NOVA Making Stuff: Cleaner on WXXI-TV

Pictured: David Pogue at FedEx in Oakland, California

Credit: Courtesy of Powderhouse Productions

NOVA explores the rapidly developing science and business of clean energy and examines alternative ways to generate it, store it, and distribute it.

Most modern materials are dangerous to the environment, but what about cleaning up our world? Batteries grown from viruses, tires made from orange peel oil, plastics made of sugar, and solar cells that cook up hydrogen–these are just a few glimpses of a new generation of clean materials that could power devices of the future.  Making Stuff: Cleaner airs Wednesday, February 2 at 9 p.m. WXXI-TV/HD (DT21.1/cable 1011 and 11).

Popular New York Times technology reporter David Pogue will take viewers on a thrilling tour of the material world we live in, and the one that may lie ahead—offering viewers a behind-the-scenes look at scientific innovations that are ushering in a new generation of materials that are stronger, smarter, smaller, and cleaner than anything we’ve ever seen.

The series continues with:

Making Stuff: Smarter, Wednesday, February 9 at 9 p.m. What can nature teach us about building smarter materials? Can we create materials that sense and respond? “When describing ‘smart materials,’ one analogy scientists give is the evolution from the first Terminator robot, a machine made of metal and circuitry, to the shape-shifting ‘liquid guy’ in Terminator 2,” said Making Stuff producer Chris Schmidt. Smarter looks into the growing number of materials that almost seem alive–able to react, change, and even learn.

WXXI will host Making Stuff Science Cafe at the Rochester Museum & Science Center on Saturday, February 5 from 7 to 9 p.m. Guests will preview clips from the series and participate in a community conversation with University of Rochester scientists Lewis Rothberg and Todd Krauss. The event is free, and open to the public (recommended for high school students and adults), but reservations are required. Register at http://wxxi.org/makingstuff.

The Rochester Museum & Science Center has also invited WXXI and Making Stuff to participate in its Science Saturday event on Saturday, February 15 from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Families will engage in hands-on material science demonstrations, which is part of the museum's addmission. Museum admission: Adults $10, Seniors/College Students $9, Ages 3–18 $8, Children under 3 FREE.