ring of Fire
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.
Malaria: The Serial Killer
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.
China's Raging Sands
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.
Plastic: The Real Sea Monster
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?
Changing Sexes: Female to Male
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.
Curing a Dangerous Sleepwalker
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.
The World's Highest Railway
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.
Hit by Lightning
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.
Megastructures: World's Tallest TV Tower
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.
Of Hearts and Minds
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.
The Leech Remedy
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?
Man Versus Earth
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?
Spellbound: Crimes of the Mind
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.
Westall '66: A Suburban UFO Mystery
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.
Transplanting Memories
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?
Sudden Death
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.
Super Cyclone
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?
Super Cells
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?
Space Crabs
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.
Typhoon Hunters
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?
Trading Faces
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?
Chasing Earthquakes
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?
Green China Rising
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.
Manapouri: The Toughest Tunnel
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.
Master Imitators: What Makes Us Human?
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?
Mystery of the Mind: What Makes Us Human?
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?
The Boy With a Tumor for a Face, Part 2
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.
The Boy With a Tumor for a Face, Part 1
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.
The Oldest People in the World
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.
The Boy Whose Skin Fell Off
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.
Sex On the Brain
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.
Half Ton Man
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.
Born With Two Heads
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.
Munchausen Moms
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.
The Devil's Sea: Beyond the Bermuda Triangle
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.
Magnetic Storm
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?
Double Identity
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.
The World's First Time Machine
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.
Super Worm
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.
The Cleverest Ape in the World
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.
The Treasure
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?
The Art and Science of Freeflight
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.
Icebound: 100 Years of Antarctic Discovery
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.
Super Cockroach
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.
Dream Life of Rats
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.
Chasing El Nino
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.
The Diva Mummy
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?
In the Mind of Plants
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.
Megawheel
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.
Hell On Ice
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.
Fire in the Hole
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.
Description
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.
  • Premiere Date
    June 22, 2003