"Hardwick Hall - more glass than wall!"

"Hardwick Hall - more glass than wall!"

Episode 12 saw Warren joining us on the sofa again to watch 'Thunder In The Skies', the sixth episode of James Burke's absorbing 1978 series 'Connections'. Now available on DVD from Simply Media, it takes us on journeys through the history of scientific innovation that make fascinating viewing, even 40 years after it was first broadcast.

James Burke was one of many people who helped to spark my interest in science along with such figures as Carl Sagan and Patrick Moore. Blessed with a subtly dry sense of humour, there's a great black-and-white clip of him on 'Tomorrow's World' (available on BBC iPlayer) looking a bit bored and out-of-place in an imagined office of the future.

That simple word 'Connections' gets to the heart of the matter - what we're shown is a web of people, events and accidental discoveries upon which our modern world is built. This particular edition takes starts with the invention of the chimney and ends up with a rather nervous BBC science presenter standing on the top of Concorde.

We take a look at the Newcomen engine used to deal with the problem of water in mines. Joseph Priestley investigates gases, Volta sniffs the air in marshes and Maybach & Daimler come up with the carburettor.

We also pay a visit to Hardwick Hall in Derbyshire (setting for the now forgotten BBC drama 'Bess Of Hardwick') to think about buttons, bedrooms and glass.

Actually, Warren noticed something amusing about this episode when it came to glass. Our host seems to have a running gag where he takes a sip from a dizzying range of alchoholic beverages.
The early moment when JB tries out some red wine before zooming off on a motorised snow sledge led to the wry comment "He'd be coming in!" from our big, friendly policeman.

Full marks also to Mr Burke for the use of a proper 1970s dimpled glass when having a pint of beer.

There is, of course, a book to accompany the series, but having it all on DVD allows you to follow it through at your own pace. It's a series that expects you to pay attention, but James Burke's engaging, questioning style of presentation means that you always want to hear what he's got to say next.

For anyone with an interest in how the modern technological world came to be, a series such as 'Connections' is up there with the best of them.

Or is it?

(By Andrew Trowbridge)