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Explosions: How We Shook the World

Engineer Jem Stansfield investigates how we have come to understand, and then harness, the immense power of explosions, from ancient China to the nuclear age.

Engineer Jem Stansfield is used to creating explosions, but in this programme he uncovers the story of how we have learnt to control them and harness their power for our own means.

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 how explosives work and how we have used 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.

1 hour

Last on

Thu 9 Oct 2014 00:50

Music Played

  • Nick Ingman/Terry Devine-King

    Mars

  • Igor Dvorkin & Duncan Pittock

    Terracotta Empire

  • Terry Devine-King

    Dangerous Games

  • Paul Mottram

    Deserted Land

  • Orlando Jopling

    Serene

  • Paul Mottram

    Starshift

  • Ian Hughes

    Cloth of Gold

  • Paul Mottram

    Rising Star

  • Adam Skinner & Dan Skinner

    Siberian Sunrise

  • Barrie Gledden & Kes Loy

    Yangtze

  • Igor Dvorkin & Duncan Pittock

    Chaser

  • Terry Devine-King

    Battle Lines

  • Paul Mottram

    Livewire

  • Helen Jane Long

    Hypnosis

  • Paul Mottram

    Fireflies

  • Adam Skinner & Dan Skinner

    Fearless

  • Darren Leigh Purkiss

    Mission to Mars

  • Tom Smail

    Long Shadow

  • Mat Andasun

    Stress

  • Tom Quick

    Alchemy

  • Igor Dvorkin & Duncan Pittock

    Awareness

  • Paul Mottram

    Dreaming Spirit

  • Paul Mottram

    Equilibrium

  • Luke Richards

    Something in the Shadows

  • Paul Mottram

    Intrigue

  • Bob Bradley

    Merging Cells

  • Helen Jane Long

    Frontier

  • Paul Mottram

    Honest Endeavour

  • Terry Devine-King

    City to City

  • Paul Mottram

    Sea of Tranquility

  • Duncan Pittock

    Anxious

  • Paul Mottram/Gareth Johnson

    In Memoriam

  • Adam Skinner & Dan Skinner

    Black Sand

  • Helen Jane Long

    Waiting Game

  • Terry Devine-King

    Quest

  • David O'Brien & Johnny Lithium

    Hidden Threat

  • Duncan Pittock

    Tremolo Strings

  • Terry Devine-King

    Doom

  • Declan Flynn

    Futureproof

  • Igor Dvorkin & Duncan Pittock

    Tense String Rise

  • Oliver Ledbury

    Pendulum

  • Christopher Ashmore/Benjamin Marks

    Sinister Angel

  • Chris Blackwell

    Acceptance

  • David O'Brien

    Fear Factor

  • Adam Skinner & Dan Skinner

    Asylum

Credits

Role Contributor
Presenter Jem Stansfield
Producer Alex Freeman
Director Alex Freeman
Producer Steve Crabtree
Producer Ed Booth
Executive Producer Tina Fletcher

Broadcasts

OU on the 麻豆官网首页入口

Watch Jem exploring explosions