Parents need to know that this fascinating investigative educational series will captivate kids and adults alike, especially those with an interest in the sciences. A collaborative effort between PBS and Wired magazine (which gets a lot of mentions), it doesn't have too much content that parents need to worry about -- somewhat bloody surgery scenes and historical footage of riots and other potentially violent events are as strong as it gets. Some topics are serious/heavy (global warming, for example), but they're all addressed in an entertaining, accessible manner.

Families can talk about the roles that science and technology play in our daily lives. How has technology changed the way we live? What are some of the advances (computers, cell phones, the Internet) that have most affected your life? Can you imagine life without even one of these changes? How would our society be affected by a massive computer hijacking or other technology-related disaster? What role does technology play in today's media environment? How do you think that will change in the years to come?