“This is a stunning film that explores a baby's epic journey from first breath to first step, showing us what miracles of engineering babies are!”

Human babies come into this world entirely helpless - unable to walk, talk or feed themselves. And, as any parent can testify, a remarkable transformation occurs over their first year.

But what's happening behind what you can simply observe? Science of Babies explores the amazing mechanics behind the milestones in a human infant's life.

From first breath to first step, National Geographic sheds light on the amazing developments in human babies. Using sophisticated CGI and fMRI imaging techniques, this program explores the amazing biomechanical benchmarks in the first 12 months of a human life.

From the moment it takes that first breath, a new human fixates on faces and voices. Newborns observe shapes, colours and sounds around them. They form hypotheses about their surroundings and test those hypotheses. Yes, babies are born scientists.

New research indicates that these growing abilities are much more flexible than previously known. Follow leading scientists as they study the remarkable plasticity of a very young brain, measure how early experiences influence the course of human development and deconstruct how babies can learn languages and even grasp maths!

Day by day, month by month, the human baby develops senses, add skills, and build muscles - all the while intent on another elemental achievement - the first step.

Viewers witness the drama and spectacle of birth, watch the infant’s lungs kick in, observe the swiftly beating and rapidly growing heart, study the expanding skeleton, and examine the muscles that mature with every little kick toward the ability to crawl.
Cell division, the building of neural synapses, and the sharpening of vision are also shown.

English narration by Rodd Houston
Produced by Pangloss Films for National Geographic Television & Film (2007)
As seen on the National Geographic Channel.

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