Mankind: The Story of all of Us (Part 12: New Frontiers)

Beginning in 2012 (nearly 10 years ago), the History Channel has released this 12-episode docu-series about some of the most famous events of the 2 million years of the existence of our species.

This is the final part of this 12 part wiki age series. In this part, we will talk about the episode "New Frontiers" where it talks about new discoveries and how we use them including the use of nuclear power and even new medical practices.

## New Frontiers

### From "Good" Seed

The episode takes a detour as it goes to the US Great Plains as it talks about a revolutionary seed that could save the plains from disaster.

During this time, the Dust Bowl is upon the Great Plains, and many are leaving to either California or the Eastern US for a better life, but some choose to stay and ride out the disaster.

But, some people are determined to save the Great Plains from disaster as they put their faith on what is called the Hybrid Seed which can survive disease and drought much better than normal seeds, this new seed has mixed reviews among those living in the Plains, some are interested to try out this new seed, others however are not and tell these sellers to go away. But that won't stop these people from trying to also tinker with other ways on how to farm, along with the Hyrbid Seed, they also make a new kind of fertilizer made of nitrogen which also helps the plants grow in the dryness of the arid regions of the Great Planes.

### The ALCAN Highway

The Episode also talks a bit about World War 2, but then it goes to the cold and untamed Alaskan Wilderness where another project is underway.

When Japan took some Aleutian Islands in the west to expand their empire, the US Military begins an audacious plan to boost up security for Alaska, and that is to create a highway where it connects Alaska with the rest of North America. They have little time to complete the highway before the Alaskan winter bears down on the Military Engineers.

There were 2 teams building this highway, one consisting of white Americans and another consisting of African Americans, set to meet in the middle. But the African-American team run into problems; Permafrost, a frozen patch of dirt which exposed by the sun, it melts into mud which makes the bulldozers sink. So, the team improvises and use whatever that can see in the wilderness, they use trees and line them up on the ground to continue to build the highway.

On October 28, 1942, the highway was complete, the African-American Cpl. Refines Sims is revered as a hero in the US Military, a watershed moment in the US Military to integrate itself which does so a few years later.

### Atomic Age

The episode now goes to the skies above Hiroshima where we talk about the beginning of the use of Atomic..............stuff.

In this case, Atomic weapons as the Atomic Bomb was developed in July of 1945, a month later it would be used.

August 6, 1945, the bomber named "Enola Gay" takes off from Saipan carrying the bomb which is totally unaware by the Japanese, and the pilots have no idea what would happen once they release the bomb from their aircraft. But once it does, it creates a blinding flash and burns at around 3,000°F as it destroys everything in its wake, 3 days later, a second bomb drops on Nagasaki, and Japan surrenders on September 2 bringing en end to the war, and the beginning of the Atomic Age. For the next 50 years after World War 2, the United States and Russia would find themselves in a race to make the most Nuclear weapons.

### New Transplant

The episode now goes to South Africa where a radical medical procedure will take place.

Surgeon Chritsiaan Barnard wants to try a radical procedure that he was testing for a while now, a heart transplant. He tested this radical transplant on Dogs, unfortunately for him the Dogs didn't live for long enough. His radical procedure and his confidence in it would be put to the ultimate test with a Russian athlete named Louis Washkansky who suffered from 3 heart attacks, and his only chance is to have his heart replaced, and Barnard will try his first human trial with Washkansky. First, he puts Washkansky on life support as he removes the spent heart, and as he puts the new heart and uses electricity to jump start it. After 3 hours of the surgery, the new heart finally beats on its own. Though, Washkansky would die of Pneumonia several weeks ago, the transplant presents a leap forward in medicine, allowing Mankind to go beyond the boundaries of their own bodies.

### Civil Rights Movement/Mass Media

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The episode goes back to the US where it talks about the Civil Rights movement.

On March 7, 1965, in the town of Selma. a Non-Violent Protest by African-Americans takes place. In their way are white authorities. What the African Americans are protesting are the Jim Crow Laws that prohibit them to have the same rights as their white counterparts, especially when it comes to the right to vote.

Within 45 minutes, the non-violent protest was met with violence as the sheriffs and state troopers attack, several minutes passed and as many as 65 protesters were injured by either billy clubs or tear gas used by the state troopers. This attack will not go unnoticed as several reporters recorded the Selma massacre and it interrupts the Sunday night movie, this changes the opinion on segregation and some time later Lyndon Johnson vows to pass the voter rights act, allowing African-Americans to vote without restrictions or white authorities blocking their path.

As the episode (and the docu-series) ends it talks about how we as a specie are still adapting to change, adapting to new technologies and even new obstacles and challenges as we head into the future like facing another pandemic, learning how exactly how human brains work, and even a possible mission to Mars involving Mankind.

That'll do it for this 12-part wiki page series. Don't forget to check out my Games and Movies wikis too. Until next time, this is JohnnyOTGS signing out.