Science program to offer a slow-motion look at research

Want to see some research that really shows an impact? Tune into tonight's episode of Daily Planet on the Discovery Channel for a feature on the work of UWindsor kinesiology professor Dave Andrews and engineering professor Bill Altenhof.

Super Slo-Mo Tuesday, a segment that features scientific discoveries made with the use of high-speed video, will focus on their research on leg soft tissue motion following impact.

Dr. Andrews says the motion the team studies is similar to that experienced during running. They captured this motion on video at 1000 frames per second in order to study how tissues of the body are affected by impact events. They hope to prevent injuries by understanding the mechanisms by which the human body responds.

Andrews's work with University of Western Ontario colleague Cynthia Dunning will also be featured. Their research takes a slow-motion look at the how human radius, one of the large bones in the forearm, fractures during impact, similar to what an individual would experience during a forward fall onto outstretched arms.

The Discovery Channel is available on Cogeco Cable as channel 35. Daily Planet airs at 7 and 11 p.m. Learn more about Andrews’ work on his Web site.