A tough outer layer can come in handy, but the strongest defense isn’t always the thickest. This program explores all kinds of bodily protection, from animal hides and shells to artificial armor to human skin—showing how anatomy and technology have evolved to guard against potential dangers. Viewers meet sea and land creatures with sophisticated protective suits, including lobsters, snails, turtles, alligators, sharks, and abalone—which sport some of the sturdiest armor of all. Tests performed on chain mail, plate armor, and a bulletproof vest take students deeper into the mechanics of body shielding, while experiments on skin and sweat highlight possible alternatives to conventional antibiotics. Contains brief partial nudity. (22 minutes)