'Absolute Zero and the Conquest of Cold,' a public broadcasting special, will demonstrate how civilization has been profoundly affected by the mastery of cold. SPS has become a national Partner of the project, and will be involved in outreach, strategic guidance, support and program promotion.

The documentaries, which are a unique blend of science, cultural history and adventure story, will explore key concepts, significant individuals and events in the field of low-temperature physics and the enormous impact that the mastery of cold has had on society through such technologies as air conditioning, refrigeration and liquefied gases.

Absolute Zero will feature the struggles of philosophers, scientists and engineers over four centuries as they attempted to understand the nature of cold, to explore its deepest reaches, to create the “cold technologies” that have transformed society and to seek a deeper understanding of matter itself.

Underwritten by the National Science Foundation and the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation and based largely on Tom Shachtman’s acclaimed book, Absolute Zero and the Conquest of Cold, the epic story follows a trail of eccentric characters ranging from a 17th century court magician whose alchemy brought air conditioning to Westminster Abbey, to the original Captain Birdseye who invented frozen food.

Produced by British Emmy Award winner David Dugan, in collaboration with Meredith Burch of Meridian Productions in Washington, D.C., the television special will demonstrate how science, fueled by serendipitous insight and sheer determination, moves forward -- at times fitfully -- gradually advancing our understanding of the world. The programs will illuminate the very human process of science by focusing on fascinating characters, both familiar (Einstein, Fahrenheit and Galileo) and neglected (Boyle, Dewar and Onnes).

For the full story, visit the Absolute Zero and the Conquest of Cold website.

For the announcement of the SPS/Absolute Zero partnership, visit the SPS website.

• Summer 2004