Nature's Chemistry

The natural world is an excellent chemistry classroom. This program shows how naturally occurring chemical compounds inspire scientists to push the boundaries of communication and production technology. Entering the insect world, the video explains how bees, butterflies, and other creatures have developed sophisticated methods of communicating and detecting sensory information, and how alternative versions of these systems have been created in laboratories. The chemical makeup of printer's ink and tire rubber—as well as the manufacturing of computer chips—are also shown to be heavily influenced by our understanding of natural substances. (28 minutes