Beakman’s World - Season 1 Episode 3

Asked by a viewer about the creaking noises she hears at night, Beakman reveals they are the result of her house and its contents expanding and contracting with changes in temperature between day and night. Using a balloon in a bath of very cold liquid nitrogen, Beakman demonstrates how, as cooling causes air molecules in the balloon to contract, the balloon makes noises as it shrinks. Reversing the process, he then shows how it expands when removed from the nitrogen and allowed to return to room temperature. Turning to "Beak-Mania," Beakman fields questions about the weight of a hummingbird (less than a penny), the amount of nectar required for a honeycomb (two million flowers worth) and how long a blue whale can go without eating (six months). Then, with help from Lester, he proves it is impossible to sneeze and keep your eyes open at the same time. Embarking on his explanation of the virtues of mucus, Beakman notes that, without it, the human body would be left without a primary defense against disease. Using a giant mockup of the nose, he then demonstrates the power of mucus to trap dirt and infectious agents as they enter the body, allowing them to be expelled before they can do any harm. Finally, after demonstrating how blowing one's nose clears out what it has collected, Beakman brings the show to a slimy close.