Torch-lit marches down Main Street... at first glance, images like these conjure up some of America's darkest moments. But this wasn't the Klan. These black-clad torch-bearers were the Wide Awakes: a para-military political machine that some say delivered the presidency to Abraham Lincoln.
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?
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.
Countless animals from across the globe currently face extinction; if we are to stem the tide we must understand the lifestyles and habitats of the awe-inspiring creatures currently in danger.
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.
Few things are more wondrous than the gift of flight, but some birds have chosen to give it up – the question is, why? Whether it is to save energy, tap into new food resources, or invest in other skills, they all have their reasons.
What makes the Earth such a kaleidoscope of color? Take a journey around the globe and discover a host of creatures, large and small—from giant blue humpback whales to pink flamingos to glasswing butterflies—that make our world so spectacularly diverse…and colorful.
We like to think we can control everything: changing the course of water, reclaiming land, replanting deserts. But there’s one thing we can’t control: the passing of time. But we can change how we see things; using cameras we can start to see the world in different time frames.
Half of all bird species undertake annual migrations, everything from heavy-bodied swans to delicate hummingbirds. Migration is one of the most remarkable phenomena on the planet, hosts of animals of all shapes and sizes demonstrating incredible feats of endurance.
About 30 kilometers from Cairo, the necropolis of Saqqara holds one of Egypt’s most fascinating treasures: the pyramid of Pharaoh Pepi II. Although closed to the public, it holds the largest collection of texts ever discovered in a pyramid.
To many ears, the name mustelid might sound mysterious, but this family of hunters is probably much more familiar than you think. They’re tiny terrors; ankle-height tigers of the undergrowth. Some are elusive hunters while others stand together and fight.
With 318 hairpin curves packed into just 11 miles of twisting scenic highway, this stretch of U.S. Highway 129 continues to regularly claim the lives of motorcyclists drawn here by the riding challenge and vivid fall color, and we recount some of the most harrowing crashes on this stretch.
Everyone loves the beach! To us, it’s one giant playground, but for wildlife, it’s so much more.
To many, the wolverine is the stuff of movie superheroes, but they are some of the toughest, strongest, and most mysterious animals around. Following one wild family reveals a few of their closely guarded secrets.
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.
This series delves into the many tricks that plant species have developed to overcome the elements, predators, and even other plants.
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.
What can the animal kingdom teach us about love? Whether it's dancing, making bouquets, or running baths, there's a lot we can learn about romance.
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.
In Southern France, the entrance to a decorated cave hides 35 meters under sea level. Discovered 20 years ago, the paintings date back 30,000 years—and are threatened by rising waters. Follow a group of prehistorians and craftsmen as they construct a full-sized replica of the cave to preserve them.
What makes a person become a serial killer? Follow forensic scientists, law enforcement, profilers, and prosecutors on the trail of German female serial killer, Tuba S. She was accused of murdering the magician Riconelly in 2016, but it seems that he was not her first victim…
Migration is one of the great phenomena of the natural world. When it’s time to move some take to the skies or the oceans, but the migrants we know best are found in the awe-inspiring herds running across our planet.
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.
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.
