Using spectacular graphics based on the latest science and stories of remarkable people around the world, Michael Mosley takes us on a fantastic voyage through our inner universe.

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Hostile World

4/4 Michael Mosley reveals the ingenious ways the body defends itself against a hostile world.

Tue 21 Jun 2011 02:25 BBC One

See all previous episodes from Inside the Human Body

  • Video - Double Hand Transplant Surgery

    Video - Double Hand Transplant Surgery

    Richard Edwards undergoes a double hand transplant in which his hands are amputated and replaced with hands from a donor. This is the first time this has been done. Three months later the new hands are already changing his life.

    Watch the clip from episode four
  • How do Moken children see with amazing clarity underwater?

    How do Moken children see with amazing clarity underwater?

    Moken sea gypsies in Thailand have an extraordinary ability to overrule an automatic reflex of the eye which allows them to see with amazing clarity under water. But recent studies show that any child can learn this trick. Find out about this and much more on the episode three page.

    Visit the episode three page
  • Video - The Ice Man takes a cold dip

    Video - The Ice Man takes a cold dip

    Wim, the Ice Man, can swim in a glacial lake so cold that it would kill a normal person. But he believes, with the right training, you could do this too.

    Watch the clip of the Ice Man from episode 2
  • Out of 250 million, how many sperm are likely to survive the epic journey through the Cervix?

    Out of 250 million, how many sperm are likely to survive the epic journey through the Cervix?

    When sperm enter the cervix they are treated as invaders and are relentlessly attacked by white blood cells produced by the female’s immune system. But how many survive the treacherous journey to the fallopian tube?

    Find out the answer and much more on the episode 1 page
  • Michael Mosley on Inside the Human Body

    Michael Mosley on Inside the Human Body

    "It's a series I greatly enjoyed making, partly because of the people in it like Gerald, partly because I learnt so much about the workings of my own body."

    Read and comment on Michael's post on the BBC TV blog
  • Press Red to learn about the making of the series

    Press Red to learn about the making of the series

    Produced as an accompaniment to the linear "Inside the Human Body" programme, this is the fascinating story of how the production team behind the 4-part series brought together the latest scientific research and the most innovative computer technology to create never-before-seen worlds for this BBC One landmark series.

    In Hostile World, we discover how the recurring hero of the series, the phagocyte, was transformed from medical images into a realistic 3D character – culminating in a giant battle as it defends your body from invaders. Also, how the music for series brought drama and spectacle to events taking place on a microscopic level.

    Press Red after each programme
    Sky/Virgin/Freesat/Freeview
    Thu 26th May, 21:55 - 04:00

    Watch the red button footage about the making of episode four
  • Exclusive Clip: The Index Finger Testosterone Test

    Exclusive Clip: The Index Finger Testosterone Test

    Studies suggest that those with a substantially longer ring finger than index finger were exposed to high testosterone in the womb.

    Watch this exclusive clip
  • Exclusive Clip: The Sperm Production Line

    Exclusive Clip: The Sperm Production Line

    The average man produces 100 million sperm per testicle per day, yet each sperm takes around 70 days to develop. This CGI animation shows the incredible processes that take place in a man’s seminiferous tubules every day.

    Watch this exclusive clip
  • Music composed by David Schweitzer

    Music composed by David Schweitzer

    This four part series was beautifully scored by award winning composer and songwriter David Schweitzer who has worked on over 100 film and television projects. His recent work has included Richard Hammond’s Invisible Worlds, Britain From Above and the popular children’s series Charlie & Lola and The Cat in the Hat Knows A Lot About That. The orchestral sections of the score were recorded at Abbey Road Studio 2 (where The Beatles recorded their best known albums), and were orchestrated and conducted by Simon Whiteside (who also worked on Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix).

    David Schweitzer's official website
  • BBC Health

    BBC Health

    Get the facts on a range of physical and emotional health issues, plus advice on health treatments and further support.

    Visit BBC Health here
  • BBC Class Clips

    BBC Class Clips

    Watch educational clips from Inside the Human Body, specially created for use by teachers in the classroom, covering different areas of secondary science topic Human Biology.

    See all the Inside the Human Body video resources from Class Clips

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