Product Details

• Actors: Bonnie Blair, Karen Hatchett, Mike Powell
• Directors: Goro Koide
• Format: Closed-captioned, Color, DVD, NTSC
• Language: English
• Region: Region 1 (U.S. and Canada only. Read more about DVD formats.)
  
• Aspect Ratio: 1.33:1
• Number of discs: 1
• Rated: NR (Not Rated)
• Studio: PBS
• DVD Release Date: June 29, 2004
• Run Time: 60 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 3.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• ASIN: B0002ABU48
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #77,331 in Movies & TV (See Top 100 in Movies & TV)

Editorial Reviews

NOVA takes viewers on an incredible voyage into the microworld of the human body to explore The Universe Within. Breathtaking sports photography captures amazing athletes in action—but the real action happens inside, revealed by microphotography that is in the style of NOVA's classic documentary of human development, The Miracle of Life.

The program covers three incredible team efforts: the coordination of muscles, bones, heart and circulatory system that makes Mike Powell the world's greatest long jumper; the digestive dynamo that turns a simple sandwich eaten by five-time Olympic gold medalist Bonnie Blair into raw energy for a blistering sprint down the ice; and the ultimate event—the development of a new human life inside track star Karen Hatchett. Special DVD features include: printable materials for educators; scene selection; access to the NOVA Web site; and closed captions. On one DVD5 disc. Region coding: All regions. Audio: Dolby stereo. Screen format: 4x3 full frame.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Not the Complete Program, February 21, 2007

By 

Sure Thing "surething88" (San Diego County, CA United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: NOVA: The Universe Within (DVD)

I've purchased the DVD and seen a public library copy of the prerecorded VHS videocassette and can tell you that BOTH are missing the segment where they illustrate how the body's immune system works to fight infection using the case of ice climber Rob Taylor when he broke his ankle while climbing Mt. Kilimanjaro. This, to me, was the most fascinating and important part of the originally 1.5 hour-long program (usually shown during PBS pledge drives) and they left it out completely!

I also noticed that the background music had been altered from that used in the original broadcast (perhaps because of copyright issues). I'd have been willing to overlook that little detail had all of the informational material been kept intact. This just compounded my frustration with the product.

If you have a taped copy of "The Universe Within" the way it was originally broadcast (even with the pledge breaks), consider yourself lucky. Save your money and let WGBH Boston Video know they should know better than to sell its supporters less than what they deserve, expect, and especially PAY for.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Sleep Inducing DVD, September 20, 2005

By 

Mary Tustin - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: NOVA: The Universe Within (DVD)

I purchased this DVD to use in one of my classes. I fall asleep everytime I watch it...I don't think that is a very good omen.

The product arrived in perfect shape....., but the content was less than thrilling.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars What happened to Immune System Episode!, September 2, 2008

By 

S. Wartburg "sci teachaer" (Cali) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: NOVA: The Universe Within (DVD)

I have vcr version of the video. I use the Immune System section showing climbing accident, and the related Immune Response to an injury. The DVD version does not have this episode, although the title, "Universe Within" from NOVA is the same. Kind of a ripoff. Thought DVD would be the same as VCR version......darn it.