Nature Tech
By Anne Louise Bannon,
Common Sense Media Reviewer
Common Sense Media Reviewers
The natural world inspires technology in fascinating series.
Add rating
A Lot or a Little?
What you will—and won't—find in this TV show.
Where to Watch
Community Reviews
There aren't any parent reviews yet. Be the first to review this title.
What's the Story?
Award-winning series NATURE TECH looks at the natural world the way that scientists do: as a source of inspiration to find solutions to thorny problems. What kind of problems? How about building a robot that can move over all kinds of rough terrain and still stay stable. Or designing a better airplane. (Believe it or not, observing a common housefly is a huge help in the latter department!)
Is It Any Good?
While the show can get a little gross -- like when there are shots of insects crawling over human food, for example -- overall, it's fascinating. And while the photography is spectacular (the show won an Emmy for cinematography), the best part is actually the series' inspirational nature.
For example, one episode features a segment on how geckos can climb vertical glass walls and even hang upside down on ceilings. The show proceeds to reveal, via microscopic photography, just how they do it -- and then looks at some human problems that could be solved by this ability. It's only a short step from there to asking your kids to come up with their own ideas for "natural" technology.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about how camera work can enhance what we see on TV and at the movies. How do you think the filmmakers got such good, clear close-ups of small bugs and birds in flight? What can cameras capture that the human eye can't? Families can also discuss whether shows like this one inspire kids to think about becoming scientists or inventors. Why or why not?
TV Details
- Premiere date: June 21, 2003
- Network: Smithsonian Channel
- Genre: Educational
- Topics: Robots , Science and Nature
- TV rating: TV-G
- Last updated: July 8, 2023
Did we miss something on diversity?
Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by suggesting a diversity update.
Suggest an Update
Where to Watch
Our Editors Recommend
Common Sense Media's unbiased ratings are created by expert reviewers and aren't influenced by the product's creators or by any of our funders, affiliates, or partners.
See how we rate