Bang Goes the Theory

Supporting Content

• Find out more with The Open University

  

• Without treatment a cholera patient could be dead in less than a day — Series 8, Disaster Relief

  Duration: 1:40

• The Standby Task Force — Series 8, Disaster Relief

  Duration: 1:41

• Have you got the cool head to work in the emergency response team? — Series 8, Trains

  Duration: 2:34

• Leaves on the track — Series 8, Trains

  Duration: 2:13
  See all clips

• Join the Standby Task Force

  If, like Justine MacKinnon (speaking to Liz in the Clips section), you’d like to get involved as a volunteer working to map crisis zones, find out how at the organisation's website.

  • The Standby Task Force

  

• The high-speed 'flying banana'

  Network Rail’s New Measurement Train inspects and assesses the condition of every sleeper and rail clip it passes at speeds up to 125mph.

  • New Measurement Train (Wikipedia)

  

• What is data and what makes it powerful?

  We first found out how powerful data was during the Second World War. But what actually is it? Jem shows us by building his own massive hard drive.

  • Jem explains data

  

• The surge of 80,000 kettles

  Electricity demand can surge at the end of TV programmes as thousands of people switch on their kettles. Maggie witnesses how National Grid responds to meet this increased demand.

  • Watch the kettle surge 

  

• How is radiotherapy kept safe?

  For over a century doctors have been using radiation to cure cancer. Jem demonstrates how increased precision in radiotherapy makes it increasingly safe.

  • Jem on radiotherapy

  

• Meet Jem, Liz and Maggie

  Liz has a degree in biochemistry, Maggie has awards for science communication, and Jem has worked with Wallace and Gromit - and much, much more.

  • Read the team's profiles