Exploring the Spectrum Part III

F.2022-09-0234

1988

A documentary in three parts produced by John Nash Ott which investigates the effects of natural and artificial light on fundamental biological processes and health. This film contains part three.

In the first segment of this film, John Nash Ott uses time-lapse photography of the growth of the slime mold physarum polycephalum in a petri dish to illustrate that "different biological responses react to specific wavelengths of light energy." Researchers at the Universities of Minnesota and Wisconsin find that the slime mold sporulates when exposed to cool white fluorescent light, but fails to sporulate under otherwise similar conditions when exposed to warm white light in the orange pink spectrum.

Next, Ott documents the effects of fertilization on growth of wheat and gardenias with and without the application of required nutrients. Time-lapse photography demonstrates that neither chemical nor natural fertilizer alters the direction of root growth of germinated corn seed. Similar findings are demonstrated for presence of moisture on the direction of root growth.

Effects of temperature on growth of living organisms are demonstrated through several segments. Bacterial activity in fertilized soil is demonstrated through time-lapse photography to halt with the onset of cold weather, but to reactivate as the soil warms in the spring. Growth of rose leaf black spot spores does not occur when attempted at room temperature, but microscopic time-lapse photography shows that the spores are activated when the specimens are refrigerated. Emergence of a butterfly from a cocoon is shown in time-lapse, and Ott states that the likelihood of its successful emergence is enhanced if the cocoon is chilled in a refrigerator overnight. Growth of rat tumor cells fail to occur when the specimens are kept warm, but surprisingly do occur when the specimens are accidentally cooled during transportation to Ott's laboratory.

Microscopic time-lapse photography shows fungus growth and white blood cell activity in specimens taken from a person with a head cold and laryngitis.

The interaction between pollen and stigma is shown in a series of microscopic time-lapse photography films. Ott notes that pollen tubes change their direction of growth in order to penetrate the stigma, unlike plant roots that do not grow towards fertilizer or water.

Periodic movements by aphids on the leaf of an orange tree are shown to coincide with the rotational direction of radar waves emitted from an airport 14 miles away.

The smooth surfaces of filaments on an ordinary incandescent light bulb are shown to degrade with heat, resulting in emission of light waves outside the normal spectrum of a new bulb.

Interactions between clover leaf fern eggs and sperm in water suggest that the sperm are attracted by a radar-like antenna dish on the surface of the eggs.

Clumping of human red blood cells is demonstrated to be reversed when exposed to a full-spectrum light bulb source developed by Ott.

In the concluding segments of the film, human blood cell activity is stimulated through various wavelengths of light.

 

16mm

850 feet

Color

Optical

1/1

Yes

English

Print

Scientific
Nature
Documentary
Medical (Non-fiction)

Plants
Time
Flowers
Scientific equipment
Science
Diseases
Animal behavior