This program originates from station WDTV in Pittsburgh, PA., and begins with a visual history of glass beginning with obsidian, natural glass. Lynn Poole shows the ingredients of glass: silica, soda, and lime. Dr. Davies, of the Mellon Institute, discusses the states of matter, focusing on solids. He then explains the random structure of glass and why lenses are made from this substance. Using a petrographic microscope, Dr. Davies shows three samples of glass fibers under both ordinary and polarized light. He notes that because the density of glass varies with temperature and within the same piece of glass, it breaks under pressure. He hammers squares of regular and tempered glass to show the difference in their shattering. Dr. Davies also demonstrates the chemical resistivity of glass and explains that because glass is a versatile solvent, it can be used to make such products as goggles for glassblowers. Also silver salt can be dissolved in glass to develop an inexpensive and wearable radiation meter.

Lynn Poole announces that on July 1, 1954, Mars will be closer to the earth than in the past 15 years. He then explains the words Mars, March, and Tuesday originated from Mars, the Roman god of war, and the days of the week were the seven wanderers (or planets in Greek) in the sky. He describes the location of Mars and compares its relative size and distance from other planets using a football field model and the length of an imaginary plane flight. Telescopic views of Mars are unclear and photographs are difficult to make; however, polar caps have been seen and their changing size suggests seasons on the planet. The Dutch astronomer Christian Huyghens sketched Mars with continents and oceans, but his view has been disproved. In 1877 Italian astronomer Schiaparelli noted lines, which he called "canali" or canals, on the surface of Mars. So far oxygen has been undetected on the planet, but a life form such as lichen, a fungus and algae combination, might be possible there.

In a dramatization of a child's visit to a toy store, Mr. Poole and the storekeeper explain how certain toys work. For example, wind-up cars exhibit potential energy while other cars rely on friction or inertia. The angular momentum of the gyroscope toy is the same principle used in ships and airplanes. The dunking bird toy functions because of the methyl chloride within. Electric trains and steam engines are explained in relation to Sir Isaac Newton's Third Law of Motion. Musical toys, kaleidoscopes, Slinkies, and toy helicopters all have a scientific basis.

A film by Monsanto Co. dramatizes the development of curious boys into American chemists who learn to duplicate, preserve, extend, and replace natural resources. The serendipity of chemistry is exemplified in the story of how one lab team's search for a better shower curtain resulted in development of a liquid suitable as a fire resistant hydraulic fluid, "skydrol." The film also includes a visit to a phosphorous plant and a description of making phosphates; the creation of vinyl butyral for safety glass in the automobile industry; the manufacture of vanillin from sulfite liquor, a wood pulp mill waste product; and a demonstration of Krilium soil conditioner. The film notes that since World War I, chemistry has been responsible for antibiotics, synthetic fibers, plastics, and synthetic rubber.

The transistor is a object used in electrical circuits that acts as a valve to control the flow of energy and power of electricity. Developed at Bell Laboratories, the transistor has low power requirements and can be powered by batteries. Transistors amplify sound and are used in microphones, telephones, hearing aids, and radios. Mr. Leland Watson of Maico Hearing Instruments discusses how the hearing aid was the first commercial application of the transistor and how it has led to the miniaturization of the hearing aid.

Sleep is a complete cessation of movement and a depression in sensitivity to stimulation. It is initiated by internal bodily functions and not by external forces. A person who is asleep is able to be aroused. There are various levels of sleep, from deep sleep to drowsiness. Eletroencephalography can show the effects of patterns of sleep. Research in sleep and the lack of sleep are ongoing.

In 1891 Hilaire Chardonnet developed rayon, the first man made fiber from natural cellulose. In 1938 the first truly synthetic fiber, nylon was developed by creating fiber like macromolecules. Adipic acid and hexanethaline diamine combined with water to create nylon salt. The water is evaporated until the long molecules hook up into long fibers to create nylon yarn. Fabrics are tested for crease resistance, stiffness, resilience, and wear. Sometimes they are combined with natural fibers to form stronger blends.

Leonardo da Vinci first developed the odometer for measuring distance, the jack for lifting heavy objects, and the pile driver. He did not have modern power sources or advanced mathematics, but used his remarkable intuition and observation to make many scientific discoveries including: gears, cutting tools, lathes, bridge trusses, clocks, sawmills and hydraulics. Excerpts from the film Leonardo da Vinci from Pictura Films Corporation are shown, highlighting the many artistic and scientific developments from his notebooks including models of flying machines, catapults, cannons, guns, and tanks.

Before the mid-19th century patients dreaded the anticipation of surgery and the intense pain that was surely to come. In 1846 ether was used for painless tooth extraction and a surgical procedure. Many other gases used have been chloroform, nitrous oxide, ethylene, cyclopropane, ethyl chloride, vinethene, trichloroethylene, and xenon. These gases affect only the nerve center in the brain and not the rest of the body are are temporary or transient in nature. Intravenous barbiturates can also be used, and have the benefit of reducing nausea upon awakening. Local anesthetics can be used in some surgeries. A film of an actual surgery performed at the Johns Hopkins Medical Center with modern anesthetic procedures is shown.

Convulsive seizures or epileptic fits can be caused by problems in the heart, pancreas, kidney, or febrile conditions, but by far the most common causes are problems in the brain, although many have unknown causes. Some epileptics can be assisted through surgery, while others can be helped my medications such as phenobarbital, dilantin, or tridione. Epilepsy can be reproduced in monkeys to help study the disease and develop further methods of treatment.