In Treating Spinal Cord Injuries, learn how one engineer created an innovative way to help treat spinal cord injuries. Meet Ian, who suffered a spinal cord injury and explore how his injury interrupted the connection between his brain and body. An engineer developed a groundbreaking solution that has helped people with spinal cord injuries regain movement. This video is excerpted from BBC’s The World’s Most Extraordinary People, a documentary series revealing how rare medical conditions inspire groundbreaking scientific discoveries.
In The Extraordinary Abilities of Breath-Hold Divers, learn about the abilities of breath-hold divers and the scientific discoveries that are being made as researchers study their techniques. Understand the human body's remarkable ability to adapt and how these findings could have future applications in medicine and technology. This video is excerpted from BBC’s The World’s Most Extraordinary People, a documentary series revealing how rare medical conditions inspire groundbreaking scientific discoveries.
In Some People Don't Feel Fear, learn what doctors are discovering about from Jordy, a man who does not experience fear. Find out how Jordy’s unique condition challenges our understanding of human emotions. Learn how hormones like cortisol and adrenaline affect the body’s reaction to fear and anxiety. This video is excerpted from BBC’s The World’s Most Extraordinary People, a documentary series revealing how rare medical conditions inspire groundbreaking scientific discoveries.
In Cataplexy and Narcolepsy, learn how one woman lives with cataplexy and narcolepsy. The video follows Lucy, a woman with these conditions, exploring how her body reacts to extreme emotions and how that impacts her daily life. Gain an understanding of these two disorders, their effects on the body, and the challenges faced by individuals living with them. This video is excerpted from BBC’s The World’s Most Extraordinary People, a documentary series revealing how rare medical conditions inspire groundbreaking scientific discoveries.
In Exploring Current Research on HIV, learn about the groundbreaking moment when Dr. Hutter cured a patient, Timothy Ray Brown, of HIV for the first time. The video highlights how Timothy, who had developed leukemia in addition to HIV, became the first person cured of the virus through a stem cell transplant. The story explores the role of white blood cells and how some people are naturally resistant to HIV, providing an exciting look into modern medical advancements. This video is excerpted from BBC’s The World’s Most Extraordinary People, a documentary series revealing how rare medical conditions inspire groundbreaking scientific discoveries.
In What Is Acquired Savant Syndrome? hear the incredible story of Derek Amato, a man who developed the ability to play the piano overnight after sustaining a traumatic brain injury. A concussion transformed his brain, unlocking a rare phenomenon known as acquired savant syndrome. Students will learn about the science behind savant syndrome, the changes in Derek’s brain, and how he describes his newfound musical talent as an unstoppable flow of notes. This video is excerpted from BBC’s The World’s Most Extraordinary People, a documentary series revealing how rare medical conditions inspire groundbreaking scientific discoveries.
In Studying Locked-In Patients, explore the ways in which doctors are working to understand and diagnose locked-in syndrome. Learn more about the challenges of distinguishing between patients who are in a vegetative state and those who are in a locked-in state, where they are conscious but unable to communicate. Doctors use advanced techniques like fMRI scans to study brain activity and learn more about these patients’ potential for recovery. This video is excerpted from BBC’s The World’s Most Extraordinary People, a documentary series revealing how rare medical conditions inspire groundbreaking scientific discoveries.
In What Makes Someone a Super Recognizer?, learn how James, a super recognizer, has the extraordinary ability to identify faces in a crowded room or even in a busy train station. Through his experiment, James shows how some people possess an exceptional memory for faces, demonstrating an extraordinary skill that others lack. See how his brain works differently, allowing him to quickly identify people based on stable facial features. This video is excerpted from BBC’s The World’s Most Extraordinary People, a documentary series revealing how rare medical conditions inspire groundbreaking scientific discoveries.
In Some People See More Colors Than Most, learn how tetrachromacy, a rare condition that allows some people to see more colors than most, is diagnosed. The video highlights how scientists test for this ability by challenging individuals like Concherta to identify colors that only tetrachromats can see. This video is excerpted from BBC’s The World’s Most Extraordinary People, a documentary series revealing how rare medical conditions inspire groundbreaking scientific discoveries.
In Some People Don't Feel Pain, Paul describes his unique condition. Paul was born with congenital insensitivity to pain, a rare genetic condition that prevents his brain from processing pain sensations. Explore how pain is created in the body, the risks associated with not feeling pain, and the science behind this rare condition. This video is excerpted from BBC’s The World’s Most Extraordinary People, a documentary series revealing how rare medical conditions inspire groundbreaking scientific discoveries.
In Some People's Sense of Smell Can Detect Disease, learn how Joy, a woman with a unique sense of smell, is helping doctors understand the early detection of disease. By detecting a specific smell that is associated with Parkinson’s, Joy is contributing to groundbreaking research that could help improve diagnosis and treatment. Learn how the sense of smell can play a crucial role in detecting diseases before other symptoms appear. This video is excerpted from BBC’s The World’s Most Extraordinary People, a documentary series revealing how rare medical conditions inspire groundbreaking scientific discoveries.
In Memory and the Brain’s Storage System, meet individuals with Highly Superior Autobiographical Memory (HSAM), a condition that allows them to recall dates, events, and personal memories in vivid detail. Explore how these individuals, like Tyler and Tracy, are able to access memories as if they happened yesterday, and how researchers are studying their brains to understand how memory is formed and stored. This video is excerpted from BBC’s The World’s Most Extraordinary People, a documentary series revealing how rare medical conditions inspire groundbreaking scientific discoveries.
In Treating Spinal Cord Injuries, learn how one engineer created an innovative way to help treat spinal cord injuries. Meet Ian, who suffered a spinal cord injury and explore how his injury interrupted the connection between his brain and body. An engineer developed a groundbreaking solution that has helped people with spinal cord injuries regain movement. This video is excerpted from BBC’s The World’s Most Extraordinary People, a documentary series revealing how rare medical conditions inspire groundbreaking scientific discoveries.
In The Extraordinary Abilities of Breath-Hold Divers, learn about the abilities of breath-hold divers and the scientific discoveries that are being made as researchers study their techniques. Understand the human body's remarkable ability to adapt and how these findings could have future applications in medicine and technology. This video is excerpted from BBC’s The World’s Most Extraordinary People, a documentary series revealing how rare medical conditions inspire groundbreaking scientific discoveries.
In Some People Don't Feel Fear, learn what doctors are discovering about from Jordy, a man who does not experience fear. Find out how Jordy’s unique condition challenges our understanding of human emotions. Learn how hormones like cortisol and adrenaline affect the body’s reaction to fear and anxiety. This video is excerpted from BBC’s The World’s Most Extraordinary People, a documentary series revealing how rare medical conditions inspire groundbreaking scientific discoveries.
In Cataplexy and Narcolepsy, learn how one woman lives with cataplexy and narcolepsy. The video follows Lucy, a woman with these conditions, exploring how her body reacts to extreme emotions and how that impacts her daily life. Gain an understanding of these two disorders, their effects on the body, and the challenges faced by individuals living with them. This video is excerpted from BBC’s The World’s Most Extraordinary People, a documentary series revealing how rare medical conditions inspire groundbreaking scientific discoveries.
In Exploring Current Research on HIV, learn about the groundbreaking moment when Dr. Hutter cured a patient, Timothy Ray Brown, of HIV for the first time. The video highlights how Timothy, who had developed leukemia in addition to HIV, became the first person cured of the virus through a stem cell transplant. The story explores the role of white blood cells and how some people are naturally resistant to HIV, providing an exciting look into modern medical advancements. This video is excerpted from BBC’s The World’s Most Extraordinary People, a documentary series revealing how rare medical conditions inspire groundbreaking scientific discoveries.
In What Is Acquired Savant Syndrome? hear the incredible story of Derek Amato, a man who developed the ability to play the piano overnight after sustaining a traumatic brain injury. A concussion transformed his brain, unlocking a rare phenomenon known as acquired savant syndrome. Students will learn about the science behind savant syndrome, the changes in Derek’s brain, and how he describes his newfound musical talent as an unstoppable flow of notes. This video is excerpted from BBC’s The World’s Most Extraordinary People, a documentary series revealing how rare medical conditions inspire groundbreaking scientific discoveries.
In Studying Locked-In Patients, explore the ways in which doctors are working to understand and diagnose locked-in syndrome. Learn more about the challenges of distinguishing between patients who are in a vegetative state and those who are in a locked-in state, where they are conscious but unable to communicate. Doctors use advanced techniques like fMRI scans to study brain activity and learn more about these patients’ potential for recovery. This video is excerpted from BBC’s The World’s Most Extraordinary People, a documentary series revealing how rare medical conditions inspire groundbreaking scientific discoveries.
In What Makes Someone a Super Recognizer?, learn how James, a super recognizer, has the extraordinary ability to identify faces in a crowded room or even in a busy train station. Through his experiment, James shows how some people possess an exceptional memory for faces, demonstrating an extraordinary skill that others lack. See how his brain works differently, allowing him to quickly identify people based on stable facial features. This video is excerpted from BBC’s The World’s Most Extraordinary People, a documentary series revealing how rare medical conditions inspire groundbreaking scientific discoveries.
In Some People See More Colors Than Most, learn how tetrachromacy, a rare condition that allows some people to see more colors than most, is diagnosed. The video highlights how scientists test for this ability by challenging individuals like Concherta to identify colors that only tetrachromats can see. This video is excerpted from BBC’s The World’s Most Extraordinary People, a documentary series revealing how rare medical conditions inspire groundbreaking scientific discoveries.
In Some People Don't Feel Pain, Paul describes his unique condition. Paul was born with congenital insensitivity to pain, a rare genetic condition that prevents his brain from processing pain sensations. Explore how pain is created in the body, the risks associated with not feeling pain, and the science behind this rare condition. This video is excerpted from BBC’s The World’s Most Extraordinary People, a documentary series revealing how rare medical conditions inspire groundbreaking scientific discoveries.
In Some People's Sense of Smell Can Detect Disease, learn how Joy, a woman with a unique sense of smell, is helping doctors understand the early detection of disease. By detecting a specific smell that is associated with Parkinson’s, Joy is contributing to groundbreaking research that could help improve diagnosis and treatment. Learn how the sense of smell can play a crucial role in detecting diseases before other symptoms appear. This video is excerpted from BBC’s The World’s Most Extraordinary People, a documentary series revealing how rare medical conditions inspire groundbreaking scientific discoveries.
In Memory and the Brain’s Storage System, meet individuals with Highly Superior Autobiographical Memory (HSAM), a condition that allows them to recall dates, events, and personal memories in vivid detail. Explore how these individuals, like Tyler and Tracy, are able to access memories as if they happened yesterday, and how researchers are studying their brains to understand how memory is formed and stored. This video is excerpted from BBC’s The World’s Most Extraordinary People, a documentary series revealing how rare medical conditions inspire groundbreaking scientific discoveries.