Our strange rock itself can also be lethal. We tend to think of Earth as our life support but it's not there to support us at all. It's a place that's violent, that's beautiful, that's crazy, that's intense. Mother Nature is a serial killer. We wouldn't be here without mass suicide and events so devastating it makes the extinction of the dinosaurs looks like a tea party. There have been 5 mass extinctions on the planet and 99.9 percent of all species that have ever lived are gone. Explore the story of how life on Earth has evolved, becoming lethal for life to thrive.
the final episode deals with plants that live in hostile environments. Attenborough visits Ellesmere Island, north of the Arctic Circle, to demonstrate that even in a place that is unconducive to life, it can be found. Algae and lichens grow in or on rock, and during summer, when the ice melts, flowers are much more apparent. However, they must remain close to the ground to stay out of the chilling wind. In the Tasmanian mountains, plants conserve heat by growing into 'cushions' that act as solar panels, with as many as a million individual shoots grouped together as one. Others, such as the lobelia in Mount Kenya, have a 'fur coat' of dense hairs on their leaves. The saguaro cactus in the Sonoran Desert flourishes because of its ability to retain vast amounts of water, which can't be lost through leaves because it has none. Many desert dwellers benefit from an accelerated life cycle, blooming rapidly within weeks after rainfall. Conversely, Mount Roraima is one of the wettest places on Earth. It is a huge sandstone plateau with high waterfalls and nutrients are continuously washed away, so plants have to adapt their diet if they are to survive. A bladderwort is shown invading a bromeliad. Inhabitants of lakes have other problems to contend with: those that dominate the surface will proliferate, and the Amazon water lily provides an apt illustration. Attenborough ends the series with an entreaty for the conservation of plant species.
This featured film delves deep into the harrowing 1993 Battle of Mogadishu, bringing to life the gripping firsthand accounts of U.S. soldiers and Somali civilians. Witness the intense mission to capture warlord Aidid and the dramatic downing of three Black Hawk helicopters that changed the course of the conflict. Through extraordinary detail, survivors from both sides reveal untold stories of courage, chaos, and survival, shedding new light on the events that inspired Ridley Scott's iconic movie. Experience the full impact of this powerful documentary series, where all 3 episodes are available together. Relive the brutal clash that shaped modern warfare and discover the human stories behind one of history's most infamous battles.
To survive Mars, our species will need to evolve how we eat, drink, and build our homes. Will we need our genes to evolve as well? 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.
A searing and courageous feature-length documentary delves into one of the most painful and under examined chapters in collegiate athletics history. Through raw, emotional interviews with former student-athletes—including wrestlers and other victims—it confronts the decades of abuse inflicted by Dr. Richard Strauss at Ohio State University, and the systemic failures that allowed him to prey on vulnerable young men across nearly two decades. The film doesn’t just recount trauma; it exposes the deep institutional complicity and silencing, featuring voices demanding truth, accountability, and justice.
Following the stories of Bruce Lisker and Reggie Cole who spent year after year in prison for murders they didn't commit - audiences get a harrowing look at how barbaric the US justice system is. The film ultimately asks how we can survive the prison model at all, and looks at better solutions for conflict resolution, harm reduction, crime and more. Hosted by filmmaker Matthew Cooke and guest hosting representatives from the massive range of Americans joining forces to change this broken system.
Explore the story of how life on Earth has evolved, becoming lethal for life to thrive.