Beakman’s World - Season 1 Episode 15

Answering an inquiry about why vaccinations are necessary, Beakman conjures up Edward Jenner, the 19th century British doctor who invented the first vaccine to combat smallpox. Using a model of a virus, Beakman demonstrates how they latch onto the body's cells to make people sick. Explaining how vaccines trick the body into producing disease-fighting agents, he shows how these antibodies attack viruses and disable them before they can do any damage. For "Beak-Mania," Beakman tackles questions ranging from the amount of food an elephant eats (800 pounds a day); to the noises plants make when they are thirsty; to the age of the umbrella (over 3,000 years). For the "Beakman Challenge," he claims he can make a ball stay inside an upside down funnel. Although Lester is skeptical, Beakman attaches a hose to the funnel and keeps the ball suspended by a pressure differential created by the flowing water. Asked why hands get warm when rubbed together, Beakman explains that it is just one of many examples of the effects of friction. Describing some of its' many unfortunate aspects, such as causing things to wear out, Beakman goes on to say that friction also has advantages when it comes to things like car and bicycle brakes. After using the Boguscope to show how the friction of air molecules and gravity conspire to stop a Frisbee, Beakman notes that frictional forces can be minimized with lubricants such as oil and grease. Finally, with an old thread spool, a record album and a balloon, Beakman constructs a makeshift Hovercraft and creates a layer of air that acts as a lubricant.