Dr. Shaw defines fear as a strong desire to escape from perceived danger to which the autonomic nervous system responds. As an example of one way to measure the extent of the fear response, Dr. Shaw shows a film of Dr. Charles Eriksen throwing a live snake at a woman to record her galvanic skin response and heart rate. Dr. Eriksen later demonstrates that familiarity and experience can be used to overcome a fear. Dr. Shaw describes the difference between fear and caution and explains that fears are more likely to become pathological than other emotions. Phobias are irrational fears associated with specific objects, usually associated with an intense or unusual experience in childhood. Examples of typical phobias include acrophobia, claustrophobia, xylophobia, dromophobia, agoraphobia, monophobia, zoophobia, ailurophobia, topophobia, and myctophobia. In an experiment to learn if a person could be conditioned to fear, J. B. Watson and Rosalie Rayner taught a child to fear a harmless object.

Great scientists and their research are discussed including: Elmer V. McCollum and his discovery of vitamins A, D, and B1; John Boswell Whitehead and his work on dielectrics; Alexander Graham Christie's work on power plant design; the philosophy of George Boas applying the world of ancient Greece to modern thought; archaeology in the Near East by William Foxwell Albright; and Robert Williams Wood and his research into diffraction gratings and infrared filters. There is also a discussion of operations research and its applications in the American military effort.

Famous ornithologist Roger Tory Peterson discusses bird watching opportunities in North America and presents several examples of birdsongs. Many species of birds migrate throughout the year. The arctic tern can travel over 10,000 miles between its winter and summer homes. Birds that are calendar migrants arrive in the same place around the same time each year.

Beginning with a summary of the previous three programs filmed in Britain, this episode of the Johns Hopkins Science Review continues the discussion of recent scientific research in Britain. Highlights are research into the common cold and crystals, and developments in laundry washing and time lapse photography.

Little known metals with valuable applications are discussed. Titanium being much lighter than steel has important military applications; vitalium, an alloy of cobalt, chromium and molybdenum, is used to join and strengthen bones; tantalum is used in skull plates; mercury has many applications including: lipsticks, television vacuum tubes, antiseptics, insecticides, and photographic developing; selenium is used in light meters and to conduct electricity; cerium emits sparks and is used in cigarette lighters; germanium is used to make transistors, which can replace vacuum tubes in the telephone, radio, and television industries.

To show how isotopes can be used to locate elements in the body, Dr. Robert Ballentine drinks radioactive iodine 131 at the start of the program. Later he uses a Geiger counter to show the level of radioactivity in his stomach and thyroid, where it accumulated. Such a tracer can be used in biological research and as a medical diagnostic tool. Dr. Ballentine further describes the characteristics of isotopes, the Brookhaven Pile at Brookhaven National Laboratories, and how isotopes are obtained.

Photogrammetry is the science of obtaining reliable measurements through the use of photography. It is the most efficient, accurate, and economic method for mapping large land areas. Aerial photographs are analyzed through triangulation methods to accurately determine terrestrial and hydrographic mapping to aid in navigation.

Small amounts of money invested in scientific research have led to great benefits for mankind worth many times the initial investments. Great strides in research have brought about the development of the magnetic recorder, silica gel as a drying agent, coal power as an energy source for large motors, and the use of the spectroscope in the steel industry and astronomy.

Researchers design propellers for torpedoes so that they can go faster, farther, quieter and travel more accurately. Use of a water tunnel helps measure cavitation that aids in the design of propellers that will reduce cavitation to benefit U.S. naval operations.

The process of blood transfusion is explained as it passes from the donor to the blood bank to the recipient. The discovery that the addition of sodium citrate to blood will preserve blood and keep it from coagulating, led to the development of blood banks.