NOVA
NOVA
The Perfect Pearl 26 Season 10 Episode
The pearlโthe only gem produced by a living animalโhas long carried a certain allure. Yet the best mollusk for making this gemโthe pearl oysterโdoesn't always produce a pearl, and even then, the pearls are rarely perfectly round. It wasn't until the late nineteenth century, when a Japanese scientist discovered a technique to incite oysters to produce these gems, that an industry was formed. Inducing an oyster to create a pearl is only half the battleโthe oyster then needs a nutrient-rich, open environment in which to grow. This NOVA program looks at the science of pearl farming, follows efforts of oyster farmers trying to cope with growing problems of pollution and overcrowding, and considers the shifting sands of dominance within the pearl industry.
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