Sustainable construction materials | The Secret Story of Stuff: Materials of the Modern Age

Duration: 4'57''

Synopsis

Designer Zoe Laughlin explains the dangers of MDF and demonstrates a sustainable alternative using potato waste and fungi.

Further Information

More clips from The Secret Story of Stuff: Materials of the Modern Age

Glass | The Secret Story of Stuff: Materials of the Modern Age

Glass | The Secret Story of Stuff: Materials of the Modern Age

BBC Four | 2018 | 1'32''

Designer Zoe Laughlin explores the versatility of glass and how it can become a fibre-optic cable.

Introduction to materials science | The Secret Story of Stuff: Materials of the Modern Age

Introduction to materials science | The Secret Story of Stuff: Materials of the Modern Age

BBC Four | 2018 | 2'10''

Designer Zoe Laughlin explores the materials that shape the world around us.

Optical fiber technology | The Secret Story of Stuff: Materials of the Modern Age

Optical fiber technology | The Secret Story of Stuff: Materials of the Modern Age

BBC Four | 2018 | 2'09''

Designer Zoe Laughlin visits the University of Southampton to find out how they pioneered o...

The Secret Story of Stuff: Materials of the Modern Age

The Secret Story of Stuff: Materials of the Modern Age

BBC Four | 2018 | 59'03''

Designer and engineer Zoe Laughlin explores the world of material science, uncovering the innovations in manufacturing...

Trains and superconductors | The Secret Story of Stuff: Materials of the Modern Age

Trains and superconductors | The Secret Story of Stuff: Materials of the Modern Age

BBC Four | 2018 | 4'52''

Zoe Laughlin explains how the science of trains has barely changed in the last 150 years.

More resources about Building and Construction

1: Safety | Engineering Craft Studies

1: Safety | Engineering Craft Studies

BBC One | 1974 | 19'39''

This week's programme emphasises the importance of safety, paramount to any engineering projects.

10: Cutting Tools | Engineering Craft Studies

10: Cutting Tools | Engineering Craft Studies

BBC One | 1974 | 19'46''

Cutting tools, a closer look.

11: Electricity at Work | Engineering Craft Studies

11: Electricity at Work | Engineering Craft Studies

BBC One | 1974 | 19'30''

Engineering series for schools and colleges.

12: Using Electricity | Engineering Craft Studies

12: Using Electricity | Engineering Craft Studies

BBC One | 1974 | 19'41''

A look at how electricity is used in engineering.

15: Keeping In Place | Engineering Craft Studies

15: Keeping In Place | Engineering Craft Studies

BBC One | 1973 | 19'45''

Engineering series for schools and colleges narrated by Paul Barnes.

16: Joining: Welding and Soldering | Engineering Craft Studies

16: Joining: Welding and Soldering | Engineering Craft Studies

BBC One | 1974 | 19'33''

Thermal methods of joining materials together.

17: Joining: Fastening | Engineering Craft Studies

17: Joining: Fastening | Engineering Craft Studies

BBC One | 1973 | 19'59''

This week looks at Joining and fastening.

18: Joining: Adhesives | Engineering Craft Studies

18: Joining: Adhesives | Engineering Craft Studies

BBC One | 1974 | 19'58''

Adhesives now have a wide application in industry. How do they work and where are they used?

19: Combining the Principles | Engineering Craft Studies

19: Combining the Principles | Engineering Craft Studies

BBC One | 1974 | 20'33''

This series consists of the visual teaching of principles, workshop demonstrations and examples of the practical app...

2: Using Materials | Engineering Craft Studies

2: Using Materials | Engineering Craft Studies

BBC One | 1974 | 19'56''

A look at the properties of different materials for use in engineering,

20: Process of Engineering Production | Engineering Craft Studies

20: Process of Engineering Production | Engineering Craft Studies

BBC One | 1974 | 19'56''

This week's programme looks at the process of engineering production.

3: Bridges | World's Most Extreme

3: Bridges | World's Most Extreme

Channel 4 | 2014 | 47'12''

The 10 most extreme bridges on Earth: from Nepal and Japan to Bolivia and Russia, bridges that demonstrate extreme engineering and stand in...

3: Changing the Properties | Engineering Craft Studies

3: Changing the Properties | Engineering Craft Studies

BBC One | 1974 | 20'33''

This week's programme looks at the importance of getting the right properties for your engineering project.

3D photography | Scotland from the Sky

3D photography | Scotland from the Sky

BBC One | 2021 | 1'51''

During the RAF's post-war photographic mapping project, they would take two pictures from slightly different angles and if side-lined ...

5: Properties And Grain Structures | Engineering Craft Studies

5: Properties And Grain Structures | Engineering Craft Studies

BBC One | 1973 | 19'04''

This week's programme looks at the properties inherent in the grain structure of metals.

5: Railways | World's Most Extreme

5: Railways | World's Most Extreme

Channel 4 | 2014 | 46'55''

From awesome engineering to extreme environments and thrill-seeking train-surfers and from the high-tech to the home-made, these are the 1...

6: Heat Production And Measurement | Engineering Craft Studies

6: Heat Production And Measurement | Engineering Craft Studies

BBC One | 1973 | 18'53''

Engineering series for schools and colleges narrated by Paul Barnes.

7: Forces And Moments | Engineering Craft Studies

7: Forces And Moments | Engineering Craft Studies

BBC One | 1973 | 19'02''

The engineering series for schools and colleges continues with a look at forces and momentum.

8: Stress and Strain | Engineering Craft Studies

8: Stress and Strain | Engineering Craft Studies

BBC One | 1974 | 19'41''

A look at the way materials behave under the action of external forces.

9: Material Removal: Principles | Engineering Craft Studies

9: Material Removal: Principles | Engineering Craft Studies

BBC One | 1974 | 20'17''

This week's programme uses a slow-motion camera to look at the way in which cutting tools remove material.