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.

Many different species of insects and animals can be found in your own backyard. Charles Kolb shows live specimens of these species: turtles, lady beetles, aphids, grasshoppers, Japanese beetles, pill bugs, earthworms, spiders, toads, and snakes.

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.

The program begins with the presentation of the 1951 Television Award from the National Association for Better Radio and Television to the Johns Hopkins Science Review as the best educational program on television in 1951. The study of old bones can indicate the gender, height, race, age at death and the cause of death of the individual. Examination of bones can also assist in crime detection and identifying missing persons.

Archeologists use available clues to reconstruct ancient civilizations in Marajó Island in the mouth of the Amazon in Brazil. Potsherds found in 91 sites led to a reconstruction of the civilization through stratigraphy and seriation.

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.