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Science, Maths & Technology
Geological landforms: Dorset and The Isle of Skye
Geology is the scientific study of the Earth, its origin, structure, processes and composition. This album is mainly concerned with the interpretation of geological maps and the relationship between the landscape and underlying rocks. The Open University's Dr Iain Gilmour talks us through the geological landforms of Dorset and the Isle of Skye, ...
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Science, Maths & Technology
The Rainbow analysed
For centuries the rainbow has been an object of wonder for scientists and mathematicians. It has taken 2000 years to discover many of its secrets. This five track album uses 3D imagery to explain exactly how light is deflected off rain droplets to form the bow like shape we see. This material forms part of The Open University course MU120 Open ...
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Science, Maths & Technology
Exploring mathematics: maths in nature and art
What does mathematics have to do with nature or art? The video tracks in this album trace the origin of the mathematics of chaos and describe how the chance discovery of fractals became the basis for some real - and revolutionary - commercial applications such as the fax and the modem. A closer look at ancient fabric designs and the spiral of a ...
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Science, Maths & Technology
Exploring mathematics: a powerful tool
How can mathematics help us to understand the world around us? The tracks on this album take us to Antarctica, Hong Kong and New Zealand to find out how mathematicians work with scientists and biologists to create mathematical models, and how collaborations like these can help decipher and predict a range of natural phenomena. We learn how the ...
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Science, Maths & Technology
Bang challenge: The locked door
Imprisoned in an underground cavern, facing a locked exit with a strange word above it. Can you decipher the clues and escape?
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Nature & Environment
Introducing environment
Have you ever thought about how far the contents of your supermarket basket have travelled to get to you, how this impacts on our planet’s systems? It's no secret that climate change is caused by our over-dependence on fossil fuels...so what can we do about it? This is an album with a difference; YOU get the chance to find out how YOUR ...
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Science, Maths & Technology
Geological time
Geology is the scientific study of the Earth, its origin, structure, processes and composition. This album is concerned mainly with the interpretation of geological maps and the relationship between the landscape and underlying rocks. It reveals how the geological history of any area can be interpreted from a geological map. Dr Andrew Bell ...
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Science, Maths & Technology
Earth's physical resources: fossil fuels
The big issue of the 21st century is the impact burning fossil fuels is having on the global environment. This album considers what will happen when fossil fuels run out. What oil and gas resources have we got left and how can we sustain them? The two video tracks explore the connection between fossil fuels and climate change, determining that ...
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Science, Maths & Technology
Earth's physical resources: rocks for roads
Everyday life and the fabric of modern civilisation depend on using the Earth’s physical resources. This album explores the occurrence, availability, exploitation and sustainability of rocks and minerals. The two video tracks feature Thrislington and Divithill quarries in the north of England. Quarry and road construction managers talk about ...
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Science, Maths & Technology
Earth's physical resources: renewable energy
As the world responds to climate change, we explore whether sustainable energy can satisfy our need for endless economic growth, without radical changes in the way we live. This album examines power sources which provide cleaner alternatives to fossil fuels, such as wind power, biomass, hydro power, wave and tidal power, solar and geothermal ...
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Science, Maths & Technology
Earth's physical resources: extracting coal and oil
Most people throw coal on the fire and put petrol in their cars without really thinking about it. But, looking at sediment deposits can reveal what type of environments created our coal and oil hundreds of millions of years ago. The five video tracks in this album examine the role of geology in determining the global distribution and ...
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Science, Maths & Technology
Predicting Volcanoes
The Open University's researcher in volcanoes, Hazel Rymer explains why the Poás volcano in Costa Rica is her favourite, and how evidence form previous experiments there has lead her to believe there may be an environmental crisis - similar to one in the 1990's - on it's way. There have been changes in gravity above Poás, and Hazel talks us ...