Burbank, CA – October 24, 2007: As the video opens, a suspended bicycle frame lurches and twists as two hydraulic pistons take turns driving a 292-pound load onto simulated pedals. Within sixty seconds, the bike frame has been subjected to nearly 18 tons of stress. The test continues non-stop for 21 hours—unless the frame cracks first.

This week, The Futures Channel released its latest micro-documentary, “Engineering Faster Bikes,” which takes viewers inside Easton Sports Research and Development Laboratories where they are engineering high-performance bicycles. And, like the company’s other online movies, it was enthusiastically premiered in math and science classrooms across the country.

“I love the films because they stress the importance of math and how many occupations use math at all levels,” explains Kris Possee, an educator from New Hampshire. “I know those videos have inspired many of my students - they now know how many opportunities there are out there in the professional world that they may have not even thought about!"

In the online movie, engineer Niko Henderson explains that it's the analysis of test data and comparison of different frame models that helps them produce bike frames that are lighter, stronger and, of course, faster.

Whether it is going inside the test labs at Easton Sports or up close with the builders of enormous state-of-the-art wind turbines in New York, The Futures Channel movies provide students with real world examples of the math and science concepts they are being asked to learn. Last month, the Futures Channel micro-documentary, “Ice Cream the Italian Way,” showed students a variety of math and science applications while taking them behind the scenes at Ciao Bella Gelato Company, where professionals measure viscosity and use fractions and ratios.

“I visit the Futures Channel with my students at least once a week,” said Florida educator Gwen Hunt. “Yesterday's science lesson was about different kinds of energy and the ‘Wind Farming’ video was a perfect example of one very powerful kind of ‘free and clean’ energy. My second grade students were ‘on the edge of their seats’ with this one!”