"Thunder Road", a term coined to identify the nighttime route from Harlan, Kentucky, to Knoxville, Tennessee, traveled by illegal whiskey haulers. Tracing its origins to European immigrants who showed up with barely a shirt on their back and a recipe for making hooch.
Mini oceans inland, lakes are treasure troves of aquatic wonders, each zone, from the depths to the surface, the banks to the mud at the bottom, hosts its own animal communities of predators and prey. Fish, birds, insects, even mammals, enjoy the bounty of their freshwater home.
Few animals have more complex societies and interactions than elephants. For these slow-growing, long-lived animals, survival is totally dependent on knowledge passed down from family members and from the constant support of the herd. It’s no wonder we find them so endearing.
Ask what the most dangerous animal is and most will say a lion or tiger, and true, they have the power to kill, but far more people are killed by hippos or buffalo, even domestic cows, pigs, and especially dogs.
It’s tough out in nature, but many creatures are forced or choose to leave it all behind and seek a new life in the urban jungle. For some, it is life on the breadline, while others find a land of opportunity.
The faint red glow of Mars has intrigued those watching it from Earth for centuries. Now space exploration has begun to lift the veil on "The Red Planet", and upcoming missions to Mars are looking at Mars as a potential habitat for humans. Can we move to Mars in the next decade?
From the early attempts for the Great War to the visionary offerings to assist in space flight, aircraft designers have turned to unorthodox twin boom concepts as a viable option.
For over 35 years, the Sikorsky Blackhawk has been a reliable war horse for the U.S. Armed Forces–charging into hostile territory from the deserts of Iraq to the mountains of Afghanistan. After decades of upgrades, it remains one of the world's most sophisticated aircraft.
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.
Examining how renewed excitement about returning to the moon could lead to a colony.
With Germany's FW 190 terrorizing the skies of Europe, Britain and America merge the P-51 Mustang and the super Merlin engine to create the ultimate fighting machine.
The Lockheed Constellation, known as the "Connie," was one of the most elegant and aesthetically-pleasing aircraft to ever take flight. The iconic American airliner was the end product of a four-decade long search for the perfect airliner.
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.
The Mona Lisa by Leonardo da Vinci is one of the most famous paintings in the world. Her real name according to art history is “La Gioconda”. For many years though, there have been doubts: why did Leonardo not hand the portrait on to the commissioner if it was a picture of his wife?
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.
This series delves into the many tricks that plant species have developed to overcome the elements, predators, and even other plants.
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.
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.
It is early summer and wild places across the world, whether beaches, jungles, or mountains are preparing for summer school to begin. The arrival of baby animals is imminent, and they’ll have a lot to learn. Some kids spend a long time with mum while others have to figure things out for themselves.
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.
Deep within the Javan jungle, an expedition has set out in search of the last stand of the world’s rarest rhino. Once prolific across Asia, the Javan Rhino now exists only in Java, where photographer Toby Nowlan is on a mission to photograph the species in hopes of protecting it from extinction.
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.
