Rough Science

The five scientists are taken to a mystery location in the Mediterranean. Their first challenge is to determine their latitude and longitude and thus pinpoint exactly where they are. They are also asked to create insect repellent and a radio.

The second series takes five scientists to the Carribean island of Carriacou, where their first challenge is to create a scale map of the island - using paper and ink derived from the local vegetation. The team are also challenged to build a sound-recording device from scrap.

In the first set of gold-mining challenges in New Zealand's Westland National Park, Ellen, Mike B and Mike L attempt to pan gold from a river while Jonathan builds a metal detector and Kathy devises a balance scale capable of weighing tiny amounts of gold to the nearest millionth of a gram.

Week one's challenges are heavily focused on the "exploration" theme. Jonathan's challenge is to make a rover; a remote controlled vehicle that could explore strange new worlds. Staying with the theme of exploration, Iain and Ellen have to use their geological and botanical skills to search for water in the desert. Assuming they find some water, Kathy and Mike are going to have to find a way of purifying it to make it safe for drinking and they're going to have to make it taste good as well, because at the end of day three Kathy and Mike's purified water will be up against drinking water.

The Rough Scientists are sent to a nearby wreck which offers a whole new artificial habitat for plants and fish. As in every programme the team are set three challenges. Firstly, Jonathan will need to design and build a submersible, remote-controlled rover to send back pictures from the sea-bed; Kathy’s challenge is to work out how to reach the wreck at low tide, when it will be most visible; while Ellen and Mike have to figure out how to purify the team’s water supply.

Kicking off the new series of Rough Science, at their high altitude base in the Rocky Mountains, the team attempt to make the old mill a little more hospitable - they’ve got to supply the rickety old building with gas and electricity. In just three days they have to use natural resources to generate their own power and produce their own gas. With no time to waste Hermione hits the road in search of coal deposits and Mike works on a gas production system to try and extract coal gas from any coal she can bring back. Her prospecting takes her out of the mountains and in to the flatter plains to the south where, by reading the landscape, she stumbles across a natural gas seep. Methane is bubbling out of a stream bed - suggesting that coal isn’t far below the surface. Hermione eventually tracks it down late in the day in trees near-by and spends a long evening digging with Kate! Ellen and Jonathan try to crack the electricity problem - finding a nearby fast flowing stream to harness. By piping water down from higher up the stream they can produce enough pressure to hopefully drive a water wheel and a generator. Ellen sets to work building a dam 50 metres above where the water wheel will be - drawing her inspiration from the local beaver population. Jonathan cannibalises a bicycle wheel and using some kitchen utensils comes up with an improvised Pelton water wheel. By the end of day two the team have some gas, but it’s not burning very brightly and they’ve got a fast spinning water wheel but no power. With so much to still accomplish on the last day it'll be a real rush to complete the challenge before the time runs out...