'Uranium - Twisting the Dragon's Tail'
(DVD / NR / 2015 / PBS)
Overview: 2015 marks the 70th anniversary of the most profound change in the history of human enterprise; the unleashing of the elemental force within Uranium. Join host Dr. Derek Muller on a global adventure to reveal the cultural, scientific, and natural history of the most wondrous and terrifying rock on Earth. This is the extraordinary, untold story of Uranium.
DVD Verdict: OK, watching this movie from both perspectives, 'Uranium - Twisting the Dragon's Tail' is part science, part history, and all epic adventure. It's a journey through place and time, around the most dangerous and wondrous rock on Earth.
Born violently in the collapse of a star long ago, Uranium is woven throughout the fabric of Earth. It has properties like no other rock: the element spits energy which can transform DNA, shaping the very nature of what it means to be human. Once considered worthless, this rock has become the most desirable, most expensive, and most feared substances in the world. And on a warming planet with limited fossil fuel, uranium may transform once again - into our savior.
Now, that's the logistically layout of what to expect from the unfolding documentary, but the positive side, and new possibilities and technologies are, in truth, just mentioned quickly - but not looked into. Keeping in mind that the current nuclear power plants are 50 year old technology, it would have been much more interesting to hear what is being done at the moment, are there groups (political or social) who work for the implementation of newer, safer and better technologies.
In this documentary, we follow Physicist Dr. Derek Muller, creator of YouTube channel Veritasium, as he travels to Russia, Japan, North America, Europe, and Australia to explore the vast world of this intriguing element. But, as mentioned beforehand, there is simply not enough scientific explanation of how things work, why they work and what can be changed. No mention of methods for cleaning up waste, if someone is working on that and with what success. So, a nice documentary, for sure, but one that glosses over what should have been more of an in-depth reveal, for my liking, sorry. This is a Widescreen Presentation (1.78:1) enhanced for 16x9 TVs.
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