Gareth Mitchell investigates the impact of war on scientific research and the changes it brought about on life in the postwar years. Radar, nuclear weapons and nuclear energy, psychology, new anti-malaria drugs, radar (leading to ultrasound technique in medicine), the first primitive computer for deciphering codes, rocket technology, eugenics (genetic research): they are all a direct result of World World Two.
Gareth Mitchell’s guests include Professor Hendrik Casimir (1909-2000) of the Philips Research Laboratory.
Producer: Gareth Mitchell
Broadcast: August 29, 2000