Giants of Science: Leonardo da Vinci

As the illegitimate son of a notary from Vinci, Leonardo is banned from Italian universities and trade guilds. But he soon becomes the shining star in the studio of the acclaimed Florentine artist Verrocchio. After being investigated for alleged homosexual activities, Leonardo leaves Florence in 1482 to make weapons for the prince of Milan. In Milan, he enjoys his most productive years of research and observation. By 1517, his findings will fill more than 10,000 unbound pages. The 5,000 that survive contain encoded notes with intricate diagrams on subjects ranging from helicopters and submarines to blood circulation and fossils.