About this season
The Nature of Things is a Canadian television series of documentary programs. It debuted on CBC Television on November 6, 1960. Many of the programs document nature and the effect that humans have on it. The program was one of the first to explore environmental issues, such as clear-cut logging. The series is named after an epic poem by Roman philosopher Lucretius: "Dē Rērum Nātūrā" — On the Nature of Things.
Episodes (11)
1. "Good and Evil"
Aired 3 January 1965
2. "Viruses"
Aired 10 January 1965
3. "Survival"
Aired 17 January 1965
The problem of survival in extreme climatic conditions is examined by Dr. William Whitehead.
4. Eureka
Aired 24 January 1965
Discussion and demonstration of "accidental" scientific discoveries.[37]
5. Flight
Aired 31 January 1965
Lister Sinclair looks at the artificial flight techniques of man and some of the principles of flying used by other species.
6. "The Quaking Earth"
Aired 7 February 1965
7. Pain
Aired 21 February 1965
8. "Lies, Damn Lies and Statistics"
Aired 28 February 1965
Professors Patterson Hume and Donald Ivey dispute Mark Twain's claim that: "There are lies, damn lies and statistics"; or in other words, "you can prove anything with statistics."
9. Photography
Aired 14 March 1965
Dr. Walter Clark of the Eastman-Kodak Research Laboratory, and host Lester Sinclair explain what happens after you push the button of your camera.
10. "Bird Strikes on Aircraft"
Aired 21 March 1965
At one time, collisions between aircraft and birds usually hurt only the birds. Now, with aircraft flying at supersonic speeds, the impact of collisions is greater. And birds ingested into the engines have caused a number of crashes. The Nature of Things looks at what is being done to eliminate bird strikes on aircraft.
11. "The Pacemakers"
Aired 28 March 1965
For the first time ever on television, part of the remarkable "pacemaker" heart operation is shown being performed at the Toronto General Hospital.