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From recreating a rather dramatic ancient Chinese alchemy accident to splitting an atom in his own home-built replica of a 1930s piece of equipment, Jem reveals the science behind explosions and investigates how we have learned to control them and use their power throughout history.
He goes underground to show how gunpowder was used in the mines of Cornwall, recreates the first test of guncotton in a quarry with dramatic results and visits a modern high explosives factory with a noble history.
Ground-breaking high speed photography makes for some startling revelations at every step of the way.
Nobel and nitro, a dynamite story
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Explore Nobel's development of dynamite and how a journalistic error was the probable catalyst in his foundation of The Nobel Prizes. Read more : Nobel and nitro, a dynamite story
Piston power
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Power is wealth - and gunpowder is power indeed. Explore how Leonardo's groundbreaking designs for a gunpowder powered piston ultimately led to the invention of steam engines. Read more : Piston power
Explosive accuracy
BBC
Explosives expert Dr Sidney Alford joins Jem to explain the art of effective explosions. Read more : Explosive accuracy
More explosions
Dave Rothery on volcanoes
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Dr David Rothery talks about the 2010 eruption of Eyjafjallajökull in Iceland, and about the likelihood and seriousness of future eruptions around the globe. Read more : Dave Rothery on volcanoes
Icelandic eruptions
BBC
A volcanic eruption in Iceland which started in 1783 may have had a direct effect on the UK and parts of Western Europe. Read more : Icelandic eruptions
Alkali metals
The Open University
Discover the explosive results when water and alkali metals come together - and the science behind the reaction Read more : Alkali metals
Challenge: Make Fireworks
BBC
The team of scientists who took the Rough Science trip to Carriacou were asked to create explosions in the sky Read more : Challenge: Make Fireworks
Challenger
NASA
Forensic engineering enables us to analyse the 1986 Challenger disaster Read more : Challenger
Ronan Point
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A gas explosion in Newham changed the way towers blocks would be built. Read more : Ronan Point
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Download your free Bang screensaver
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Take the Bang challenges
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Can you use your scientific knowledge and know-how to get the Bang! team out a series of sticky situations? Read more : Take the Bang challenges
Scratch and smell: Take the test
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Before you attempt the scratch and smell experiment, you will need the free smelling card. Read more : Scratch and smell: Take the test
More Bang on bbc.co.uk
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Find out more about the team and the challenges they face - and watch online. Read more : More Bang on bbc.co.uk
Bang Goes The Theory 2 - Stay in touch
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Keep in touch with The Open University, and find out about our courses and programmes. Read more : Bang Goes The Theory 2 - Stay in touch
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Take your interest in science further - explore the current science courses and qualifications available from The Open University. Read more : Study science with The Open University
Like science? See our short courses
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Interested finding out more about which science course is right for you? The Science faculty offer a series of introductory short courses that can be... Read more : Like science? See our short courses
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video magic show
Most of the stuff in this programme, I learned in company explosive awareness lectures. I learned nothing new from this programme. The establishment of this country is paranoid about the general public having access to knowledge of explosives. Although the information is all there in the programme; the public is unlikely to learn anything enlightening. This is probably intentional. The information is all jumbled up to make it difficult to learn anything. I asked myself a question while I watched this programme; 'if I didn't know how explosives worked; could I learn it from this programme' . The answer is NO. This is all good boom--- bang---flash video show. The presenter's presentation style was patronising; like it was made for children.
james hudson
Dangerous Knowledge !
I watched this episode on the BBC and thought it was brilliant and very, very informative. On the negative side and in the current climate we live in, I thought it was too informative giving the secrets of how to make explosives and bombs. I would like to hear other people's pespectives on this issue, overall I was fascinated and thought it was a great programme.
What are you afraid of ?. In
What are you afraid of ?. In America, ordinary citizens are allowed to buy explosives and all the materials to produce their own propellants and explosives. The climate you talk about is presumeably Terrorist ; if America can lead the fight against terrorism with their very laxed approach to citizen knowledge: why should this knowledge frighten you so much. The terrorist are all issued with a personal copy of the terrorist handbook (freely available in most countries) they don't need to rely on TV programmes. As for the idiots who seem determined to lose an eye or a hand playing with gunpowder; they will continue to learn the hard way. My main criticism of your comment is that you are far more likely to die in a car accident or have your house ceiling fall on your head than from a terrorist bomb. When we had the IRA bombing campaigns; their bombs were going off nearly every day. Nowadays; terrorism is 99.99% hype. We've only had one serious bomb incident since the IRA campains. The bombs used in that attack were peroxide based, not black powder or plastic. Controlling the problem by the restriction of knowledge is the old Alchemy approach; not the scientific way.