James Burke presents science as a detective story, illustrating the connections between events of the past and inventions of the future. Burke tracks through twelve thousand years of history for the clues that lead to eight great life-changing inventions-- the atom bomb, telecommunications, the computer, the production line, jet aircraft, plastics, rocketry and television.

Videodisc release of the 1978 television series, Episodes given volume numbering on containers.

[Disc 1, (v. 1)] The trigger effect -- Death in the morning -- [Disc 2, (v. 2)] Distant voices -- Faith in numbers -- [Disc 3, (v. 3)] The wheel of fortune -- Thunder in the skies -- [Disc 4, (v. 4)] The long chain -- Eat, drink, and be merry -- [Disc 5, (v.5)] Countdown -- Yesterday, tomorrow, and you.