Hollywood-made science documentary series comes to TV

A new series puts Hollywood’s stamp on innovative science, with interesting results.

Premiering November 1 on the National Geographic Channel, Breakthrough is a series of six hour-long installments, each directed by a different Hollywood talent. The episodes, covering topics from aging to water, each highlight work from a few scientists. Science News got a sneak peek at the first three episodes. 

In the first hour, “Fighting Pandemics,” director Peter Berg explores the West African Ebola epidemic. Berg uses dripping blood to illustrate the spread of the disease, exploiting the shock value of Ebola’s scariest symptom (even though bleeding happens in only a minority of patients). The film spotlights researchers’ efforts to create a heat-stable Ebola vaccine and to find the most potent antibody cocktail to fight the virus. Also featured is Ian Crozier, an American doctor who was infected with Ebola while volunteering in Kenema, Sierra Leone. After his recovery, Crozier’s left eye changed color due to a continuing Ebola infection.

While Berg uses gore and fear tactics to frame the fight against viruses, actor Paul Giamatti brings a sense of innocence and wonder to his exploration of cyborgs in “More Than Human.” Giamatti is the only director in the first three episodes to appear on camera. He learns to think a rubber hand is his own and gets a taste of how exoskeletons (one shown below) may help people do their jobs. He also learns how researchers such as Duke University’s Miguel Nicolelis are forging links between human brains and computers that give people control over robot arms and may one day help paraplegics walk again. Giamatti’s take on the science is personal, sometimes goofy and engaging.

“Decoding the Brain,” directed by Brett Ratner and narrated by Adrien Brody, explores how scientists are using electrodes and imaging techniques, such as MRI, to probe the inner workings of the brain, consciousness and memory. Ratner weaves personal stories — from the first scientist to get an MRI of his own brain and from patients undergoing brain mapping to pinpoint the source of their epilepsy — together with cutting-edge science in an entertaining and fascinating hour of television.

Other installments will include Ron Howard looking at aging, Akiva Goldsman tackling alternative energy and Angela Bassett exploring solutions to water problems. Judging from the first three episodes, each director is likely to bring a personal touch to the project. Science isn’t cookie-cutter, and neither is this documentary series.