The little-known tree that revolutionised global communication – BBC REEL

In Singapore, 1842, Dr William Montgomerie was shown a strange latex by his gardener.

This material, when placed in hot water, could be moulded to any shape you wanted, and, on cooling, would set solid. You could do this again, and again and it would happily mould to any shape desired. Unlike rubber, it didn’t crumble in salt water and stayed firm on setting.

This new wonder material was called Gutta Percha, after the tree that it came from, and it would blow Victorian minds.

Video by Archie Crofton
Narration by Emily West

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#bbc #nature #history #science

[glenmartin]

As a chemist, I was familiar with gutta percha. I did not realize the tree was nearly extinct.
Thank you.

[trickyanna]

In Russian language we have a word ”guttaperchivy” means very flexible, usually it will be used to describe some acrobats. Never knew the origin of it.

[TheJoergenDK]

This is such a great video in so many ways: You get to the point very directly. You inform the viewer with only facts. You don't fill us with "How the scientist's aunt is proud of her daughter", and your footage is relevant to the narration at all points! 10 out of nine!

[rhondahuggins]

My introduction to Gutta Percha was a PBS documentary. I only recall hearing about the telegraph line from London to New York. My 2nd encounter was root canals. My dentist was in disbelief that I knew what he was putting in my mouth! This is however the first time I have learned that the telegraph cables went all over the world...but am not surprised that greed almost wiped out the species.

[jonh]

I would love to know how the overall condition of the original undersea cables have stood the test of time over the last 150 years or so.

[rizkierwin]

Gutta Perca came from english pronunciation of Indonesian words "getah" meaning sap, and "Perca" the name of the tree.
So the literal translation is "sap of perca tree"

[dennisdawson]

I love little nuggets of history like this! I had heard of this tree before. I believe it was here on YouTube years ago. Still loved this story!!!

[buddharuci]

Fountain pens. You didn’t mention the great gutta percha era of fountain pens! Well, now I have.

[maple]

Thank you for your video, excellent narration and history of the Gutta Percha tree and the amazing uses it had.

[philmatthews]

Alaska was not British territory in 1850.

[julianaponte]

I literally was racking my brain for years about the meaning of my desist screaming "GUTTER PORCHE" during my root canal and that was his pronunciation of this

[jeffdege]

The were problems with undersea cables that went far beyond the insulation. Arthur Clarke's book "How the World Was One" describes the issues in fair detail.

[JohnPaul-ozbx]

This video is exquisitely put together. It's fun and clear. Brings history to life. What a Tree, revolutionised the world. Protect the forests & Nature, think of how many species could revolutionise the world still 💪❤️🌍🙏

[TheFrugalMombot]

The map depicting the British Empire erroneously included Alaska. It was still part of Russia at that time, but even after that it came to the US. It was never part of the British Empire. Just sayin

[stephenmeier]

I would have thought the BBC knew Alaska was not a British possession

[CrankyPantss]

Very interesting. Thanks for sharing this with us.

[offthewall]

Video by Archie Crofton
Narration by Emily West
thank you for this well-produced doco snippet

[kinngrimm]

Seeing how we deplete other ressources equally including those which replaced Gutta Percha, it maybe wise to try to keep this tree alife and well, we just may need it again.

[yankituk]

4:19 The question should have been
' Why didn't they tried to protect and preserve the tree .'

[zenmen]

My great-grandfather, Thomas J. Wilmot, for 20 years Superintendent of the Waterville Cable Station, Co Kerry, Ireland, invented the Wilmot Automatic Transmitter in 1890, which removed the human hand from the telegraph, greatly speeding the rate of transmissions. My late father told me that Thomas was Superintendent, but never mentioned the transmitter - maybe he knew nothing of it. I found it on Google.

I had no idea that so much damage was done to Nature to weaterproof the cables. So sad.