In the world of painted wolves, a remarkable family saga unfolds. It's a gripping tale of fierce rivalry, cunning survival, and complex social dynamics. Two leading figures, Tait and Blacktip, lead their respective packs through the wild landscapes of the Zambezi Valley. But what happens when a new generation challenges the old? The struggle for dominance and territory is set against the backdrop of a rapidly changing environment. As painted wolves face habitat loss, their future hangs in the balance. This episode offers a captivating and emotional journey through the lives of these incredible creatures, showcasing their unique communication and social structure. Will they be able to hold their place among Africa's great hunters, or will the challenges prove insurmountable? Don't miss the chance to witness this unforgettable story.
In the last episode we are taken on a gripping journey into the lives of a magnificent family of tigers in Bandhavgarh, India. This family, led by a tigress named Raj Bera, faces numerous challenges and triumphs. As we delve into their world, we witness the extraordinary bonds, fierce determination, and the will to survive against all odds. Raj Bera is the matriarch who must teach her cubs the essential skills they need to thrive in the wild. Her cubs are not only the heirs to her dynasty but also the future of the tiger species itself. In a land with increasing human encroachment and threats of poaching, the family's story is not only an intimate portrayal of their lives but also a glimpse into the larger conservation efforts to save these magnificent creatures from extinction. Throughout the documentary, you'll see breathtaking scenes of tiger family dynamics, from nurturing to hunting, as they navigate their way through the challenging Indian landscape. The captivating narrative underscores the urgent need for protecting these remarkable animals and the critical importance of providing them with the space to preserve their ancient heritage. The film is a moving and eye-opening exploration of these majestic creatures and the dedicated conservationists working tirelessly to ensure their survival. It is a must-watch for anyone interested in the natural world and the future of one of the most iconic and endangered species on our planet.
Al-Khalili travels to northern Syria to discover how, a thousand years ago, the great astronomer and mathematician Al-Biruni estimated the size of the earth to within a few hundred miles of the correct figure. He discovers how medieval Islamic scholars helped turn the magical and occult practice of alchemy into modern chemistry. In Cairo, he tells the story of the extraordinary physicist Ibn al-Haytham, who helped establish the modern science of optics and proved one of the most fundamental principles in physics - that light travels in straight lines. Prof Al-Khalili argues that these scholars are among the first people to insist that all scientific theories are backed up by careful experimental observation, bringing a rigour to science that didn't really exist before.
In the last episode, Al-Khalili turns detective, hunting for clues that show how the scientific revolution that took place in the 16th and 17th centuries in Europe had its roots in the earlier world of medieval Islam. He travels across Iran, Syria and Egypt to discover the huge astronomical advances made by Islamic scholars through their obsession with accurate measurement and coherent and rigorous mathematics.He then visits Italy to see how those Islamic ideas permeated into the west and ultimately helped shape the works of the great European astronomer Copernicus, and investigates why science in the Islamic world appeared to go into decline after the 16th and 17th centuries, only for it to re-emerge in the present day. Al-Khalili ends his journey in the Royan Institute in the Iranian capital Tehran, looking at how science is now regarded in the Islamic world
The deep is perhaps the most hostile environment on earth, at least to us - a world of crushing pressure, brutal cold and utter darkness. We have barely begun to explore it, and yet it is the largest living space on the planet. Scientists already think that there is more life in the deep than anywhere else on earth. This episode takes us on an epic journey into the unknown, a realm that feels almost like science fiction. We discover alien worlds, bizarre creatures and extraordinary new behaviours never seen before. We encounter savage hordes of Humboldt squid hunting lanternfish in the depths and coral gardens flourishing in absolute darkness, with more species of coral to be found in the deep than on shallow tropical reefs. Narrated by David Attenborough.
The big blue is the world's greatest wilderness, far from shore and many kilometres deep. It's a vast marine desert where there is little to eat and nowhere to hide. Yet it's home to some of the biggest and most spectacular creatures on earth. This episode reveals what it takes to survive in this savage and forbidding world. We witness feats of incredible endurance, moments of high drama and extraordinary acts of heart-wrenching self-sacrifice. Every animal in the big blue must find their own unique way to survive. Sperm whales have the largest brains in the world. They live for 80 years, and we are only now beginning to learn the extraordinary complexity of their language of clicks - thought to coordinate the whole family in everything from childcare to hunting. With special pressure-proof cameras, we witness record-breaking feats of endurance as they hunt for squid a kilometre down into the abyss. Only recently have we begun to solve the mystery of where baby turtles disappear to in their early years. They leave the crowded waters of the coast and head to the open ocean, where they use floating debris like logs as life rafts. Here they remain until adulthood, adrift on the high seas in relative safety away from coastal predators. Over half of all animals in the open ocean drift in currents. Jellyfish cross entire oceans feeding on whatever happens to tangle with their tentacles. The jelly-like Portuguese man-of-war can harness sail power to fish with its deadly tentacles. Sometimes there is a brief explosion of food in this marine desert, but ocean hunters must be fast to make the best of this bonanza. We witness super pods of up to 5,000 spinner dolphins racing to herd vast shoals of lanternfish, briefly caught at the surface where it is thought they spawn. New aerial footage reveals, for the first time, the truth to a centuries-old sailors' legend of the 'boiling seas' - the spectacular feeding frenzy of 90kg tuna and dolphins smashing through the lantern fish shoals turning the sea white with foam.
This episode offers a captivating and emotional journey through the lives of these incredible creatures, showcasing their unique communication and social structure. Will they be able to hold their place among Africa's great hunters, or will the challenges prove insurmountable? Don't miss the chance to witness this unforgettable story.