School Library Journal Review

Gr 7 Up-Based on the concepts introduced in Tom Shachtman's Absolute Zero and the Conquest of Cold (Houghton Mifflin, 1999), these two episodes trace the historical, cultural, and scientific impact that the exploration of "coldness" has had on modern civilization. The narrative covers a spectrum that ranges from early speculations about the nature of cold to the invention of thermometers, through the Industrial Revolution, when ice manufacturing and distribution became a booming industry, to a contemporary quest for "absolute zero" and the Nobel Prize. "The Conquest of Cold" explicates the history of this field through dramatic re-creations and archival materials. "The Race for Absolute Zero" provides information from the late 19th century forward, when researchers began experiments that eventually liquefied elements like oxygen and nitrogen. Drawing heavily from interviews with key scientists and researchers, the film explains how things like household refrigeration, air-conditioning, and superconductivity has improved everyday life. This resource is recommended for middle and high school science programs and/or media centers where science is a pronounced aspect of the curriculum.-Vincent M. Livoti, Kresge Center for Teaching Resources, Lesley University, Cambridge, MA (c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.