Eleventh Hour Facts is a project of BIO to bring you more information about the facts, the science and the real-life people often portrayed in some of our favorite shows and movies.

Eleventh Hour Facts started in response to the 2007/8 season’s CBS show of the same name, which brought a creative portrayal of biotech to a wide audience. So many people enjoyed following the scientists’ view of what is possible, what is likely and what is just absurd, that we decided to extend this site’s purpose – pointing out where fiction writers’ taste for the dramatic overtakes factual accuracy.

However, like these fantastic plots, the reality of biotechnology is dramatic and intense, and the discoveries that result are revolutionary – helping many people who today already find themselves in their own eleventh hour. These discoveries are curing debilitating diseases, extending the lives of patients and improving quality of life. They help to heal the global environment by finding better ways to accomplish the tasks that many of us take for granted, like driving to work or cleaning our homes. Biotech discoveries are improving agricultural practices which help farmers produce more food per acre, potentially reducing global hunger.

Our researchers work to unlock the power of nature to produce breakthrough solutions to some of the world’s most persistent challenges. However, because the shows we’ll be following are often dramatic interpretations of the power of biotechnology, we encourage you to return here to see how the actual science works. A tv writer can take creative license with these intriguing processes to ensure that the dilemma is solved in 60 minutes, but our scientists work every day to improve quality of life for all of us. That being said, we’re eager to sit back with a bowl of popcorn on Thursday nights to enjoy the television fiction of what we do.

Join us here as we live-blog some shows, follow up with leading scientists on the veracity of specific shows’ plots, and hope to foster great discussions with YOU. Feel free to reach out to us with your ideas and questions as we continue to improve this site.

Also, if biotech intrigues you and you’d like to find out more, please visit some of our sister sites:

• WhatCanBiotechDoForYou
• IAmBiotech