Press Kit

 

Press Release

Absolute Zero - A film on the scientific race to dominate the cold

From refrigeration to MRIs the study of cold has transformed modern life. We invite you on a journey through time from the first alchemists who manipulated temperature to the modern-era 28 Nobel Laureates who dedicated their lives to studying the mysteries of the cold ...

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Backgrounder

Absolute Zero - The history and science of the two documentaries

Part One: The Conquest of Cold - The first, hour-long documentary shows vivid recreations of the scholars who have peppered the history of cold. Alchemists who controlled temperature and claimed it was magic, scientists who died from exposing their own bodies to cold weather, intense rivalries to reach the coldest temperatures, all are shown in realistic re-enactments ...

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Fast Facts

TITLE: Absolute Zero, two companion 60-minute, state-of-the-art documentaries.

PREMIERE: This NOVA special will be presented on PBS as two hour-long programs on January 8 and January 15, 2008 at 8:00 p.m. (check local listings).

DESCRIPTION: Based on the book, Absolute Zero and the Conquest of Cold by Tom Shachtman, Absolute Zero features the struggle of philosophers, scientists and engineers over four centuries ...

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Q & A with Russ Donnelly

A Conversation with Russell Donnelly - Physics professor at the University of Oregon and Principal Scientific Consultant For Absolute Zero

Q. How did you get involved in this project?

R.D: Several laboratories doing low-temperature physics have made movies showing some effects in the cold sciences of superfluidity and superconductivity ...

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Q & A with Tom Shachtman

A Conversation with Tom Shachtman - Author of Absolute Zero and the Conquest of Cold, the inspiration for the PBS documentaries, Absolute Zero

Q. Why did you decide to write this book?

T.S.: I was intrigued by the notion that research into low temperatures has been going on intensely for nearly four centuries ...

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Production Photos

View pictures shot during production of Absolute Zero here.