From the arctic tundra to the great planes, the kingdom of the wolf extends across the entire northern hemisphere. They are icons of the wilderness, spectacular creatures that live and die by the sword.
Like a sea of grass, the savannah, prairie, and meadows are among the most productive habitats on Earth, housing some of the greatest concentrations of big game and the most dramatic interactions of predator and prey.
Some creatures play hard and die young. Small bodies are more susceptible to heat loss need a lot of calories to stay warm. With high metabolisms, creatures like shrews, hummingbirds, and porpoises must devote their lives to eating and might perish between meals.
Two otter pups have been carefully watched over by their mother for a year, but her tireless work will soon come to an end. From here on the pups will have to fend for themselves, one day maybe starting an otter family of their own.
In Africa’s Great Rift Valley, lies a mysterious, toxic lake. Lake Natron’s red water reaches hellish temperatures and its chemistry is similar to ammonia. Yet despite the deadly conditions, a few species manage to do more than just survive -- they thrive.
How safe are we from the next pandemic? Journey to the island of Riems, off the coast of Germany on the Baltic Sea, to the “Alcatraz for viruses,” where a collective of highly specialized experts from around the world work tirelessly to combat the growing virus threat.
Examining how renewed excitement about returning to the moon could lead to a colony.
Water: a substance without which life as we know it wouldn’t exist. We’re even made of it: 60 % of the human body consists of water. Yet our idea of what water actually is, where it came from, how it shapes our planet remains sketchy at best.
Host Derek Muller uncovers the mind-blowing secrets of spider vision! Discover how advanced color vision in jumping spiders has evolved in so many unique ways, and explore the wide spectrum of colors in their hidden world. You won't believe what these tiny creatures can see!
The F4U Corsair was an iconic and versatile fighter-bomber in both World War II and Korea. Could a modern jet live up to that reputation? The Vietnam-era A7 Corsair was designed more for an attack role than its legendary namesake, but it was every bit as successful.
This film reconstructs the life of famed marine biologist and environmental pioneer Jacques Cousteau using a fascinating mix of wildlife footage, archive material and re-enactments.
Follow the days and minutes leading to the 2019 White Island volcanic eruption, which killed 22 people and left 26 more with life-changing injuries. Eyewitnesses recount the disaster–showcasing the unpredictability and danger of nature–and scientists investigate whether this tragedy was avoidable.
Nothing changed the world as we know it more than the process of domestication. Once humans found they could shape the environment and control the foods they grew, they gave up a nomadic hunter/gatherer lifestyle and became farmers. A few key species made this happen, like cattle, sheep, and pigs.
We may not always be able to see them, but trust us, they're there. This is the story of the wildlife that may as well be our roommates. From the first cockroaches who shared our caves to the not so “sterile” homes of those living on the international space station.
2020 has been an unprecedented year in science. From a global pandemic and race to find a cure, to exploring our planetary neighbors and our own world, stay in the know with the latest stories that defined this tumultuous year.
Nothing shouts northern wilderness more than a magnificent moose, the undisputed king of the forest. But moose don’t start out big and burly; for two twins born into a forest glade, a challenging life lies ahead.
Every year, millions of people celebrate St. Patrick's Day. But few are aware of the enormous impact he actually had on the history of civilization. Author Thomas Cahill reveals the little known story of how St. Patrick helped preserve Western culture while Europe was being overrun by barbarians.
Every year, there are 2 million visitors to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. People come from all over the world to catch a glimpse of the blue haze that gives the park its name or a black bear scurrying into the woods. Most people don’t realize that there is a whole world to be discovered.
Here is nature seen through the hearts, minds and eyes of the world’s greatest female cinematographers.
Can AI enable us to live forever? Explore the latest advancements in AI, robotics and biotech with visionaries who foresee a new age of “post-biological” life. As scientists point toward a world where humans and machines merge, we have to ask: “Will AI be the best, or the last thing we ever do?”
In our hectic world so much seems to pass us by. All around us dramas are playing out, but they often happen so fast that we don’t even see it: blink and you’ll miss it. But when you slow down the action a whole new world is revealed.
Pearls are the only gems created by a living creature, and perfect specimens are priceless. The most valuable are born inside black-lipped oysters in the South Pacific. Known as Tahitian black pearls, for some, they become an obsession.
We live on an ever-moving planet, and as landscapes are altered, wildlife must march to its rhythm. Driven by instinct, they follow the maps hardwired into their DNA. Some run, some fly, but most swim.
Humans have always strived to summit mountains, but the higher we climb, the less oxygen is available. In the most extreme peaks, death can come quickly -- for most. A few rare people can condition themselves to live at high altitude for long periods of time … and one man wants to find out, why?