NOVA Season 12 Episode 13 Edgerton and His Incredible Seeing Machines

"Edgerton and His Incredible Seeing Machines" is the thirteenth episode of the twelfth season of NOVA, a highly regarded documentary television series that explores scientific topics for a general audience. This particular episode explores the work of Harold Eugene "Doc" Edgerton, a pioneering electrical engineer and photographer who is perhaps best known for his invention of the stroboscope, a device that creates high-speed, multiple-exposure photographs of moving objects.

The episode begins by introducing Edgerton, who is described as an "eccentric genius" with a lifelong fascination with photography, motion, and light. Viewers are introduced to some of his famous photographs, such as the iconic image of a bullet piercing an apple, and the episode goes on to explore the various techniques and scientific principles that Edgerton used to capture these images.

One of Edgerton's most important innovations was the development of the electronic flash, which allowed him to capture incredibly fast-moving objects with incredible clarity. Viewers are treated to a range of examples of Edgerton's work, including images of bullets in flight, exploding light bulbs, and even a golf ball at the moment of impact with a club. The episode also explores some of the scientific questions that Edgerton's work helped to answer, such as why whips crack, how hummingbirds flap their wings so quickly, and why certain types of glass shatter in a particular way.

The episode also delves into Edgerton's personal life, exploring his childhood in Nebraska, his studies at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, and his friendship with Jacques-Yves Cousteau, with whom he collaborated on a number of underwater photography projects. Viewers are also introduced to some of Edgerton's colleagues and collaborators, who describe him as an intensely focused and sometimes difficult person to work with, but one whose contributions to science and photography were truly groundbreaking.

Overall, "Edgerton and His Incredible Seeing Machines" provides a fascinating and accessible overview of the life and work of Doc Edgerton, a true scientific pioneer whose photography and inventions continue to inspire and amaze to this day. With its mix of cutting-edge science, lively storytelling, and stunning photography, this episode of NOVA is a must-see for anyone with an interest in science, technology, or the history of photography.