The Secret Story of Stuff: Materials of the Modern Age

Duration: 59'03''

Synopsis

Designer and engineer Zoe Laughlin explores the world of material science, uncovering the innovations in manufacturing that are set to change the world we live in.

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...

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

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

BBC Four | 2018 | 4'57''

Designer Zoe Laughlin explains the dangers of MDF and demonstrates a sustainable ...

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.