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Arts & Culture

THE AMAZING HUMAN BODY

Scan of pro rider Danny MacAskill riding a bike. Danny demonstrates how new motor skills must be learned and developed with practice.
Courtesy of PBS
Scan of pro rider Danny MacAskill riding a bike. Danny demonstrates how new motor skills must be learned and developed with practice.

Stream now or tune in Wednesdays, Sept. 16 - 30, 2020 at 11 p.m. on KPBS TV

Stream the series now with KPBS Passport!

The human body is the most sophisticated organism on Earth. It is a scientific marvel, yet much about it remains a mystery.

THE AMAZING HUMAN BODY, a three-part series, uses cutting-edge graphics and captivating case studies to explore the internal mechanics of the body in vivid detail, revealing the surprisingly beautiful biological processes that keep humans alive.

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How does the brain communicate with the body in order to learn new skills?

What is the connection between a teenager’s craving for fatty foods and sudden growth spurts?

And how does cell regeneration allow an octogenarian to compete in a grueling triathlon and live to tell the tale?

In this series, discover the ingenious ways the body develops, adapts and endures.

Case studies from across the globe showcase the dazzling secret science of the human body:

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  • A child prodigy in Phoenix demonstrates the brain’s ability to prioritize mental development over physical growth
  • A chilling dip in an icy lake reveals how shivering might just save our lives
  • Low-level torture in a London laboratory highlights the way bodies block pain

Witness the fascinating and finely tuned systems that keep bodies moving – and the scientists guessing.

EPISODE GUIDE:

Episode 1: “Grow” repeats Wednesday, Sept. 16 at 11 p.m. - Learn how humans begin life as a single cell and, over the course of a lifetime, grow into beings of more than 37 trillion cells. Plus, explore new discoveries that can help humans live longer, healthier lives.

Episode 2: “Survive” repeats Wednesday, Sept. 23 at 1 p.m. - Discover the miracles the human body goes through every day to stay alive and healthy. From fighting infections to repairing damage, human bodies have remarkable arsenals that allow survival against all kinds of outside threats.

Episode 3: “Learn” repeats Wednesday, Sept. 30 at 11 p.m. - See how experiences shape the brain and body together, allowing them to adapt to the outside environment and develop new skills. Plus, learn how the brain forms memories by storing and processing billions of pieces of information every second.

Watch On Your Schedule:

Episodes are currently available for streaming on demand with KPBS Passport, video streaming for members supporting KPBS at $60 or more yearly, using your computer, smartphone, tablet, Roku, AppleTV, Amazon Fire or Chromecast. Learn how to activate your benefit now.

Credits:

A co-production of the BBC and PBS.