Playlist
When scientists ask big questions about the rules of nature, they often seek out unlikely creatures – lizards called anoles – to find the answers. In The Laws of the Lizard, two filmmakers embark on a year-long adventure to reveal the surprising story of anoles, the most important lizards in the world!
An astronaut's view of the incredible Earth systems that allow life to breathe.
For over a decade, the Cassini space probe has been sending dazzling images of Saturn's breathtaking rings and mysterious moons. Join Nova on a suspenseful ride during Cassini's final hours as it dives into Saturn's atmosphere.
Go inside the final moments of NASA's Cassini mission, a 20-year project to explore Saturn and its moons. Cassini revealed the secrets of strange new worlds that could harbor alien life, changing everything we know about our Solar System.
Launched in the summer of 1977, the twin probes of the "Voyager" program continue their fantastic journey to the farthest reaches of the solar system and beyond, carrying with them images and sounds of our planet engraved on a disk. A look back at the most distant journey of objects created by humans.
Some fungi will save us, others will threaten us, and we are just beginning to understand which is which. The great, untold story of how fungi shaped all life on land.
This is the incredible story of how fungi made life on land possible. Neither plants nor animals - fungi represent a third mode of life and belong to their own kingdom. By looking at fungi in the context of evolution and natural history, scientists are making discoveries that will change our lives. Some fungi will save us, others will threaten us and we are just beginning to understand which is which.
In Polynesia, a pack of 700 sharks rules the pass of the Fakarava atoll. Do they have survival strategies? The scientific team led by Laurent Ballesta decides to conduct an unprecedented study... in the heart of the pack.
On one side of the Jura Mountains there are ants colonies at war and the other home to a huge empire of ants, believed to be one of the largest animal societies in the world, where over a billion ants from rival colonies live in peace.
In their remote home in the North Atlantic the Faroe Islanders have always eaten what nature could provide, proud to put local food on the table. The land yields little, so they have always relied on harvesting their seas. Hunting whales and seabirds kept them alive for generations, and gave them the way of life they love; a life they would pass on to their children. But today they face a grave threat to this tradition. It is not the controversy surrounding whaling that threatens the Faroese way of life; the danger is coming from the whales themselves. The Faroese are among the first to feel the affects of our ever more polluted oceans. They have discovered that their beloved whales are toxic, contaminated by the outside world. What once secured their survival now endangers their children and the Faroe Islanders must make a choice between health and tradition.
Before the Flood presents a riveting account of the dramatic changes now occurring around the world due to climate change, as well as the actions we as individuals and as a society can take to prevent catastrophic disruption of life on our planet. The film follows DiCaprio as he travels to five continents and the Arctic speaking to scientists, world leaders, activists and local residents to gain a deeper understanding of this complex issue and investigate concrete solutions to the most pressing environmental challenge of our time.
Some species of an ordinary little insect are carriers of the greatest epidemics of modern times. Yet, the mosquito is only one element of a global ecosystem whose complex deregulation has no simple solution. An international investigation into a global threat.
Exploring some of the most remote and spectacular places on Earth, five pioneering scientists make surprising discoveries that flip our understanding of nature on its head and offer new hope for restoring our world.
Unseen Enemy is a feature-length documentary about the threat of epidemics in the 21st century and what we can do to fight them.
Meet Dr. Marian Diamond as she pulls a human brain out of a hatbox and lovingly enumerates its astonishing qualities. MY LOVE AFFAIR WITH THE BRAIN follows this remarkable woman over a 5-year period and introduces the viewer to both her many scientific accomplishments and the warm, funny, and thoroughly charming woman herself, who describes her 60-year career researching the human brain as "pure joy."
As one of the founders of modern neuroscience, Dr. Diamond challenged orthodoxy and changed our understanding of the brain--its plasticity, its response to enrichment and to experiences that shape both development and aging. Her groundbreaking work is all the more remarkable because it began during an era when so few women entered science at all. Shouted at from the back of the conference hall by noteworthy male academics as she presented her research, and disparaged in the scientific journals, Dr. Diamond simply did the work and followed where her curiosity led her, bringing about a paradigm shift in the process. As she points out, in order to get to the answers that matter, you have to start by asking the right questions.
A unique ship offering life saving medical treatment sets sail for the poorest of the poor in Africa. They have just one year to do the impossible – to provide the care these people cannot get any other way. On board are volunteer doctors and nurses - now headed straight for the biggest medical and ethical challenges of their lives. Ahead lies unbelievable illnesses, many they have never seen outside of textbooks. A dramatic journey is underway as they deal with life and death cases - and balance the fates of these patients in their hands.
A fascinating journey inside the evolving science of transplants, where breakthrough discoveries are solving the organ crisis and transforming the future of medicine.
A strong opponent is a dream come true for every sports champion. It's a chance to take your art even further and face off against a never-before-seen threat. But what if your opponent isn't someone you can look in the eye, shake hands or watch their reactions? In March 2016, multiple world champion and current top Go player Lee Sedol faced such a challenge. He took on Google's DeepMind invention, the AlphaGo computer, in five matches. What was supposed to be a celebration of human intuition beyond the reach of machines turned into an alarming statement about the potential power and creativity of artificial intelligence. The match Sedol vs. AlphaGo soon turned into a game of humans vs. machine, whose documentary processing evokes strong emotions.
In the final episode of the series, learn about "white hat" hackers, the U.S. Secret Service's cyber crime division working to protect us from the risks associated with persistent connectivity.
In a blockbuster paper in 1948, Claude Shannon introduced the world to the "bit" and laid the foundation for the information age. His ideas ripple through such diverse fields as communication, linguistics, genetics, computing, cryptography, neuroscience, artificial intelligence and cosmology. In his spare time, Shannon constructed a mathematical theory of juggling, rode unicycles, wrote the first paper on computer chess and built a flaming trumpet! The Bit Player, directed by Mark Levinson (Particle Fever), combines interviews with leading scientists, archival film, inventive animation and compelling commentary from Shannon himself to tell the story of an overlooked genius who revolutionized the world, but never lost his childlike curiosity.
Using a trove of never-before-seen footage, the film tells the story of Jane's early explorations and research in Tanzania, focusing on her groundbreaking field work, her relationship with her cameraman and husband Hugo van Lawick, and the chimpanzees that were the subject of her study.
The slaughter of a beloved gorilla. poor health and untold clashes take their toll.
Scientists are using archaeological and cultural findings to map humans' exodus from Africa and identify the adaptive skills required for the journey.
I Contain Multitudes: Short Series offers a new lens on life. With an eye on microbes—microscopic single-celled organisms—larger creatures such as ourselves suddenly look very different. Each of us is more of a society than an individual. Only about half the cells on our bodies are human. The rest make up a menagerie of microbes. Microbes produce chemicals and vitamins that we can't produce on our own, they help digest food, shape development, and influence behavior.
The race to sequence the human genome was also billed as a race to end disease. So what happened? With CRISPR-Cas9, Precision Medicine and genetic testing all making headlines, Retro Report investigates.
Skunk Bear is NPR's short-form science video series, hosted and produced by Adam Cole, which visualizes a wide range of delightful, curious scientific topics—from microbial mysteries to animal behavior and cosmic phenomena. Each episode transforms listener-submitted questions into whimsical, informative animated or live-action stories, often with music, drawings, and stop-motion
Digits is an exclusive, original 4K CuriosityStream series that takes viewers on a deep dive of the Internet, hosted by Derek Muller and featuring interviews with Vint Cerf and Edward Snowden.
NOVA Wonders follows researchers on the winding paths of uncertainty and the unknown revealing how far we've come, how we managed to get here and the remarkable scientists who are transforming our world and the future.
The extraordinary story of Earth and why it is special and uniquely brimming with life among a largely unknown but harsh cosmic arena; astronauts tell the story of Earth through a unique perspective.
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?
Gene therapy is a method for treating inherited diseases by delivering corrective versions of genes to patients. Dr. Jean Bennett and Dr. Albert Maguire focused their careers on developing a successful gene therapy for an inherited form of childhood blindness called Leber congenital amaurosis (LCA). This documentary tells the story of how the LCA gene therapy was developed. Students will learn how autosomal recessive conditions are inherited, how scientists can use modified viruses to deliver human genes to cells, what makes the eye an ideal tissue for gene therapy, and how model organisms are used to test treatments before they are tested in patients.
Experience Greenland through the eyes of Artist Zaria Forman, Nasa scientist, John Sonntag and Inuit Elder Angaangaq Angakkorsuaq "Uncle." Each character represents different ways we as humans internalize information. Heart, Mind and Spirit. Zaria travels back to Greenland to find inspiration for her next body of work, so that she care share the awe she feels in these landscapes for those who cannot travel to them. She is also visiting the location she spread her mom's ashes, and ode to the woman who inspired her to travel and make art. John Sonntag is the lead scientist for Operation IceBridge. He and his crew works tirelessly aboard a P-3 to gather information on the greenland ice sheet. Uncle is an inuit elder who speaks for the ice. He has traveled all around the world but still isn't convinced his message has been heard, even though his elders saw the ice melting for the first time in the 1960s. An example of the intersection of art, culture and science in a region defined by climate change.
We ask one of the hardest questions in the Universe, is there another you out there and if so, can we find our cosmic twin? In theory this is not the only Universe that might exist, and in many others, identical copies of us can be found. The question is, how do we get there?
A team of young indigenous pilots begins a journey deep into the jungle to monitor and protect one of the most threatened frontiers forests in the Americas: The Darien Gap.
Deep Look explores scientific wonders by examining the very small—using ultra high‑definition macro cinematography and video microscopy to uncover hidden mysteries in nature. Each short episode delves into topics like insect vision, animal camouflage, microbial behavior, plant resilience, or material science from new, close-up perspectives
Dr. Jane Zelikova is a tropical ecologist living in the mountains of Wyoming and Colorado. She dreams of snow in the summer and tropical forests in the dead of winter. But her snow-capped Fourteeners are changing – no longer bringing the deep winter snowpack once promised. This is a future from which she and the people of the West can't run. What's a wildly curious, adventurous girl to do? Embark on a journey into the mountains to find the tales of the past, present and future of snow. There will be adventure. Friendships will form. She will dig holes, and fall down those holes. But like any good story, the characters she meets will help show her the way, a map for living in a world beyond the end of snow.
Featuring an emerging young wildlife biologist from the Lower Elwha Klallam Tribe, this is a heartwarming story of transformation and restoration on Washington State's Elwha River. This profile of two women in science is part of Howard Hughes Medical Institute's Think Like a Scientist series. It also follows up on the award-winning feature film Return of the River, which chronicled the largest dam removal in history.
Wylie Overstreet was hanging out in his L.A. apartment one night and, out of boredom, decided to take his high-powered telescope out to the street to peer at the moon. Pretty soon people began wandering up and asking him what he was up to. When he showed them, they nearly fell over in awe. A New View of the Moon is just the reminder we need to keep looking up.
What if hibernating animals of different species formed an orchestra and performed a symphony about their winter's sleep? Well, they did—sort of. Because this is the science version of "Peter and the Wolf," starring a frog, a turtle, a bird, a mosquito, a bear, and a fish… Ladies and gentlemen, "The Sleep Cycle" by L'orchestre D'hibernation Animaux.
What happens when fairy tales and reality collide? Throughout history, myths about the "big bad wolf" have generated fear and concern that creeps out of our storybooks and into the real world. By the 1950s, wolves were pushed to the brink of extinction in the lower forty-eight and more was lost than just the wolf. Meet The Real Wolf introduces a new chapter where the apex predator becomes the protagonist, changing the narrative of the ecosystems they are rebuilding. We learn what happens when the wolf is no longer antagonized, but instead realized as the missing link, and the denouement to our story.
They're charismatic and cute, but the tree frogs that live in Cusuco National Park in Honduras are being decimated by chytrid fungus. The fungus has spread worldwide, causing hundreds of amphibian species to become endangered or even extinct. Biologist and National Geographic explorer Jonathan Kolby has set up HARCC, the Honduras Amphibian Rescue and Conservation Center, to study and treat these frogs. Some of the species are found nowhere else on Earth.
My Africa is a virtual reality journey to northern Kenya, where the futures of wildlife and people are intertwined.
The rare beauty of Greenland is under threat. And it seems that the Arctic scenery is disappearing faster than predicted. Motivated by the withdrawal of the United States of America from the Paris Climate Agreement, the immersive media-producing Emblematic Group has documented a Greenland exposed to climate change.
The Protectors, Walk in the Ranger's Shoes, is a documentary short shot in Virtual Reality that chronicles a day in the life of a ranger in Garamba National Park. These rangers are often the last line of defense in a race against extinction at the hands of poachers slaughtering elephants for their ivory tusks.
In just the last three decades, changes in climate have doubled the amount of land burned by wildfires in the western United States. Experience the scorching California fires of 2017, and follow the dedicated fighters—by air and on the ground—whose jobs have turned into year-round battles against these catastrophic blazes.
An immersive interactive piece where visitors take the helm of a commercial fishing vessel in the Caribbean Sea. The simulation challenges guests to navigate decision-making around sustainable versus unsustainable fishing practices, illustrating how overexploitation leads to fishery collapse and ecosystem disruption
This year the world will spend over $100 billion on vitamins and supplements. Almost one billion of us take one regularly – or give one to our children. Every week, a new benefit is claimed. Some doctors point to research that shows they can be lifesavers. Many others claim that most vitamin products are useless, and some are downright dangerous. All of this provokes confusion. In a world where even the scientists disagree, how do we decide whether to take them, or not? How do we separate the sense from the nonsense?
In Vitamania, the latest documentary made by Emmy Award-winning Australian filmmakers, Genepool Productions, Dr Derek Muller takes us on an epic journey, a world-spanning investigation of vitamin science and history. What he uncovers will confound opinions on all sides.
Jennifer Gardy lifts the lid on poop to discover if it's myth or science that we're flushing a valuable resource down the toilet.
This large format digital film follows the daily dramas of common animals - like the turtle, heron, frog, raccoon and dragonfly - juxtaposed with the activities of nearby humans more concerned with their computer screens, mobile devices, and the endless pursuit of money and status. The film will tell the story of our disconnect with nature, with the aim of inspiring a new and transformative connection.
This film tells the epic, true story of explorer Henry Bates' fascinating 11 year journey through the visually stunning and bio-diverse Amazon rainforest. As a young man, Bates risks his life for science in the 1850s.
From the Great Wall of China and the world's tallest buildings to underwater robots, solar cars and smart, sustainable cities, DREAM BIG celebrates the human ingenuity behind engineering marvels.
This film takes the audience back in time as it explores some of the scientific discoveries that led us to the conclusion that germs cause diseases. The inspirational scientists are crafted from paper and cardboard, resulting in a unique stop motion approach to scientific history.
In the quiet hum of New Zealand's beehives, a silent threat is spreading.
This documentary follows Dunedin-based dog trainer Rene Gloor as he takes on an unlikely mission: training an American Staffordshire terrier named Georgie to detect American foulbrood — a highly destructive bacterium that kills honeybee larvae and devastates hives.
American foulbrood costs the New Zealand honey industry millions of dollars each year. Traditionally, detecting the disease relies on invasive inspections and the trained eyes of beekeepers. But Rene believes there may be a better way — one that uses the extraordinary scenting abilities of dogs to identify infection early and non-invasively.
As Georgie progresses through intensive training, the film explores the science behind scent detection, the stakes for beekeepers, and the wider implications for biosecurity and agricultural innovation. At its heart, it is a story of partnership — between human and dog — and of hope in the fight to protect one of our most vital pollinators.
Blending science, perseverance and purpose, the documentary shines a light on an innovative approach that could help safeguard New Zealand's honey industry and the ecosystems that depend on it.
The film was created as part of Sarah Hight's Master of Science Communication at the University of Otago
The Short Film Showcase spotlights exceptional short videos created by filmmakers from around the web and selected by National Geographic editors. We look for work that affirms National Geographic's belief in the power of science, exploration, and storytelling to change the world. The filmmakers created the content presented, and the opinions expressed are their own, not those of National Geographic Partners.
In their new documentary, National Geographic Explorers Clare Fieseler and Gabby Salazar investigate the lives of women following careers in science despite intense cultural and social barriers.
Sometimes going unseen is a choice–and sometimes, it's a matter of saving face.
We explain things like what music is, how we find meaning in music, how our brains perceive time in the first place, and why you like the kind of music that you like.
The Science of Happiness is a biweekly documentary podcast (with video short supplements) hosted by psychologist Dacher Keltner and co-produced by PRX and UC Berkeley's Greater Good Science Center. It delves into the science of well‑being, drawing on research in psychology, neuroscience, and sociology to explore how practices like compassion, gratitude, awe, and mindful connection can enhance happiness and meaning in everyday life.
Planetary scientist Carolyn Porco leads an exploration of the search for extraterrestrial life, examining Saturn's moon Enceladus—with its water plumes, organic compounds, and evidence of hydrothermal activity. The documentary considers whether Enceladus could be the site of a "second genesis"—the emergence of life beyond Earth—and what that discovery would mean both scientifically and philosophically.
Astronauts including the legendary Peggy Whitson, who spent 665 days in space, speak about how their concepts of home have changed.
The documentary follows fisheries scientist Dr. Daniel Pauly as he and his global team unveil the truth behind a drastic underestimation of fish catches. Narrated by Ted Danson, the film journeys from the Bahamas to West Africa, revealing how millions of tons of fish are excluded from official data. It serves as an urgent call for better fisheries management to avert a looming global food crisis.
After six months of scientifically advanced training, three of the world's most elite distance runners set out to break the two-hour marathon barrier. These pioneers go on a global trek to defy the unthinkable and break the two-hour feat, from testing in wind tunnels and running labs in the United States, to balancing training with their day-to-day lives in eastern Africa, to the final heart-pounding race in Italy.
"Breakthrough: Portraits of Women in Science" is a short film anthology from Science Friday and Howard Hughes Medical Institute (HHMI) that follows women working at the forefront of their fields. Each episode blends deeply personal stories with innovative scientific research of women across STEM fields and takes viewers to places like the Arctic and to India's space agency. By showing that challenges such as deeply-rooted cultural or institutional norms, grueling working conditions, or personal tragedy and sacrifice are not insurmountable obstacles to becoming a scientist or engineer, "Breakthrough" hopes to inspire a future generation of women to lead careers in STEM fields.
Earthrise tells the story of the first image captured of the Earth from space in 1968. Told solely by the Apollo 8 astronauts, the film recounts their experiences and memories and explores the beauty, awe, and grandeur of the Earth against the blackness of space. This iconic image had a powerful impact on the astronauts and the world, offering a perspective that transcended national, political, and religious boundaries. Told 50 years later, Earthrise compels us to remember this shift and to reflect on the Earth as a shared home.
Anjali Nayar and Hawa Essuman profile the life of Liberian activist Silas Siakor, a tireless crusader against illegal logging and a symbol of resistance for a new generation.
For 40 years, Billy Barr collected detailed data on the state of the snow in one of the coldest and most isolated places in the United States, providing evidence of climate change.