#LabMeCrazy! 2024

An investigation into the possibility of addressing climate change with a move away from fossil fuels to nuclear power.

For more than two hundred years, astronomers have been wondering what asteroids are actually like. They believe that these primitive rocks have been concealing countless secrets for billions of years. From the depths of space to laboratories on Earth, scientists are trying to unlock these secrets. The rocks are time capsules that will allow them to go back in time to the formation of the solar system, and the creation of Earth. Recently, major space agencies around the world have sent unmanned missions to asteroids. The most daring ones are collecting asteroid samples and bringing them back to Earth. These expeditions hold a host of surprises for researchers and shake up our understanding of asteroids.

A visually stunning celebration of what makes Texas unique, its diverse landscapes and remarkable wildlife behavior that cannot be found anywhere else in the world.

In a dystopian 2054, three friends go on a road trip into the past. On their journey, they rediscover lost biodiversity. How could it all disappear? When the friends find the key to a decisive moment in time everything will change.

Primatologist Jordi Sabater Pi landed in Equatorial Guinea at the age of 17, fleeing the post-war period. Dazzled by Africa, notebook in hand, he entered the kingdom of the pygmies, living with the chimpanzees. His field notebooks revealed for the first time to the world behaviors that changed forever what was known until then about these great primates. In 1966 he discovered Snowflake (Floquet de Neu), an albino gorilla that would become an icon.

Made to Measure is an experiment that asks if you can reconstruct a person based solely on their digital data trail. Can you build a doppelganger of a person you don't even know? Record, recreate, and replay the life of someone and their personality in detail?

Follow a three-month-old baby whale on a magical journey down one of the Earth's great ocean highways to discover the incredible world of ocean currents - hidden marine rivers that flow around the Earth. As our young whale goes with the flow of the current on a great migration from the warm tropics to the frozen ice floes of Antarctica, she meets the curious creatures that call the current home, and discovers how the ocean nurtures all life on earth, from the smallest fish...to us.

Ten years after the largest dam removal in history, scientists on the Elwha River in Washington are chronicling an inspiring story of ecological rebirth. Recovering salmon populations are transferring critical nutrients from the ocean into the forests along the Elwha's banks, enriching the entire ecosystem. The Elwha's revival is encouraging advocates to push for the removal of many larger dams in the region.

Explores some of the most stunning underwater locations in the world and introduces us to scientists in a race to understand and address the impact of climate change on ocean systems. Are we willing to form a new partnership with the ocean and its inhabitants? If not, then our future and the future of thousands of other species may hang in the balance.

"Go Go Giwas" is an animated TV series. In the series, the main character, Giwas keeps learning new knowledge and cultural wisdom through inquiry in the context of her tribal village life to be the first female mrhu (Atayal leader) in her tribe.
One day, playing with the spinning top, Giwas and her companions accidentally came to a space station through the legendary time machine. They learned how the space station space flies on the low Earth orbit from the resident chat robot. Accompanied a resident astronaut, they experienced wonderful daily life on the space station. Viewing the fantastic beauty and partial ruins of the Earth from space, she strengthened her idea to protect the Earth.

The Last Days of the Glaciers is a 28-minute Spanish documentary produced by Elhuyar. The film explores the alarming retreat of glaciers in the Pyrenees, focusing on the Aneto glacier, which has lost 64.7% of its surface in the last 41 years. It delves into the scientific evidence indicating that impurities in the glaciers have accelerated their melting, highlighting the broader implications of climate change on these vital ecosystems.

Visible light is a part of electromagnetic radiation. We already know that, but will we be able to condense everything science knows about light into a single program? To begin, we experimentally demonstrate something that seems impossible: 'seeing' the speed of light. As if that weren't enough, we delve into the most mysterious and fascinating phenomenon in the universe: a black hole, the only object capable of 'eating' light (which allows us to provide a spectacular demonstration of the influence of gravity on the behavior of photons). We also discover how those gigantic telescopes capable of photographing the luminous confines of the universe work. We play with chirality, an astonishing property where chemistry meets optics. And, hand in hand with geology, we discover optical mineralogy, which shows us minerals as we've never seen them before.

Adela begins a journey through Doñana National Park. This rich ecosystem, and some of its inhabitants, such as birds and Iberian lynxes, are threatened by climate change and water stress, although residents and researchers are working to mitigate its effects.

"The Truth in the Blood," a documentary co-produced by TECtv and CONICET, traces the history of the scientific revolution that began with the discovery of the grandparenthood index, promoted by the Grandmothers of Plaza de Mayo, as the primary factor in recognizing the children of those who disappeared during the last civil-military dictatorship.

"U' Scogghiu Chiama (The Rock Calls)" is a 23-minute documentary directed by Kitty Fixsen. The film explores the unique ecosystem of a small volcanic island in the Mediterranean, located 160 kilometers off the coast of Sicily. It focuses on the annual nesting of numerous shearwaters, highlighting the island's significance as a sanctuary for these seabirds. Through immersive visuals and narratives, the documentary sheds light on the delicate balance between wildlife and human activity, emphasizing the importance of conservation efforts in preserving such vital habitats.

This 6-minute Spanish short film explores the impact of chewing gum on oral bacteria. It delves into the relationship between common chewing habits and the microbiological balance within the mouth, questioning whether such practices serve as allies or adversaries to oral health.

Motivated by the dream of being a marine biologist, Itzel is the first Mexican researcher to be part of the Gulf Listen international network for acoustic monitoring of cetaceans. Through anecdotes and experiences, will immerse us in a fascinating tour of her profession. With first class marine photographers, and a sound mastering by the Grammy nominee, Simon Gibson (The Hobbit, The Beatles: Get Back), Echoes From the Blue Meadow is an audiovisual experience that will make you live how exciting, risky and amazing the world of marine biology is.

An expedition into the micro world of insects with a passionate beetle collector and a Uruguayan film director who has an ingrained phobia of anything that crawls.
An exoskeleton is a kind of external shield that protects creatures like beetles, butterflies, moths, caterpillars, ants and ladybirds. And Uruguayan director Mariana Castiñeras has an ingrained phobia of all of them, which she decides to confront once and for all. Together with a passionate beetle collector, she goes on an expedition deep into the forest to capture the micro world of insects with her camera, before the beetle collector catches them in his net. In doing so, Castiñeras confronts her own fear of insects in a series of beautiful and colourful close-ups, in which she uses her phobia of the little bug as an opportunity to reflect on life, death and the limits of knowledge.

"Fascinating World of Wood Ants" is an 11-minute documentary directed by Siddique Salim Khan. The film delves into the intricate lives of wood ants, exploring their complex social structures, behaviors, and ecological significance. Through detailed macro cinematography and insightful narration, the documentary offers viewers an intimate look at these remarkable insects and their role in forest ecosystems.

A young fish disturbs the harmony of his cove in French Guiana when he starts stealing food. He is banished from his shoal and must travel in search of more hospitable waters downstream. But danger awaits him on his quest, and our young fish's adventure has only begun!

"Saving Santa Cruz" is a 22-minute documentary produced by students at the National Film and Television School (NFTS) in the United Kingdom. The film explores environmental conservation efforts in the Santa Cruz region, highlighting the challenges and successes of local initiatives aimed at preserving the area's natural heritage. Through compelling storytelling and visual imagery, the documentary sheds light on the importance of community involvement in environmental preservation.

The one-minute animation "Statement" is a series of brief images in a limited, bold palette of red, blue, black, and white. Each image has an environmental message: an ocean full of plastic bags, a bee carrying the earth on its back, people with their heads in the sand, birds with gas masks, a monstrous oil spill, and more. Time drips away like sand in an hourglass, only in this case, it's water instead of sand, dripping onto a person who reclines at the bottom of the hourglass. He is about to drown but is oblivious because of distraction on a virtual reality headset. This simple animation conveys so much in one minute: time is running out; we are on the precipice; we are destroying the Earth but hiding from the truth and avoiding action. "The film is meant to be a voice for planet Earth, to help people have a visual taste of what's happening and where we stand," wrote Nia in her contest entry.

Two brothers in Mexico work to conserve the ancient Maya practice of raising stingless bees.

"THE UNPREDICTABLE FACTOR" explores the origins of the German environmental movement, accompanies today's activists in the Rhineland in their fight against the coal industry, and gives voice to scientists from climate research, ethnology, and psychology.

"We can think of singers in a choir as neurons in the brain. Like these singers, neurons have to work together to create harmony, and once they do, the results are magnificent!"
When neurons, or nerve cells, in the brain communicate with each other, they generate synchronised electrical activities known as brain waves. But what is the function of these brain waves? Can we 'see' them? What happens if these collective activities go 'out of sync'? In this video, Demi Brizee, a PhD student in the Medical Research Council Brain Network Dynamics Unit at the University of Oxford, introduces us to the fascinating world of brain waves, and explains how a better understanding of them could lead to new therapies for neurological conditions.

An audiovisual representation of the degenerative dementia process based on real reports from people affected with this condition.

In the 1960s, the Netherlands kept missing out on assignments in the European space program because they lacked experience. So to gain experience, the Dutch decided to build a satellite all by themselves. Fokker and Philips took care of the construction. When that first Astronomical Dutch Satellite, ANS, was launched in 1974, it was a generation and a half ahead of its contemporaries. ANS was 100% digital, a piece of Dutch ingenuity that even NASA was stunned about. After an exciting launch, in which the rocket caused problems, ANS began to study the universe with its special telescopes. ANS discovered interesting and new things in the X-ray and UV radiation in the universe, thus reaffirming the Netherlands as a top 3 country in the astronomical world. The technology in the satellite also ensured that the Netherlands could fully participate in the ESA and that some of that Dutch ingenuity can now be found in almost all European spacecraft. The documentary tells the adventure of ANS on the basis of beautiful archive images and the stories of the people who made it.

Within every bone is a story, the hidden echo of a long past life. Bones bear the traces of the life experience of an individual, of a community, of a people. They help us to reconstruct dramatic events, and even to reveal the face of one of our ancestors. At the University of Siena, in Italy, anthropologist and anatomical illustrator Stefano Ricci Cortili devotes his life to this special kind of archaeological research. The knowledge he has gained has already brought to light many secrets, hidden within bones.

Across America, small family farms are racing against climate change. Unpredictable weather and new diseases are destroying the very crops they depend upon. In New Jersey, when a devastating disease wipes out farmers' fields, growers turn to scientists for help. FIELDS OF DEVOTION follows the unique relationship between farmers and scientists as they work together over a decade to develop disease and climate resistant food crops.

Islands of Discovery: The Dry Tortugas is a 23-minute documentary directed by Hyatt L. Mamoun that delves into the rich scientific history and ecological significance of Dry Tortugas National Park, located 70 miles west of Key West, Florida. The film highlights the park's role as America's first tropical marine laboratory from 1904 to 1939 and showcases ongoing efforts by the National Park Service and its partners to study and preserve this unique marine ecosystem. Through stunning visuals and insightful narratives, the documentary emphasizes the importance of field research and conservation in understanding and protecting such remote natural environments.

For a long time, the brain coral was considered an extinct species, but in 2020, a group of marine biologists managed to discover one specimen in the Indian Ocean. Then came the pandemic, which interrupted the research. However, after a year they return to the same place and have to find the rare coral again.

The oceans are going through a critical moment for their future. The problems arising from overfishing, the health of marine habitats, or pollution require immediate attention. Only science can provide answers to these threats and, for this reason, the UN has declared the Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development. In Spain, the Spanish Institute of Oceanography leads this race against time to ensure a future where the ocean and human beings can live in balance.

Abby Barrows (micro-plastic scientist/researcher) and Mike Libecki (Nat Geo explorer) embark on a journey to research climate and micro-plastics in Antarctica. Their team integrates cutting-edge technology in hopes to learn more about urgent and devastating problems with micro-plastics polluting and corrupting our planet. Abby gathered more than 60 samples of water types to look for micro-plastics in one of the most remote areas of our planet. Will the results show micro-plastic pollution in such a pristine part of our planet?

Hélio has lived in São Paulo for 50 years, a resident of the city's East Zone, he feels he can do something for the city that has given him so much over the years. In return, Hélio starts a project with his own hands and the result is now a reference in the city of São Paulo.

Home is a 1-minute Iranian animated short film directed by Hamed Azizi. The film delves into themes of environmental protection and the intrinsic human desire to return to one's origins. Through its concise narrative, it emphasizes the importance of safeguarding our planet, our shared home.

Savory – What is Holistic Management? is a 3-minute animated short film directed by Lynn Polyak. The film introduces the principles of Holistic Management, a framework for managing complex adaptive systems such as land, animals, and people. Through engaging visuals, the animation explains how this approach can lead to regenerative outcomes in agriculture and environmental stewardship.

This 2-minute educational segment from South Florida PBS's Star Gazers series, hosted by Trace Dominguez, delves into the engineering marvel of the James Webb Space Telescope's iconic golden mirrors. The episode explains how the telescope's 18 hexagonal, gold-coated beryllium mirrors enhance infrared light reflection, enabling astronomers to observe distant celestial objects. The segment highlights the innovative design that allows the telescope's large mirror to fold for launch and unfold in space, maximizing its observational capabilities.

Tech Attack – Online Dating is a 2-minute animated short film produced by Monströös Animation Studio in Germany. The film offers a satirical look at the world of online dating, highlighting the repetitive and sometimes absurd nature of digital matchmaking. Through stylized animation, it critiques the influence of technology on modern relationships.

Lymphocytes are immune cells that play vital roles in fighting infections. The most well-known lymphocytes are the T cells and B cells of the adaptive immune system. In the 1950s and 1960s, scientists performed experiments to follow lymphocytes on their journey around the body, which helped us to work out where they go and what they do. This work laid the foundation for everything we know about T cells today, including how they become activated to fight infections and how they form memory populations that provide long-lasting immunity.

This 1-minute educational video, produced by the Dirección General de Divulgación de la Ciencia (DGDC) at the Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (UNAM), explores the symbolism of the golden eagle in Mexican culture and its significance as a national emblem. The video delves into the historical and biological aspects of the golden eagle, questioning whether it truly inspired the design of the Mexican national shield.

A blend between science and sufism