There are 234 muscles in the human body which interpret signals from the nervous system to perform simple and complex operations. Pairs of muscles often work together by expanding and contracting in opposition to each other to perform at optimum efficiency. Muscle contraction consists of physical, chemical, and electrical changes.

Determining the levels of hearing loss in young children can be measured by noting the child's reactions to various levels of volume and pitch. The key to treating hearing impairments in children is the early detection of hearing loss. Training parents to work with deaf children and the early fitting of hearing aids is important in the development of communication skills.

In this second in a series of programs on space exploration, Francis Clauser discusses how Newton's third law explains the propulsion of rocket ships. Speeds of over 25,000 miles per hour are needed to escape the earth's atmosphere and 16,000 miles per hour to put a rocket in orbit around the earth. Fuels that can be used to propel rockets include hydrazine and nitric acid. A model of a three stage rocket is shown to demonstrate how man will begin space travel.

Scientific research often requires specially made equipment. The glass blower can make intricate apparatuses designed to exacting specifications that are used in scientific laboratories for specific research purposes. Master glass blower John Lehman demonstrates this by making a hydrogenation apparatus that can turn vegetable oils into solid shortening. The first cathode ray tubes used in early television were created by glass blowers.

The program begins with a discussion of the solar system with the sun in the center and the nine planets, with their satellites or moons. Comets also travel around the sun in very irregular orbits. Great clusters of billions of stars form galaxies. The earth is near the center of the galaxy known as the Milky Way. Stars are arranged into the constellations that have distinctive configurations.

The life cycle of the butterfly goes through metamorphosis by changing from eggs to larvae to caterpillars to pupae to butterflies. Various species of butterflies and their anatomy, variety, and migration are discussed along with the fact that many cultures around the world eat butterflies and caterpillars.

Most pollsters incorrectly predicted the 1948 United States presidential election. Political scientists try to determine political trends in the U.S. by tracking the party affiliation of the House of Representatives. Local and regional differences can be seen by analyzing election results over the years. Most states show trends that mirror overall national results. Analysis of these factors can help predict future elections.

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.

Research underway at the School of Aviation Medicine at Randolph Air Force Base in Texas investigates the effect of oxygen deprivation at high altitudes, night vision, motion sickness, and the effect of low temperatures.

Production of sugarcane in Hawaii, from planting, cultivation, harvesting, and processing is discussed. Cross-breeding sugarcane varieties from throughout the world improve the crop and create hybrids that will be more resistant to disease and insect pests and produce a higher yield of sugar.