Brian Cox Builds a Cloud Chamber - Wonders of Life - Series 1 Episode 3 Preview - BBC Two

Cloud chambers are the earliest example of particle physics detectors and Brian builds one to show some of the natural processes that cause the structure of DNA to change.

#bbc

[Worldwave]

Never knew of what a cloud chamber is before this video. It's astonishing how it actually makes the traces of cosmic rays visible to the eyes, and how such a small little thing can mean so much to our interpretation of reality. Our universe is amazing.

[ChimeraImagination]

Brian Cox is awesome. Never a dull moment. Always smiling!!

He rules!

[dewinmoonl]

sits on top of a beautiful mountain scenery.
bury heads in a black box
science.

[bijouxbijouxbijoux]

How could you dislike a video like this... This is just wonderfull and captivating ❤️

[Embers]

This is really cool from a particle physics standpoint and I'm extremely impressed he was able to build a cloud chamber in the field like that, but most of the variance in humans comes from the "normal" processes of meiosis and crossover rather than de novo mutations. The average human has less than 10 de novo mutations that actually affect coding regions of DNA.
Simpler, asexual organisms tend to have much higher mutation rates - mutations drive most viral evolution, for example. But for us, it's just not a major contributor.

[conversiamo]

I wonder how a person who is constantly aware that we are just a combination of chemical elements, aware of the very limited time of our existence isn't depressed but, as it turns out, extremely happy and always smiling. Thanks for being such a cool cat, Professor Cox.

[sublimecraig]

That just literally blew my mind! Most crazy things about science etc I can't visualize to well in my brain, so seeing something like this is just awesome 😎

[zinger]

That was good to see and in fact I have never seen before making it doubly rewarding, I am learning thank you for the upload. BBC

[brothersalt]

I love how he’s just a boy in wonder, the way he talks about this, but really he’s a super genius 😄

[damoysamuel]

nice :) It is possible to see a few cosmic rays, but at low altitude most of these tracks are probably from natural radioactivity in soil or materials. Even the ordinary glass contains traces of natural radioactive emitters like potassium 40 and thorium 232

[praveenraj]

In the past few days, I don't know why I get those videos in my suggestions. But damn I just now understand why I studied my science classes and these videos makes sense and made me more deep into these . Literally now I'm now more concerned in watching all videos by profs about theories like these...

[DUreel]

So, stars ruled our destinies after all.

[arenotdiy]

This just in, multiple people have been hospitalized with heat stroke and alcohol poisoning, after squatting in the desert with a black sheet over their heads and a fish tank full of ethyl alcohol for multiple hours.

[Trackhat]

**DEAFENINGLY LOUD SCREAMING**

'y'hear that?'

[akymrinkovsky]

Way to go Brain Cox. 🙏~ Its exactly what i needed 😉~ In fact it's even more than i had hoped for 🔮~ Abracadabra 👋~ Thank you buddy 🙇 ~

[nmsu]

If only there was a simpler way to show ionising radiation than having to source dry ice etc to make a cloud chamber! Great to see though; gives some 'context' to what my geiger counter is detecting.

[malcolmhardwick]

Bit late for the party but how cool is that !

[Latvianstyle]

ProfBrianCox - the wonder number one in the Eart and between stars&planets

[daveabh]

I still cant get over the fact he's almost 45!

[genin]

Because cosmic rays are attracted to alcohol.. moral of the story.. drinking can possibly make you smarter and change your DNA..