Cave paintings and lunar calendars exist in the caves and remains of prehistoric hunters studied recently. What if Prehistoric Man were clever enough to develop in depth scientific knowledge? As unlikely as it may seem, new data tend to prove that Prehistoric Man actually invented Astronomy.
From the food on our tables to the fuel in our cars, crude oil seeps invisibly into almost every part of our modern lives. It is the energy source and raw material that drives transport and the economy. Yet many of us have little idea of the incredible journey it has made to reach our petrol tanks and plastic bags.
A library on four legs, the world's only existing Camel Library is located in Northern Kenya. As they pass antelopes and giraffes, the heavily loaded caravan of camels are routinely carrying books through the rough savannah.
After 200 years, the Fugen-Dake volcano awoke in 1991. Journalists, cameramen and scientists flocked to Mount Unzen to study the eruption. For some of them, it would be a fatal choice.
The noted engineer and inventor, Rudolf Diesel, died mysteriously on his way to England in 1913. He worked on his invention to help eliminate poverty and help humanity. But others saw different uses for the engine. What happened to Diesel, and what ultimately came from his revolutionary idea?
It was the first big bust in the history of booms -- the burst of the tulip bubble. Once, tulip bulbs were worth their weight in gold and became the object of fantastic financial speculation. But, then...
We have entered the Homo Numericus Age, producing millions of digital files in the course of our lives. Today, stocking data and securing content over time is a major challenge for State Security, the economy and society in general, and a lucrative service for internet companies. Behind the virtual dimension, who are the real gatekeepers of our memory? How reliable are they and how selective are we in what we stock online? Enter the digital space and the cloud computing network and find out more!
Macro and high/speed cinematography allow us to witness Bumblebees' behavior (they are not too heavy to fly); understand their biology (they do sting), and experience their unique abilities. You will be in awe of these droll, chubby little harbingers of spring.
The astonishing, little-known story of men, women, and children who were exhibited alongside animals in Europe, America and Japan from the second half of the 19th century until WWII: an international story from a pre-globalization era concerning the most diverse populations from every continent.
There are 3 kittens in this story, and as we watch these cute bundles of fur grow we learn how our feline companions adapt in very diverse environments. Each of our kittens, from Tokyo to France, has a unique and fascinating world to explore! Resist watching if you can....
With continuing releases of major films and TV series on Sherlock Holmes, the fictional character has never been more popular. But what about his creator, the author Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, whose own life was at times as dark and as mysterious as the man he created? How was this extraordinary character formed and did he, as so many believe, really exist? The story behind the creation of this Victorian phenomenon is both disturbing and mystifying. It takes the viewer on a journey through the Edinburgh of the young Conan Doyle and the darker influences in his life, and onto the streets of London. What was it about Sherlock Holmes that captured the imagination of society as it entered the exciting, yet frightening world of the 20th century? With dramatic visualizations, contributions from leading Holmesian experts, figures from the world of literature and research, and evidence from the medical community, the Sherlock Holmes enigma is dissected and the truth begins to emerge. This brand new documentary explores the intriguing world of Conan Doyle and discovers the truth behind his decision to to kill off the man who had dominated his life for so long in one dramatic episode.
What do space robots look like? Why and how can they lead space missions successfully? To what extent will they collaborate with astronauts or take their place? Find out what is in development around the world from robotic geology labs to space garbage collection.
n this short documentary, Author and historian Howard Means recounts the challenges and threats European pioneers encountered in their quest to settle the American West.
This French documentary explores the story of the world famous painting done in 1793. During the French Revolution, David painted a memorial to his great friend, the murdered publisher, Jean Marat. Here is the background of the time and events that influenced this masterpiece.
What is a virus? How does it affect humans and how does it spread? Doctors, virologists and scientists examine the spread of the Zika virus, what effect this growing epidemic may have on large populations, and possible next steps to stop the illness.
The Royal Chambord Castle is the most renowned Renaissance castle in the Loire Valley in France. Despite its fame and distinctive features this monument hides many secrets related to its conception, architecture and history. For instance, could da Vinci have been the architect?
Commander Stephen Hawking pilots his space ship the SS Hawking on the journey of a lifetime, zooming from black holes to the Big Bang, Saturn to Santa Barbara. After all, why should astronauts have all the fun?
How do scientists put together the many photos taken by the Hubble Space Telescope to obtain the beautiful and amazing pictures we see? What goes into producing the final images from Hubble? Zolt Levay, Senior Image Processing Specialist at the Space Telescope Science Institute dissects and explains the Hubble image of 30 Doradus, a "star forming" region in space.
Solar Superstorms is a major new production that takes viewers into the tangle of magnetic fields and superhot plasma that vent the Sun’s rage in dramatic flares, violent solar tornadoes, and the largest eruptions in the solar system: Coronal Mass Ejections. What’s driving these strange phenomena? How will they affect planet Earth? Find the answers as we venture into the seething interior of our star. "Solar Superstorms," is a science documentary showing off the latest computation-enabled research about solar dynamics. Narrated by Benedict Cumberbatch, the 24-minute documentary illustrates what can happen when our closest star erupts. Stunning visualizations from Donna Cox's team at the US National Center for Supercomputing Applications (NCSA) Advanced Visualization Laboratory tell the story. The National Science Foundation (NSF) helped fund the Centrality of Advanced Digitally Enabled Science (CADENS) project to show off the gains supercomputing and data analysis offer to science and the world. "The 'Solar Superstorms' dome show is a direct result of scientific research dependent on extremely powerful computer simulations and visualizations," says Rudolf Eigenmann, a program director at the NSF. Too complex for a single computer, producing the simulations required supercomputers from across the US: · The NCSA's Blue Waters supercomputer simulated the early universe to show how the first generations of stars formed. · Pleiades at Michigan State University illustrated the magnetized convection deep in the body of the sun and the gas encircling the outer two percent of the solar mass. · The Kraken system at the National Institute for Computational Sciences visualized the convection cells across the face of the sun - each as large as a continent. · The Yellowstone supercomputer at the National Center for Atmospheric Research and the Discover supercomputer at NASA's Center for Climate Simulation (NCCS) simulated the solar corona. "The res
Memory is not a photo album where your images of the past are faithfully recorded. The latest neuroscience discoveries show that memory can be affected in many ways and with surprising results: false memories, distortions, modifications and déjà vu. To what extent can we rely on our memories ?
Join the New Horizons team to examine the latest findings and imagery from Pluto and the fringes of our solar system. They reveal a world unlike any other we've seen yet!
Television made Jack Kennedy the ultimate celebrity during his presidency. However, the JFK we remember is the one his wife, Jackie, created after his death. From Air Force One to the Oval Office to the Rose Garden, Jackie Kennedy designed the symbols of presidential power still used today.
From the detection of gravitational waves generated in space over a billion years ago, to discoveries in genetics here on Earth, we've collected the most compelling science breakthroughs and advances of 2016. Thanks to magnificent, hard-working scientists and researchers around the world, science keeps marching ever forward. And this year saw some discoveries that are absolutely brimming with the promise of greater discoveries, breakthroughs and quality of life in the future.
"Follow Your Nose" seeks to unlock the secrets of olfaction. How do we perceive smells? What messages do they contain? How do they alter and influence our brain and behavior?
A complex and complicated artist, Georges Remi created one of the most famous characters in the world, Tintin, for young readers. With exceptional access to the archives of Studios Herge and Moulinsart, this program looks at Remi's life and the way he changed the art of comic strips.
Following extreme diver and biologists Laurent Ballesta and acclaimed photographer Vincent Munier, exploring for the first time sub-glacial lakes deep under the ice pack and decoding the secret weapons of wildlife and micro-organic life thriving under such extreme conditions.
An expedition which will help viewers decipher Antarctica’s key role in climate regulation and see the challenges the iconic Emperor penguin faces in the light of climate change. Discover the secrets of these polar environments on the ice and underwater and get close and personal with the emperor.
What if you could get behind the wheel and race through space? We scale down the Solar System to the continental United States and place the planets along the way to better appreciate the immense scale of the Universe. See space as never before, with Mars looming over the Freedom Tower and Jupiter towering above the Lincoln Memorial. Join former astronaut Chris Hadfield - a YouTube sensation for his performance of David Bowie’s “Space Oddity” aboard the International Space Station - and his interstellar hitchhikers Michio Kaku and astronomers Derrick Pitts and Laura Danly. It’s a joyride from coast to coast - and from the sun to Pluto.
This documentary follows a spectacular pioneering story of nature preservation. Engadin was created 100 years ago and the wildlife left without human interference to re-populate the Alps first nature reserve. Now ibex, lynx and wolves are thriving in this pristine area.
With their dazzling metallic colors and unique ways of flying, dragonflies are truly jewels of the air. This film presents dragonflies as they have never been seen before. Fascinating close up shots take us into the world of these insects, which have lived on earth since the age of the dinosaurs.
Join the members of the historic Rosetta mission through the years as they launch, wait and then deploy the lander onto the comet 67P/Churyumov–Gerasimenko. Experience the dramatic highs and lows of the first mission to land a probe on a comet in space.
Which of the great primates of 25 million years ago is our common ancestor? Is it pierolapithecus? Follow the journey of primates developing into Homo erectus and then to Homo sapiens through the millions of years of evolution and the thousands of miles of migrations.
Science Documentary hosted by John Temple, published by Icarus Films in 2014. This film explores recent scientific attempts to explicate laughter, this most elusive of human faculties. Scientists see it as a means of approaching some of the larger mysteries of neurology and human behavior. What does studying laughter reveal about our brains and about us as a species?
Our Sun could erupt at any moment, spewing a vast wave of charged particles toward Earth that could leave millions of people without power for up to a year. Learn about the latest missions to protect our planet from this potentially devastating threat.
M.C. Escher is among the most intriguing of artists. In 1956 he challenged the laws of perspective with his graphic Print Gallery and his uncompleted master-piece quickly became the most puzzling enigma of modern art. Fifty years later, can mathematician Hendrik Lenstra complete it? Should he?
Twenty years after its launch, we bid farewell to the Cassini spacecraft as it plunges into Saturn’s atmosphere in a planned death spiral. Productive right to the end, Cassini has rewritten the textbook on not only Saturn and its moons, but our whole solar system as well.
Its origin shrouded in mystery, described with the precision of mathematics, there is nothing as impressive as the cosmos. Life on Earth is supported by forces finely tuned to an astonishing degree. So is it all luck? Or does the evidence suggest something more behind our ordered universe?
The evidence for evolution is compelling. Indeed its achievements are so spectacular that they lead to underlying questions about why it is so successful if there is no over-arching plan. In this episode champions of the view that Darwin has buried God clash with their theistic counterparts.
Human consciousness is the most mysterious phenomenon in the universe. Not only does it exist; it is sophisticated beyond understanding. The big issue: does the immaterial reality of human consciousness point to an immaterial mind behind the universe?
Spend a year with a Red Panda named Tashi and experience her life in the forests underneath the Himalayas. Along the way, meet the other rare bird, insect and animal inhabitants of this remote lush area in Northern India, including the leopard. And if cute could get even cuter, meet Tashi's cub...
An extraordinary new discovery of a dinosaur fossil so pristine and complete, that it shows off the texture, patterns, and colour of a prehistoric giant. Discover this brand new species that roamed during the late Jurassic and Cretaceous periods. The Royal Tyrrell Museum in Alberta has spent five years and over 7,000 hours preparing the fossil for research and display.
This is the story of Hamburg, Germany, one of the biggest harbors in the world. It is the story of merchants and pirates, of immigrants and soldiers. Traveling back to year 1189 and then continuing on to the present, this documentary describes the rise and fall of the Hanse, its development to a world harbour after the discovery of America and its rapid turnover of goods during the Industrial Revolution. With high-quality re-enactments, top experts’ interviews, rarely-seen archive material and the latest on computer animations, the correlation of world history up to the present time will be explained.
Wherever we find patterns and symmetry in nature, we also find that nature conforms to certain rules. Rules that combine elegance with efficiency. Rules that shape trees and river estuaries alike, and that continue to baffle scientists by their often unfathomable ubiquity.
Mathematical formulas can be found in the arrangement of seeds on a sunflower, the structure of the spirals in the shells of certain marine animals, and the distribution of leaves around a plant stem. These formulas recur in nature from snowflakes to the stripes on a zebra.
Scientists investigate the way the Sun builds its power -- through fusion -- hoping to find a way to use fusion as a less dangerous and less radioactive waste-producing path to energy than fission. But there are some major difficulties along the way...
Take a look back at many of the most fascinating science stories of 2017, a year full of stunning advancements in individual fields of study, from astronomy to biology, geology to history – when we piece these discoveries together we see the year in a new light.
What new methods of analysis have been developed in the age-old struggle to discover if someone is telling the truth...or not? Some scientists have gone beyond the polygraph to model other ways of detecting whether we are getting a straight answer or being led down a crooked path.
The birth of our Solar System was both violent and chaotic. As planets formed around our Sun, gravity and luck determined their fate: some are tossed into the Sun, others thrown into interstellar space, never to return. It is survival of the fittest, on an interplanetary scale.
A.I. is a primal force, like fire. The same fire that warms us can incinerate our homes; A.I. could enslave mankind — or, join us in a grand alliance to reach the stars.
130 years after it was created by Conan Doyle, Sherlock Holmes is a literary myth who turned out to be a fertile ground for inspiration beyond expectations. Despite Doyle's determination to escape his creature and forge a wider literary work he found himself trapped and overshadowed. The public of the time quickly embraced and shaped this character, to the extent that he was thought to be real and that people were asking Doyle to contact Holmes for help in their investigations. Find out the true story behind the myth and revisit a fascinating icon of our Times…which lives on…2017 is the year of the 130th anniversary of the first novel featuring Sherlock Holmes, A Study in Scarlet, published in 1887.
CERN and the University of California-Santa Barbara are collaborating in the search for the elusive substance that physicists and astronomers believe holds the universe together -- dark matter. Where is this search now in the realm of particle physics and what comes next?
Hidden from sight is a kingdom that rules life on land. It’s an alien world with the largest and oldest organisms alive today. Fungiform the 5th Kingdom of Life.
Renowned marine biologist Dr. Sylvia Earle reveals why the dual threats of ocean pollution and overfishing could have a devastating impact on mankind.
It was discovered on October 19th, 2017 and it was recognized as the first known object of its type. It is unique since it is the first known object that came from outside our solar system. But while we observed it, the mystery surrounding it grew.
70 Jewish prisoners dig a tunnel to escape from Drancy transit camp, working in shifts day and night for three months. Only a few meters from freedom, their plan is discovered by the SS guards. Fourteen of them are immediately arrested and tortured before being deported to the death camps.
Commander Stephen Hawking takes another journey in his space ship, the SS Hawking, this time to Venus, the Sun and out to the Eagle Nebula...but things don't always go according to the flight plan...
A team of underwater archeologists searches for the remains of the Guerrero, an illegal slave ship sunk in battle off the coast of Florida.
Commander Stephen Hawking and his space ship the SS Hawking encounter an alien A.I., then race to the edge of the universe, and plunge into an alternate Earth. It's an epic quest to discover the secret of the universe: The Theory of Everything.
This 11-minute piece features the Alaskan region known as the Valley of 10,000 smokes.
Harald Sandner, a history enthusiast, has traced Adolf Hitler's early life. From his childhood home, through his relationship with his family, the challenges he endured as a young man, and the home he made for himself in the German military. Follow the world's greatest murderer's rise to power.
Harald Sandner continues his study of Adolf Hitler as he seizes control of Germany and plunges the European continent into the bloodiest conflict the world has ever seen. Harald meticulously notes every success and failure as the world's powers come together to put an end to this chapter in history.
Today, more people learn English as a second language than any other in the world. The formation of modern English is paved by warfare and the fall-and-rise of ancient tribes and civilizations.
Renowned geneticist and author Spencer Wells reveals how changes in our genetic code have fueled major changes in our appearance and capabilities over time, and why scientists believe we're continuing to rapidly evolve today. By understanding these changes, we are better prepared for the future.
How do animals experience the world around them? How does what they see impact their place in nature and how has their place in nature impacted what they see? We asked Professor Thomas Cronin to show us how the most interesting and prolific eyes in the animal kingdom work and how they came to be.
They've captured our imagination and are a source of childlike wonder, but what exactly are rainbows? Learn the science behind these weather phenomenon and how one day they might help pinpoint habitable planets in deep space.
On July 22nd, 1969, the history of space exploration would forever be changed as two men left their boot prints on our moon's surface. This remarkable feat would be the culmination of decades of research, sacrifice, and innovation. How did we get there?
This documentary focuses specifically on insects. Giving you an unbelieveably up close and intimate view of the many unique secrets of the bug world. Answering scientific questions on how and why they have evolved certain bizarre adaptations, whilst using stunning imagery never seen before.
Deep in the mountains of West Virginia, the Green Bank Observatory has been receiving a mysterious signal from deep space. Could this be a message from an advanced civilization, or is it a much stranger and violent occurrence? Visit the largest steerable radio telescope on the planet for answers.
Take a look back at many of the most fascinating science stories of 2018. Discover how a young woman who fell into a cave 3.7 million years ago is rewriting our understanding of early human history. Learn how space missions are unraveling the mysteries of our universe. See the year in a new light!
Was it genocide? Epidemics? Climate change? Interbreeding? Competitive replacement? In order to find out, this ambitious team examines the evidence as it would a criminal investigation. They take us around the world to forensic labs and explore the main regions Neanderthals inhabited.
Some of the best and most up-to-date communication satellites in the world are designed and built in Stevenage in Britain. With exclusive access to specialist manufacturer Astrium, this programme shows step-by-step how to assemble one of the most complicated machines in the world.
The computer revolution. In a world becoming ever more technologically advanced, and reliant upon computers, a team of scientists and musical theatre writers team up to devise a recipe for success in musical theatre and then task computers to use that knowledge and generate a hit.
Ego. Fear. Lust. Lies. Delusion. Betrayal. Madness. Shakespeare wrote the ultimate guide to political power, past and present. Tyrants are all alike, and the political is always personal.
Squirrels are among the most widely known and recognized mammals in the world. Living in an extraordinarily diverse range of habitats, some can fly, some can swim, some live in trees or underground, others love icy wastelands or burning hot deserts.
The tropical climate and varied topography of Costa Rica have fostered exceptional biodiversity, with wildlife from both North and South America. From the peaks of volcanoes down to the Pacific and Caribbean shores. Discover the life of 90 of the most remarkable animals in this remarkable country.
The brain was once thought to be the body's control tower, issuing commands to the other organs. But scientists are discovering that communication flows between all the organs in our bodies. They transmit messages that can boost immunity, improve memory, strengthen bones and even lengthen lifespan.
New research sheds light on the functions of fat and bone. In fact, fat and bone are not static tissue but release signaling molecules to dynamically interact with the other organs and support our health. Fat was found to control our appetite and the bone to work to keep us young.
The cutting-edge research of our organs’ networking activities greatly contributes to scientists’ pursuit of the largest mystery about human life – birth. How does a single cell ultimately grows into all the varieties of our organs each with complex structure and function?
Why are bees, worldwide, facing extinction? With the tenacity of a man out to solve a world-class mystery, Markus Imhoof investigates this global phenomenon, from California to Switzerland, China, and Australia.
What is involved in creating a groundbreaking film that documents the latest paleoanthropological findings? This film will shed light on the talent, research, and scientific discoveries that made Out of the Cradle possible.
Roger Launius, Senior Curator at the National Air and Space Museum, explores humanity's early interest with space travel and the unknown secrets of the universe.
Since 2003, human DNA has been completely decoded. Scientists are currently working on decoding all of the body's most basic proteins, the so-called Proteom code - this process is almost complete. From these results, scientists hope to discover new drugs against cancer, infections, and disease.
With more than 16,000 built, the DC-3 became the world’s most successful aircraft and legend in several wars. During both World Wars, the military version of the DC-3 became a crucial factor for success. But by now the Basler factory in Oshkosh near Chicago seems to be an airplane boneyard.
Watch as the Palace of Versailles undergoes unprecedented restoration work and an extensive digitization campaign of the many maps relating to it. Unique scanning technologies and new excavations will offer fresh insight into the world’s most visited palace and the life of the Sun King.
Over 1,000 species of marine plants and animals can be found within the kelp forests of California. This stunning biodiversity just off of the coast provides fantastic opportunities for recreation, conservation, and scientific inspiration.
Roger Launius, Senior Curator at the National Air and Space Museum, shares the history of the men chosen to participate in the Apollo program.
He has shared our lives for 20,000 years. Along the way, he has helped us find food, kept our livestock, protected us from our enemies, guided us in extreme conditions, and saved us from peril. Now, he comforts us, relieving loneliness and helping us cope with old age. How did dogs come about?
Modern physics reveals a universe with no need of a creator -- and a world where each person creates their own meaning.
How did humanity's earliest ancestors evolve into one of the most successful species on Earth? An extraordinary journey tracing the footsteps of early hominids. Using the latest paleoanthropological findings mixed with the latest CGI from Square Enix, this story is finally told.
Almost 100 years after the discovery of King's Tut's Tomb, it is time to tell the story in a new light. Using 2D and 3D imagery to reconstruct the tomb, the mummy, the funerary objects and the topography of the famous valley of the Kings.
Growth in air transportation is set to soar, carrying over 10 billion passengers every year by 2050. To cope requires us to radically rethink aircraft design. Join us as we look into the world's most innovative research and development labs, to see first-hand the breakthroughs in aviation.
The most innovative area of human motion lies not on Earth, but with the exploration of space. Meet the private space entrepreneurs jostling to offer the tantalizing prospect of cheap, frequent travel beyond the atmosphere into Earth orbit.
Nuala O'Connor, Internet and technology expert, warns about the consequences of over sharing personal information online.
Humanity’s history has been full of great architects. However, what is less well known is that animals are also very talented. Embark on a surprising journey along with bowerbirds, ants, beavers, and chimpanzees to discover their secret skills.
Throughout history, human society has run on trade, and trade moved on the oceans. The innovations that allowed faster and more accurate oceanic travel revolutionized the world. New inventions now help people and goods move on the water faster for recreation and commerce.
The castle is undoubtedly the emblematic monument of the thousand years of history that constitute the Middle Ages. But how were castles actually built between the 10th and 15th century? What techniques were used before the introduction of modern construction practices?
Planet Earth shrinks to half size causing altitude sickness and a cosmic disaster, the sun gets as small as a sun can be, turning Earth into a frozen mud ball. We also see what happens to a man who shrinks to the same size as a wasp.
Carriers of myths and legends, castles strongly mark our imaginations, appearing most often as the pivot of a dark and barbaric period. Reality is different. They are full of mystery and grandeur, emblematic abstractions of the Middle Ages, they testify to medieval civilization.
Art, obsession and anxiety permeate a dilapidated Manhattan loft building in Mid-century: The first movie to use photographer W. Eugene Smith's massive, fly-on-the-wall archive of photos and audiotapes documenting the likes of jazz greats.
Considered baseball's most unpredictable pitch, knuckleball throwers inhabit a unique role in the world of professional baseball. Follow R.A. Dickey (New York Mets and 2012 All-Star) and 18-year veteran Tim Wakefield, an icon of the Boston Red Sox, detailing their personal and professional triumphs.
Sons of Cuba is a 2009 documentary film set in the Havana Boxing Academy, a school at the heart of Cuba's Olympic success in the ring. It follows the stories of three young hopefuls through eight months of training and schooling as they prepare for Cuba's National Boxing Championship for Under-12's. Sons of Cuba was directed by Andrew Lang and is distributed by Cinetic Rights Management for the US and Canada and Ro*co Films for the rest of the world.
An underdog story that spotlights the people and politics behind food carts and food trucks in Washington, D.C. This new breed of street entrepreneurs share their stories. Meet, one vendor who emigrated from Nigeria and, by hawking hot dogs, was able to send her kids to college.
See how during the massive refugee crisis following the Rwandan Genocide, televangelist Pat Robertson's for-profit African Development Company used substantial resources, intended for humanitarian relief, for a diamond-mining venture.
Could you forgive a person who murdered your family? This is the question faced by two Rwandan women coming face-to-face with the men who slaughtered their families during the 1994 genocide. Without the hope of full justice, Rwanda has turned to a new solution: Reconciliation.
An infamous thirty-year-old cold case: the disappearance of Iowa paperboy Johnny Gosch, the first missing child to appear on a milk carton. There have been mysterious sightings, strange clues, bizarre revelations, and a confrontation with a person who claims to have helped abduct Johnny.
The Apollo equipment has sat abandoned on the lunar surface for over 40 years. Now there is a renewed excitement and drive to return to the moon. This time, not to just plant a flag, but to colonize. How would we accomplish this? And why would we do it?
Something exceptional is happening in the north of the Republic of the Congo: here loggers are not destroying the environment but are helping through their work to preserve the tropical foresters.
Owning one of Stradivarius’ instruments now equates to great power and influence. Now all of the world’s top five dealers have been implicated in high profile lawsuits in the last decade. These instruments are so valuable that they are beyond the capability of even the most famous musicians to own.
The remarkable story of the engineers behind the revolutionary technologies developed for the Apollo missions. In the face of epic challenges, and with a fraction of today’s technology, these are the people who navigated us to the moon and back.
Join us as we travel across the globe and meet artisans of some age-old crafts. In a time where consumerism fuels the machines of mass production and instant gratification, watch as these men and women devote their lives to preserve the artistry of their trade with their handiwork.
The flower industry is a $100 billion global business where the Dutch control the market. But there’s a chink in their armor! The UK is fighting back. Meet the new generation of florists who are revolutionizing the trade, from quirky home-grown buds to luscious displays at London’s National Gallery.
Despite having little practical experience in managing large, conventional armies, Washington proved to be a capable and resilient leader of the American military forces during the war. While he lost more battles than he won, he employed a winning strategy that included important victories.
What was General Washington’s role in the ultimate defeat of Britain? What was the crucial involvement of the French military?
General George Washington is on the brink of defeat in the winter of 1776. He then wages a tide-turning campaign to take Trenton and Princeton in a series of battles that include his famous crossing of the Delaware River.
The U.S. Constitution contains many complicated ideas and concepts that can be hard people to grasp. The story of the U.S. Constitution’s creation sheds a light on what the framers intended.
In the Vega Archipelago, in the north of Norway at the Arctic Circle, people have formed a unique partnership with wild eider ducks. The provide the birds with shelter in hatcheries, and in return, after the breeding season, collect the precious eiderdown, with which the ducks line their nests.
For many, the Swiss Alps are a natural paradise. But in fact, this paradise is man-made. Alpine meadows exist only because farmers have been driving their livestock up into the mountains for centuries. Now the ancient traditions are disappearing and the forest is spreading more and more.
The picturesque Lake Constance region is characterized by intensive agriculture - with dramatic results for the birdlife. Since 2003, the ornithologist Professor Peter Berthold has been creating new habitats for birds - alongside cultivated landscapes.
The cloud forests in the Andes of Ecuador are among the most species-diverse landscapes on Earth. These beautiful forests are under threat. They have to give way to fields and cow pastures. But there are conservationists who want to stop the clearing of the cloud forests.
Danielle Dufault from Animalogic ventures into the jungles of Costa Rica in search of its majestic wildlife. Come face to face with a Jaguar, a Margay, a Tapir, Sloths and so much more.
From the coronation of the enduring British monarch Queen Elizabeth II, to the rise of Iranian dictator Khomeini, to the impeachment trials of US president Bill Clinton, Episode One counts down 101-89 events. From the discovery of King Tut in The Valley of Kings to the evacuation of Dunkirk, from the Bandung Conference to the death of Azaria Chamberlain at Uluru, our first episode spans the globe.
Count down events 88 to 74 that have shaped and influenced thought, marked wars, changed fashion, and rebuilt economies. We see the release of a book called Silent Spring that put a voice to an important plight, the doom of the Jonestown cult, and the opening of Disneyland.
Counting down from 75 to 63 we showcase great works of art and scientific feats in space, civil wars, sieges and environmental crises. We see the construction of the Panama Canal that created a passage between two continents, the invention of genetically modified crops that changed the future of food, the kidnapping of Lindbergh's baby, and a Battle of the Sexes on the tennis court.
The battle of Stalingrad was turning point in WWII, the Rwandan genocide and Tiananmen Square massacre left millions in sorrow, and war criminals were taken to trial in Nuremberg. In Episode Four we countdown from 62 to 50 events including creation of the bra that would symbolize liberation of women, a groundbreaking heart transplant, and an Olympics disaster in 1972.
Wars, politics, revolutions and inventions - the events of the 20th century changed the way in which we live. In Episode 5, we count down from 49 to 34 events that include a Treaty in Versailles aimed at bringing peace to the world, the Watergate political scandal, the collapse of the Soviet Union, and the assassination of John Lennon.
Counting down from 35 to 24, this episode includes a space venture of a shuttle called Challenger, a ship journey on the unsinkable Titanic, and a car chase of Princess Diana. We see war in Vietnam, in China, and a war upon the U.S.; the birth of the Israeli nation, and a new style of cinema with sound. Celebrity OJ Simpson is on trial, and a dictator consolidates power as Chancellor of Germany.
From the Wright brothers who flew a plane for the first time, to a country that launched a rocket called Sputnik into space for the first time, the 20th century showed our rapid advance in technological feats. We countdown from 23 to 11 events that include a new vaccination for the polio epidemic, a leap in human rights with a new Declaration, and the invasion of Poland that started a world war.
Which 10 events will stay in our minds and hearts as those that marked history? Martin Luther King's "I Have a Dream" Speech influenced civil rights laws, apartheid ended in South Africa, a bomb dropped in Hiroshima, and man landed on the moon. Politics, wars, assassinations and inventions come into our count down for the Top Ten events that changed our century, our world, & our way of life.
Travel the globe with one of the industry's most recognizable names and discover a side of classical music few have ever seen. Järvi, who serves as the musical director of the Orchestre de Paris, takes us on a creative journey rich in culture and history.
Woodstock-the most famous rock concert in history. At the center of it all, a psychedelic symbol-covered Volkswagen bus called Light. Join the race to solve a 50-year-old mystery, find a lost bus that became an iconic emblem of a generation, and restore it in time for a trip back to Woodstock.
Immerse yourself in this quick voyage through some of Ancient Egypt's most breathtaking and important ruins.
Built in heart of the Middle East desert, Masdar will be the world’s first zero-carbon city, exclusively fueled by renewable energies. 50,000 inhabitants will have access to water and sustainable energies while producing no waste.
The astronomical costs of arming and policing the heavens has largely fallen to the US Air Force, but with China and other nations challenging American supremacy, there is the potential for a war to take place right over our heads. As per usual, economics are at the heart of the struggle.
How do these objects differ from one another, if at all? Nick Moskovitz, an astronomer at the Lowell Observatory, compares these two space solar system bodies.
There was no plant nor animal life on land, but invertebrates and anthropods dominated the oceans during the Ordovician period of 485.4 to 443.8 million years ago.
The Devonian period between 419 and 358 million years ago, which has been dubbed the Age of Fishes, saw aquatic life reach diversity and plants beginning to spread across dry land.
Siberian tigers are the largest of all cats. In historic times, the tiger's range was vast, covering much of Asia. Over the last century, they've experienced an almost total population crash, and at least 97% of those tigers have gone.
Pumas are also known by the names of cougar or mountain lion. However, these cats are only distantly related to lions. They're much more closely related to cheetahs. And while pumas are often found in mountains, they're just as at home in the lowlands, dense forests, treeless pampers, or deserts.
Lions differ from all other cats in that they are highly social, forming prides of up to 35 animals. There are now thought to be fewer than 15,000 lions remaining in Kenya's Masai Mara, a drop of 75% in 50 years.
Often referred to as the gray ghost or ghost of the mountains, this animal's rarity and elusiveness was legendary. In the past, it was known as the ounce, but today we've settled on the name snow leopard.
Like most big cats, the leopard is a master of secrecy. It's one of the hardest of all big cats to see, let alone observe. This is mainly because leopards need absolute invisibility to hunt. This is why they're such good climbers and why they evolved to be so incredibly secretive.
The first jaguar scientists struggled to go anywhere near their subjects. But times have changed. There are now a couple of places in the world where seeing a wild jaguar is a possibility rather than a dream.
Cheetahs are not your standard big cats, they differ from the others in many ways. First, cheetahs are daytime hunters with eyesight optimized for open landscape and distant prey. Second, They're possibly the fastest land animals that have ever lived.
More than half of North Americans are fascinated by genealogy. Some gain a sense of identity by uncovering their ancestors, their culture, and their country of origin. Others find it disorienting when they discover that their history differs from what they have always believed. 2016, Past Productions
Follow an entire family of sperm whales in the heart of the Indian Ocean. Alongside a team of scientists, who have witnessed their most intimate moments over the past 7 years, we will lift the veil on the largest toothed predator on earth. 2017, Mona Lisa Production
Discovered by an unlikely team of amateur historians 45 feet beneath a Kansas cornfield, the Steamboat Arabia is one of the best-preserved shipwrecks in American history. The treasures contained within paint a vivid picture of western expansion and the treacherous frontier.
How much do you know about animal superpowers? Follow the everyday lives of prairie dogs, howler monkeys, and rattlesnakes, as they harness the power of sound to protect themselves. 2019, CuriosityStream
Consider a whole new world of colourful, fluffy dinosaurs. Feathers, the evolutionary breakthrough that allowed for more stable body temperatures, which translated into outstanding mobility, even in cold weather
Research has made headway into the world of the "gigantic dragon" that ruled the prehistoric seas. What do we know about how this massive predator was able to dominate the oceans of 60 million years ago?
The idea that there is a possibility of many worlds or multi universal theory is very new even though you may have learned about it in movies and comic books. Explore how this thinking was developed in the world of quantum mechanics and philosophy.
Previously it was thought that only 2% of our DNA is meaningful and the remaining 98% is non-coding “junk”. But today we are beginning to know how the junk part of our DNA works to decide our personal characteristics and tendencies.
In the non-coding 98% of our DNA, we have countless switches to promote or suppress the physiological reactions of our bodies. Interestingly, we can change the states of these switches through our own efforts and even can affect the DNA conditions of our offspring before their birth.
Like a burger and fries, Nixon and scandal have always gone together. But why did his men break into the Watergate office building? Why did Nixon crave personal wealth? The answers lie with JFK, Howard Hughes, and... the Nixonburger!
Why, as a teenager in New Jersey in the 1980s, was Peter Sagal taught the Southern myth of the Civil War? How did Gone with the Wind became a national parable? Why is Robert E. Lee an American hero? Slaves = money = power.
The movies have taught us that the west was won by rugged individuals with a gun on one hip and a gal on the other. But those Americans who settled the west, those icons of freedom and independence, lived at the mercy of the railroad tycoons.
The Cold War was won not by weapons of war, but blue jeans, silk stockings, and fast food. Just follow the money.
Forget outer space! The impact of NASA can be felt all around us, and, in fact in our very bodies. From the worldwide financial network to tracking endangered species, the food you eat. NASA’s shaping of our modern lives is so extreme it’s impossible to imagine life without this force.
Think NASA’s only for the stars? Think again. The space race has played a colossal part in our daily lives. From online dating to the freshness of the food we consume. The quest for the stars has created tech so woven into our everyday existence, without it, the world would simply unimaginable.
2019 was a year filled with astonishing discoveries on Earth and beyond. We inched closer to immortality, recovered and restored our heritage, and science fiction became science fact when we saw the unseeable for the very first time.
For the first time in 70 years, archaeologists have uncovered new areas of ancient Pompeii. With exclusive access to the dig, see how the latest artifacts and DNA science are changing history and discover the real stories of what happened to the unfortunate souls who didn’t escape to the city gates.
Officially designated as a pandemic, it seems as if COVID-19 has taken over the world. Lucky for us, this isn’t the first time we’ve had to deal with a serious virus outbreak. Experts share the methods currently in place to slow down this infectious disease.
By 2100 over 1 billion people on Earth will live in low-lying coastal zones. 70% of these will live in Southeast Asia, one of the most vulnerable regions in the world to climate change. The next decade will be the most critical for the future existence of these societies.
Natural hazards remain a constant challenge for over 400 million people who live in low lying communities built along major mega delta regions in coastal zones. Events like typhoons and tsunamis threaten their very survival.
Many people now know that climate change is real, that they see the data or they see the observations for themselves. What's needed now is a sense of urgency. We have within the next decade exceedingly important decisions to make.
Rice, it's a staple food for many in Asia. It provides 1/3 of the energy in the average Asian diet and is the income source for more than 500 million people. So, what is the future of our staple foods like rice? And how do we address the uncertainty that we face in these changing times?
The coronavirus disease is spreading at frightening speeds from Wuhan, China, to the rest of the world. How did this virus develop, and how close are we to finding an effective vaccine?
For Masahiro Ohishi, a 19-year old crewman, Musashi was literally the King Kong of the sea, an invincible force impossible to sink. To Bob Freligh, an American navy pilot, sent to destroy her, she was the largest and most heavily armed battleship he’d ever set eyes on. Built in total secret Musashi was finally unleashed in the world’s largest sea battle, which began on October 24, 1944 in the Philippines. Japan’s navy gambled on winning a decisive victory to turn the tide of World War II. Instead Musashi, the pride of the Japanese fleet, ended up at the bottom of the ocean. How did this unsinkable giant go down so fast? Was it overwhelming American air power? Or a fatal design flaw? 70 years later American deep sea explorers and Japanese military experts are determined to solve this 70-year old mystery. But first they must find the missing Musashi.
Antarctica is a mysterious and unexplored continent. Thanks to the Chilean Antarctic Institute and the research center Dynamics of Marine Ecosystems of High Latitudes, a group of scientists are suffering the extreme temperatures to study climate change and the earth's ocean currents.
Is it possible that there is a hidden planet within our own solar system? New evidence suggests that the fabled Planet X, or Planet 9, may indeed exist… but where? Meet the teams racing to discover and redefine our planetary neighborhood.
A worldwide scientific investigation on tsunamis. Thanks to exclusive access in Palu, Indonesia, follow the UN’s hand-picked scientific team of "tsunamis hunters". Where do they strike? How do they submerge us? What can we do to survive them?
According to current estimates, a widely available COVID-19 vaccine will likely be available within the next 12 months. Why so long? Learn how vaccines are developed and explore the current state of the coronavirus landscape, guided by the scientists on the ground trying to find a solution.
As the COVID-19 pandemic ramps up globally, every day brings new information about the disease. Learn what the virus does to the human body, and hear from the medical experts searching for techniques to treat the illness.
Bolero is played every 15 minutes in the world. This film tries to answer how this famous melody inspired and influenced the world pop-culture? It explores the complexity and the richness of a piece so simple in appearance: the emotions it triggers, vertigo it creates, the words it inspires.
With countries racing to combat COVID-19 and communities across the world on lockdown, the world's attention has been directed towards medical solutions to this disease outbreak. However, there's another largely unseen health factor currently at play: our mental well-being.
Che Guevara, the radical thinker, and Fidel Castro, the political animal… could they ever share the image of the liberating savior of Latin America? Did Che Guevara, the diehard combatant, set off towards certain death in Bolivia?
Deep underground in a vault beneath Paris, which no army has dared invade, lives the definitive kilogram. But there is a problem; it’s losing weight! This program charts the history of mass measurement and the modern-day race to replace the Kilo with something more stable.
Pepsi vs Coke: a duel between giants which has lasted for more than a century, at a cost of billions of dollars. Pepsi vs Coke: a hundred-years-war with unparalleled socio-economic stakes, countless victims, spies, underhand maneuvers, truces, and renewed attacks.
In this third episode, Bettany investigates the game-changing ideas of Confucius. Confucius is considered the first Chinese thinker to take a systematic, philosophical approach to the social, political, and moral challenges of his world.
In this coding special, Professor Marcus du Sautoy lifts the veil on The Secret Rules of Modern Living: Algorithms. Our lives are touched by Algorithms every day. They are ubiquitous - yet most of us are unaware of their extraordinary impact on our everyday lives.
Would Nelson Mandela have gone down in history without Frederik de Klerk? And vice versa? The question is more than pertinent in view of the extent to which the destinies of South Africa’s first black president and the last leader of the apartheid regime are linked.
Pain is all in the brain, to fight the pain our brains release natural painkillers. The problem is they aren’t enough.
Poisons in the natural world kill thousands of people every year. Yet some poisons are now being used to improve the way we look!
Keith and Josh catch up with an old friend selling an Yenko in Scottsdale. Barrett-Jackson continues to show that they have something for everyone, as Keith hops behind the wheel of a 1989 Porsche 911 Speedster. Auctions America proves the new-school packs some punch with a Lamborghini Gallardo.
Auctions America finds Keith and Josh transported to the ‘60s. Keith cruises in an award-winning 1961 Corvette, while Josh tests out a ’65 Corvair in a classic color combination- a perfect example for anyone looking to break into the collector car hobby.
Keith and Josh start the show with plenty of muscle at Barrett-Jackson’s world-renowned collector car auction, where Josh discovers a GTO Judge and Buick’s last muscle car- the ’87 GNX. At Auctions America, Keith takes a spin in a Land Cruiser with a twist: a diesel engine.
Keith and Josh head to Barrett-Jackson where some formidable names are put to the test. A Shelby GT500 “King of the Road” and a Dodge Challenger Hellcat will prove their worth. Keith brings out his inner James Bond in a striking Lotus Esprit, and burns some rubber in a Mustang GT.
On May 30, 2020, NASA and SpaceX made history, launching U.S. Astronauts aboard the first commercial spacecraft to the International Space Station. See rare, newly released footage of their historic flight, from launch to arrival onboard the ISS.
In February 2019, after hurtling 300 million kilometers from Earth, the Japanese space probe Hayabusa 2 landed on the asteroid Ryugu. We follow the team behind the mission, as they sample parts of the asteroid and return it to our planet.
Australia is known for its sun-kissed beaches, however the 2,500 miles between the coasts are made up of a patchwork of contrasting landscapes: tropical rainforests, snow-capped mountains, dry woodlands, giant wetlands, tropical reefs, and hostile desert. These vast tracts of wilderness boast some of the world’s most unique and bizarre wildlife. In this ‘hidden’ Australia, there is a surprise at every turn.
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. But one thing’s for sure: it doesn’t make flightless birds any less weird and wonderful. Non-fliers include the biggest, fastest, deepest diving, and most dangerous birds on the planet.
Fjords’ majestic and dramatic landscapes are just the tip of the iceberg. Fjords stand witness to the greatest wonders of the animal kingdom. Whether just below the surface, at the depths of the sea floor, or on dry land, the fjords offer an incredible bounty of wildlife. Their majesty is a testament to the variety of creatures that thrive in their shadows.
Bats are getting their share of the blame for the COVID-19 pandemic, but are they really at fault?
On August 2, 2020, two NASA astronauts plunged back to Earth aboard SpaceX's Crew Dragon capsule. Witness their historic flight, from the first manned launch from the US in nearly a decade, to the first splashdown attempt since the Apollo era.
Ex-CIA agent Ben Smith and a retired FBI officer journey through the Jungles of Burma in search of answers to a family mystery. They are searching for a crashed WWII plane that went down in this little-known, but important, theater of WWII, the perilous “Hump” - an airbridge over the Himalayas.
Owls are remarkable, highly resourceful birds that have carved out a unique way to live. They have colonized terrains from tundra to rainforest and will hunt almost anything.
Saint Patrick's Greatest Gift explores the little-known story of a patron saint who we celebrate every year in the United States and around the world. His actions led to the saving of literacy and by extension, Western Civilization. Based on the New York Times Bestsellers book series, The Hinges of History, by author and historian Thomas Cahill.
Rainforest, the richest habitat on earth, teeming with millions of dramatic plants and animals. From giant landscape gardeners to a whole family supported by a single leaf, there are surprises at every turn.
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.
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.
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.
The symbol of the SS, Hitler’s Schutzstaffel, stands for terror and the murder of millions. The penniless graphic artist Walter Heck was given the job of designing the jagged, rune-like characters in 1929. The “sig” rune was rooted deep in the ideological cosmos of the Nazis and their supporters. They saw themselves as the descendants of the Teutons and declared the runes to be humanity’s original Germanic script. The symbol was meant to unite Heinrich Himmler’s “Black Order”. But did it escape their notice that it was originally of Semitic origin? In October 1945, the Allies passed a law banning the Nazi Party and all associated organisations, including the SS. The young Federal Republic even forbade all Nazi symbols. This documentary tells the gripping story of the SS symbol, from the Middle Ages to the present day.
Could the Allies have won the war without aviation? Discover what went on behind the scenes of the historical air battle in Normandy. In 1944 in Western Europe, the stage is set for the largest, most ambitious aerial offensive in history.
Nearly a century after the discovery of King Tut's tomb, archaeologists uncover the lost city of Luxor revealing new details about life in the Golden Era of Ancient Egypt.
Toby Nowlan embarks on a mission to find and photograph the world's rarest rhino in the Javan jungle in hope of protecting it from extinction.
Shot in the Northern part of Iraqi Kurdistan, close to ISIS-controlled areas, this film takes viewers into a true archeological El dorado largely unknown and captured on film here for the first time
Humans seem to be on the cusp of reaching Mars, but how did we get to this point? Our journey to our neighboring planet traces a path connecting Nikola Tesla, Nazi weapons of war, a Cold War space race, and a string of blockbuster discoveries made by some of NASA’s most talented robots.
Science may soon make the dream of traveling to Mars a reality, but how will we live once we get there? How will we manage our basic human needs of food, water, and shelter on a planet known for its barren surface conditions, high radiation levels, and toxic dirt?
Sometime in the future humans will leave Earth to colonize Mars, and in doing so will begin to adapt to life on another planet in surprising ways. Evolutionary biologist Dr. Scott Solomon foresees a series of changes to our species from the size of our hearts and heads to the pigments in our skin.
Top Science Stories brings viewers all the amazing news-breaking advances in science in technology from 2021.
In this episode, travel with scientists from the Earth Observatory of Singapore across the region to understand what is causing cities to sink, how they are being monitored, and why building resilience into communities is critical to their long-term survival.
For scientists at the Earth Observatory of Singapore, it is a race against time to understand the effects climate change will have on coastal infrastructures in the region, ports, and trade. Just how prepared are we, for extreme weather events in the future?
Dive with scientists from the Earth Observatory of Singapore as they investigate the impact climate change is having on the ocean, explore engineering ideas for artificial reefs, and discover a coral species showing resilience to climate change.
South-east Asia is a unique part of the world, featuring low-lying countries, pristine islands, and vast coastal habitats. 600 million people across the region live in low elevation coastal zones, all vulnerable to sea-level rise, flooding, and extreme weather events like Tsunamis and Typhoons.
We all know antelopes as the prey of lions. They represent food to many of the predators of the plain and so it's hardly surprising that they stick together in groups, seeking safety in numbers, with more pairs of eyes to spot danger.
Marine mammals are among the most loved creatures on the planet, but because they live in a world that’s hostile to us, where it’s hard to follow them, much of their lives remain a mystery, adding to their mystique.
Few animals are more loved than penguins waddling on ice like clumsy people. They steal our hearts, though it’s underwater that their dynamic shape and predator skills come into their own. But there’s more to penguins than dancing on ice.
Jimmy Donaldson, aka MrBeast, became obsessed with YouTube at a young age. From his early days making gaming videos to the massively viral Squid Game video, Jimmy has built a viral video empire based on the joy he gets from helping others.
