Lynn Poole briefly describes the natural resources of the United States and shows their location on a map as an introduction to this program on the Materials Policy Commission, appointed by President Truman, which has just published its five volume report of facts and recommendations for the future. According to the report, the projected 1975 demand for raw materials will be an increase of 64%. A chart compares consumption of raw materials in 1900, 1950, and 1975 and the resulting production surpluses and deficits. Dr. Arnold C. Harberger, Johns Hopkins University economist and staff consultant on the Commission, explains how projections on zinc and steel demands are calculated. He assumes that although the 1975 GNP will be twice that of 1950, demand for many goods, such as automobiles and televisions, won't grow at the same rate. A chart shows the general demands of all natural resources in 1975. Harberger says that to meet these demands, the Commission recommends efficient production of coal and petroleum, geological surveys of the United States, and mass production of such new materials as tantalum and germanium. Further recommendations include buying materials abroad to boost the world economy, studying the rising real costs, and conservation of natural resources.

Lynn Poole discusses abnormally conjoined twins and shows a poster of the Biddenden Maids of England and a photo of Chang and Eng Bunker, Siamese twins. Dr. Francis Schwentker of Johns Hopkins Medical School, explains the odds of having twins, triplets, and quadruplets and the heredity factor of twinning. Two pairs of twin nurses at the Johns Hopkins Hospital exemplify the difference between identical and fraternal twins. Using charts, Dr. Schwentker explains how conjoined twins occur when the germplasm fails to cleave, and he shows examples of posterior, anterior, lateral, and cranial connections. Dr. A. Earl Walker, Director of Surgery at Johns Hopkins Hospital, describes the December 17, 1952 surgical separation of the Brodie twins in Chicago. Using a diagram, X-rays, and a medical model, Dr. Walker offers a general explanation of the procedure and considerations in separating these boys joined at the top of the head. The stronger twin was given the venus sinus, which they shared, and a tantalum plate was used to cover the exposed brain. Both twins were still alive at the close of this program.

Lynn Poole briefly interviews Howard Ross, Director of Broad Creek Memorial Scout Camp serving the Baltimore Area Council of the Boy Scouts of America. Mr. Ross notes that the camp promotes scouting skills more than athletics. To demonstrate this, Mr. Poole talks with several scouts who discuss and/or demonstrate how to build a lean-to, handle an axe safely, build a fire with a flint, find and prepare food in the wild, use a watch as a compass, tie artificial flies for fishing, and create and use decorative wooden neckerchief slides. An older scout demonstrates butterfly collecting for species identification, the use of leaves for making decorative splatter prints, and identification of birds by sight and song.

Lynn Poole describes various historical accounts of flying saucers and reads from an article in the 1893 "Nature" magazine about mysterious lights. Although Harvard's Dr. Donald H. Menzel was unable to appear on the program as planned, he permitted Johns Hopkins Science Review to tell his story using his photos from "Life" magazine. Dr. Menzel has actually seen these mysterious lights or flying saucers and attempted to recreate them in his lab. An explanation of temperature inversions shows how they can produce optical mirages by reflected sunlight, and Menzel's lab experiment reproduces this phenomenon. Lynn Poole shows viewers a home experiment to simulate the gradual bending of reflections to make them appear as mirages. A film shows another explanation of flying saucers, offered by Noel Scott, Army physicist. Believing that "flying saucers" are created in the same way as lightning and the northern lights, he simulated the atmospheric conditions in a bell jar, producing tiny "saucers" of ionized gas from charged particles sensitive to magnetic movements.

On this fourth anniversary program, Lynn Poole reads a few congratulatory telegrams from stations around the country and from Colorado Senator Edward C. Johnson. This program also celebrates the 157th anniversary of the U.S. Navy Supply Corps and reviews their recent research and development in clothing and food. Navy Lt. Philip Crosby shows photos of old uniforms and then explains the new fabrics and design features of improved cold weather gear, such as the Navy's A-2 ensemble, which is modelled. He also compares various vintages of rubber boots, including the new insulated, waterproof ones used in Korea to eliminate frostbite. A waterproof submarine suit is also modelled. Lt. Commander J. A. Corrick, Jr. shows the list of foods on a 1794 Naval ration card and explains the space problem of carrying large quantities of food, such as potatoes, for the crew. Lt. Charles Shulman describes the cooperative project between the Navy and private industry to manufacture a "radar range," which cooks a frozen turkey in eighteen minutes.

This program is a behind-the-scenes film featuring the people and activities at Johns Hopkins Hospital between 9:00 PM and 9:00 AM. Lad Grapski, assistant director of administrative services at the hospital, discusses the various roles of the hospital staff: guards, accountants, switchboard operators, cleaning crew, and maintenance men. Electrician Vincent Tomasetti demonstrates his procedure in making an electrical repair in the operating room of the Halsted Clinic. Pediatrician Dr. Thomas Reichelderzfer represents the professionals at the Harriet Lane Home children's hospital. Members of the emergency accident room staff include the registrar, x-ray technician, operating room nurses, and surgeons. In the obstetrics ward of the Women's Clinic, nurses tend to newborn babies. Cook Waverly Jennings notes that the hospital's food staff prepares 4,200 meals a day for patients and employees. Dr. Harry L. Chant, assistant director for professional services, comments on other continuous hospital functions, such as preparing for skin grafts or other surgeries.

Lynn Poole briefly explains Copernicus's theory and the difference between revolution and rotation. Malcolm Davies, author of "A Geographic Gadgeteer" and instructor at Baltimore Polytechnic Institute, proves to viewers that the earth rotates and revolves. He starts a pendulum swinging along a line in the studio, like Foucault's 1851 experiment, and returns to it at the end of the program to show that the room has rotated about 3 degrees during the half hour. During the rest of the show, he demonstrates a Trippensee planetarium, explains why water funnels in a counter-clockwise spiral in the northern hemisphere, and describes how a monkey wrench dropped into a mine shaft drifts to the east before landing because of the earth's rotation. He then explains how the earth revolves in orbit around the sun, mentioning Frederich Wilhelm Bessel's 1838 theory of stellar positions based on astronomer James Bradley's observations. Davies also simulates the approach of meteors at difference times of the day to demonstrate the earth's revolution around the sun.

Lynn Poole opens the program by summarizing a letter from viewers who are members of the Science Club at Monclair State Teachers' College in New Jersey. Baltimore Polytechnic Institute teacher Malcolm Davies proves that perpetual motion does not exist. The device purporting it is actually a Crookes' radiometer that merely demonstrates the facts of radiation. Davies then discusses the navigational issues confronting Columbus and his sailors, such as the differences in distances from the magnetic poles to the actual poles and the strength of the tradewinds. Poole exhibits a copy of "The Story of Maps", written by Peabody librarian Lloyd A. Brown, which mentions an astrolabe, like that used by Columbus. Davies displays an astrolabe and shows how it's used in conjunction with the north star for navigation. He also demonstrates Gunter's quadrant and a marine sextant. The camera views through the sextant eyepiece as Davies makes adjustments, allowing viewers to experience its operation. Finally, using several examples, Davies explains Bernoulli's Principle, which occurs when vehicles at high velocity pass on roads and atmospheric pressure appears to push them together. Lynn Poole concludes the program by announcing that the current "Look" magazine has a preview of the next program, "Troubled People Meet."

Lynn Poole invites members of the Federal Communications Committee, meeting in Washington, DC for hearings on the use of television as an educational medium, to watch this program as a practical example of how educational institutions can bring educational programs to the American people. This is the first public showing and demonstration of a combination of x-ray photography and fluoroscopy picked up by a television receiving tube, affording both dynamic and clear internal views of patients. The equipment was constructed at The Johns Hopkins University with funds from the U.S. Public Health Service and developed by Dr. Russell H. Morgan. Dr. Morgan shows and explains the dim images of a standard fluoroscope and the static x-rays of a chest, colon, and kidney produced on a radiographic table to compare the strengths and weaknesses of each procedure. With physicist Ralph Sterm at the controls and assisted by Vernon Bowers, Ed Custer, and Roy Collier, Dr. Morgan then demonstrates his new invention, which amplifies images 300-3,000 times, and x-rays the movement of the chest and hand of Joan Hunter for viewers to see. Finally, in the first live television, inter-city diagnosis, Dr. Paul C. Hodges, at the University of Chicago, and Dr. Waldron Sennott, at the U.S. Marine Hospital in New York, observe the x-ray/fluoroscopy images broadcast on their televisions and consult with Dr. David Gould, at Johns Hopkins in Baltimore, and together diagnose and prescribe treatment for a patient, machine operator James Carter, who has metal particles clearly lodged in his chest and possibly his lungs.

Host Lynn Poole reviews highlights of programs from the past year: "Freezing the Atom" (10/10/50) shows how atoms are slowed down and the development of the bolometer; "Electronics at Work in a Vacuum"(10/25/50) describes the development of the vacuum tube and the principles behind it, using puffed wheat in a jar as an example; "Your Questions About Science" (12/26/50) explains and demonstrates atomic chain reaction or nuclear fission using mouse traps and sugar cubes; "The Unbreakable Laws of the Universe" (1/2/51) explains the physical laws governing all things: inertia, action and equal reaction, conservation of motion, gravity, and atmospheric pressure; "Fight Against Polio" (1/16/51) filmed at the Children's Hospital in Baltimore, MD, shows how polio victims are being strengthened and restored to a normal life; "Don't Take Your Heart for Granted" (2/13/51) describes what the heart is, what can happen to it, and how to take care of it; "Archaeology: Key to the Past" (3/13/51) looks at the work of archaeologists and their study of the lost civilization of the Etruscans; "Cancer Will Be Conquered" (4/10/51) features Dr. Gey describing the differences between normal and cancerous cells and showing a magnified, live view of the separation of normal and abnormal human cells; "Is There Science in Art?" (2/27/51) reveals the science of cleaning varnish and dirt from old paintings at the Walters Art Gallery and the art of using x-rays and ultraviolet light to restore old paintings to their original intent. Poole also thanks the studio staff and mentions other favorite programs: "Fear" (103/50), "X-Ray, the Super Sleuth" (12/5/50), "Stream Pollution" (5/1/51), "Don't Drink That Water" (3/20/51), "Schistosomiasis" (11/21/50), and "Magnificent Microscope" (5/15/51).