Playlist
Around 4 billion years ago... a cosmic ice chunk hurtles at full speed, heading for a collision with the young planet Earth: the small water molecule lands and will become the elixir of life that nourishes Earth.
This playful animated film retraces Darwin's observations and reasoning, whose theories challenged commonly accepted ideas.
A deep dive into the history of life. Starting from the very first cells, the viewer follows the emergence of the characteristics of six modern organisms: the penguin, the horse chestnut tree, humans, the cuttlefish, the sea urchin, and the ladybug.
Animal species hide in our cities and suburbs, sharing our daily lives without us knowing. This is an opportunity to explore the lives of wild animals and provide tips, tricks, and advice to inspire young people to take an interest. The beaver, a dam builder, the inquisitive raccoon, and the urban fox take the spotlight.
In Madagascar, scientists introduce us to the mysteries of the canopy, at the treetops—a fragile ecosystem that needs protection.
In the middle of the Pacific, on Clipperton Atoll, lies the largest colony of masked boobies in the world, nearly 120,000 birds!
Two entomologists venture into the heart of equatorial rainforests in search of new living specimens. Ready for an insect hunt!
An interactive presentation aimed at giving young people the tools to take daily action against climate change.
A film exploring the greenhouse effect, the limits of growth, the constraints of the economic system we live in, and why people are reluctant to change it.
Marine renewable energies are underutilized but have promising potential. France aims to develop marine energies as it holds the second-largest maritime potential in the world. Fred and Jamy explain the various possibilities and ongoing research.
On the anniversary of the publication of On the Origin of Species in 1859 by Charles Darwin, Fred and Jamy delve into the origins of humans and species. Since the 19th century, scientific and technological advances have allowed for the reconstruction of Earth's grand history of life and demonstrated the impact of human activity on its evolution!
What do monkeys and humans have in common? In a spectacular experiment, chimpanzee Sina and paleontologist Oliver try to answer this question. A passionate researcher, advanced 3D animations, and a unique in-studio experiment bring science to life.
By 2030, 80% of the world's population will live in cities. The major challenges of the future are therefore shaping up in our megacities. In Tokyo, we discover Japanese initiatives where technology becomes a tool for sustainable development to improve living conditions.
The oxygen we breathe consists of two bonded oxygen atoms—O₂. These atoms were first joined over 3 billion years ago by the most primitive algae. Since then, both together and apart, these two atoms have had extraordinary adventures, playing key roles in some of Earth's most spectacular historical events.
From the beach to the lab, tiny seaside creatures are contributing to the latest scientific advancements. By studying their unique traits and fascinating lifestyles, researchers have made progress in fields as diverse as cancer research, experimental psychology, and regeneration.
Interviews, archives, experiments, and 3D animations are used to assess the risks associated with mobile phones, while also reflecting on society's growing mistrust of industries and the unprecedented role of science in the debate.
David and Greg are linguists on a mission to save endangered languages. Around the world, their determination is tested by factors driving language extinction: institutionalized racism and economic instability. Their fascinating journey delves into cultures, knowledge, and threatened communities.
Like Marie and Pierre Curie, their daughter Irène Joliot-Curie and her husband Frédéric also received a Nobel Prize for their exceptional contributions to nuclear physics. In 1934, they discovered artificial radioactivity—a significant step toward nuclear fission and the development of the atomic bomb. Testimonies, dramatized scenes, and archival documents bring this story to life.
In the heart of Auvergne, a forest is about to reveal secrets long shrouded in mist. From a medieval castle, the legendary stronghold of Queen Margot, a crusade for knowledge begins. From the roots to the sky, science sheds light on a forgotten world: the realm of ordinary biodiversity.
The abyssal life of sperm whales is narrated through stunning 3D animations and breathtaking footage. How do these hunters use sound to detect prey in the darkness of the deep sea? What impact do human-made noises have on the lives of these ocean giants? And could we one day decode the characteristic "clicks" of their language?
The latest scientific research reveals the powerful biological impact of music on our brains and bodies, and the transformative effects it has on us. This innovative production weaves together science and magnificent performances by renowned artists to captivate and move a wide audience.
By 2040, will mobility continue the growth seen over the past two generations? The greenhouse effect and telecommunication technologies could revolutionize our means, times, and modes of transportation. This film playfully hypothesizes answers based on the most serious foresight studies.
High school students participate in an expedition to French Guiana. For a year, they face the school of adventure, explore science-related careers, and engage in hands-on activities in unconventional classrooms.
The development of stem cell-based therapies is a cornerstone of current medical research. European researchers aim to determine how to direct these cells to target specific diseases. The film reviews the most promising therapies.
To prove that sedentary urban adults can take charge of their health and fight heart disease, seven volunteers agreed to transform their lifestyles and participate in a scientific mission led by researchers in Montreal. Their challenge: to reach the summit of Mount Mera in Nepal, standing at 6,476 meters above sea level.
During an expedition to the Galápagos, seven children retrace Charles Darwin's journey. By replicating the great naturalist's observations through educational games, they rediscover the evolution of species by natural selection, study the mechanism of trait transmission, and explore the emergence of new species.
Made during the International Year of Astronomy, this film allows viewers to enter one of the largest astrophysics departments (the SAp). Behind the research, we discover the people who push it forward. Over the course of a year, the filmmakers followed the daily lives of researchers, witnessing the launch of the Herschel satellite and, in Chile, telescope observations at APEX, over 5,000 meters above sea level.
Everything to know and understand about CO2. With the help of French and foreign scientists and climatology experts, the film explores the natural and universal phenomenon of increasing CO2 levels, its effects, and seeks realistic solutions.
Saturn, with its rings, is the most recognizable planet, but also the least understood. After a 7-year journey, the Cassini probe has finally arrived at this planet for a four-year orbital mission. The control center must guide Cassini, traveling at 80,000 km/h, through a gap in Saturn's rings…
Where are we, and are we alone in the Universe? How are planets, stars, and galaxies formed? What holds them together? What is a white dwarf, a red giant, a black hole? Let us meet those who ask and answer these questions: the astronomers. A tribute to these men and women for the 2009 International Year of Astronomy.
Do you know what a carbon nanotube is? No? A curious young citizen investigates to discover and understand the invisible world of nanosciences and nanotechnologies. We enter the heart of laboratories that shape matter atom by atom, molecule by molecule... a major technological evolution. But what are its challenges?
The place of art in Prehistory is a complex question. Among the Magdalenians, ancestors who lived in parts of Europe between 18,000 and 10,000 BCE, art developed to an exceptional level. The sculpted wall of Roc-aux-Sorciers in Angles-sur-l'Anglin is a masterpiece unique in the world, bearing witness to this golden age.
Great apes, including chimpanzees, orangutans, gorillas, and bonobos, appear to have rich emotional lives similar to ours. But what is their intelligence? A new generation of researchers reveals the secret mental lives of great apes, showing them to be far more intelligent than most experts had imagined. Scientists focus on what separates us from our closest relatives.
Waste is the weak point of nuclear energy. Populations fear it, scientists cannot find an acceptable solution, industrialists try to reassure us, and politicians avoid the question. This investigation addresses the taboo topic by seeking "the truth about waste," finally giving everyone the tools to understand choices that weigh heavily on humanity's future.
The 400 Years of the Telescope project is an exciting multimedia celebration of Galileo's first telescopic observations of the cosmos, and the resulting journey of discovery for humanity.
A new 60-minute documentary created especially for the International Year of Astronomy is now airing on PBS stations in the US. "400 Years of the Telescope: a journey of science, technology and thought" is a remarkable voyage through space and time, filled with stunning, high-definition footage showing not only images from space taken by observatories around the world, but also the remote and beautiful locations where our eyes on the Universe – our magnificent telescopes – sit. It also provides a tour through the evolution of telescopes since Galileo's first astronomical observations, and how the telescope has changed our perceptions of the cosmos and ourselves. The documentary also includes interviews with scientists who helped develop the observatories, and those who have made incredible discoveries with them. Narration by astrophysicist Neil de Grasse Tyson and a beautiful original score of music complete this wonderful documentary that you won't want to miss.
The theory of evolution, which revolutionized science and humanity, began to take shape in the mind of young Charles Darwin during his grand voyage around the world. He initially set out to study botany and the providential origins of creation. However, over the months and countries he visited, he realized that humans and other living creatures could only be the result of a process of adaptation spanning millions of years.
What do clouds, broccoli stalks, and our heartbeats have in common? Fractals. These irregular, repeating patterns are found almost everywhere in nature. Today, scientists and inventors use fractal geometry in wireless communication, cancer studies, and the search for solutions to global climate change.
How did we become aware of the threat of climate change attributed to human activities? Forty years ago, many scientists were concerned about a new ice age. Ten years later, other scientists warned of the catastrophic dangers of global warming, and it seemed the debate was settled. But that was far from the reality...
An archaeologist discovered bas-reliefs in Luxor that recount how five ships of Pharaoh Hatshepsut—circa 1500 BCE—managed to reach the distant land of Punt. A team, aboard a reconstructed ship, retraces the journey to locate this mythical land and prove that the Egyptians were indeed a seafaring people.
At the beginning of the 20th century, scientists, including physicist Stephen Hawking, observed strange behaviors at atomic and subatomic levels. The film illustrates, using 2D and 3D animations, how the new era of quantum technologies will transform our world.
Matter represents only 5% of the Universe's energy content. But what is the "rest" made of? The LHC is a giant microscope that observes particle collisions, recreating the conditions of the primordial Universe. We discover the daily lives of three researchers, their work, and their perspectives on the world and society.
In Mexico, astonishing caves were discovered in 2002, one of which contains the largest known gypsum crystals in the world. With temperatures of 50°C and 100% humidity, no human could survive there for more than eight minutes without protection. Explorers and scientists have only a few years to study it: when the mine's vein is exhausted, the pumps will stop, and the fabulous cave will once again be submerged.
According to naturalist classifications, there is a significant gulf between the animal and plant worlds. Today, renowned biologists are beginning to show that plant intelligence might be a reality… Plants may experience "sensations." They belong to a complex and very strange world…
By 2015, 13 million robots will be part of Japanese households. Images from Japanese animated films, interviews with fiction creators and specialists, and footage from humanoid robot laboratories explain why and how the Japanese are preparing to coexist with robots.
In September 2007, the Japanese launched a satellite, a technological gem equipped with advanced analytical instruments and an HD camera capable of filming the lunar surface with incredible precision. Their work serves as a prelude to another odyssey: the colonization of the Moon by 2020.
An exploration of a world where stellar collisions, incredible storms, and serene spectacles like nebulae coexist. Then, we leave the solar system to discover the realm of exoplanets and black holes...