Videodisc release of the 1988 television series.

Written and presented by James Burke.

A series presenting science as a detective story illustrating the connections between events of the past and inventions of the future. Part 7: Traces the connection between mercantile competition between the British and Dutch in the 17th century, the development of coal-tar pitch to protect ship hulls and its replacement by copper, the creation of waterproffed clothing, gaslight lamps and nylon. Part 8: When Napoleon marched across Europe, he needed an efficient way to store provisions. A Frenchman preserved sterilized food in empty champagne bottles, an idea modified by the British, who tried tin cans which sometimes failed leading to experiments with refrigeration. Later, it was discovered that gases may be stored at very low temperatures in a thermos flask and when lit by a spark can send rockets into space.

DVD.

B & T.