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The natural world tells unseen stories through sound. All are fascinating but also disturbing. This new science of soundscape ecology is tracking environmental change with small audio recorders and powerful computer processing. Catalyst discovers what we can learn from listening to nature. It's a perilous journey for the NASA spacecraft, Juno. Jupiter has the harshest radiation of any planet in the solar system and the strongest magnetic field. It...
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Nature or Nurture?" is a long-running debate in the social sciences, one heavily-influenced in the popular imagination by the idea "DNA is destiny" - the belief human behavior is broadly determined by a "good" or a "bad" roll of the genetic dice. While human genetics is an important part of our story, recent developments in the field of epigenetics suggest that the way our genes actually work can be critically shaped by the environment in which we...
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Has North America taken too many risks with its agriculture? In Gardens of Destiny we meet Dan Jason, an organic gardener on Salt Spring Island, on the Canadian west coast. Jason is the head of the Seed and Plant Sanctuary for Canada, a network of gardeners from around the world working to preserve as much plant diversity as possible. This film explores Dan's garden and seed world and investigates with several sustainable development specialists such...
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Haiti is known to be the poorest country of the western hemisphere and is still struggling to get on its feet from a disastrous earthquake, but Haiti's real problem is the complete degradation of its natural resources. Natural forests cover today less than two percent of its territory. Scientists predict a mass extinction of Haiti's biodiversity. No other country has more amphibians threatened by extinction. A team of scientists and naturalists travel...
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This film examines escalating threats to shark population including habitat destruction of reef ecosystems and over fishing that are causing Pacific reef shark populations to plummet. It examines the most brutal assault threatening shark abundance: that of finning sharks for shark fin soup. Compelling interviews with leading marine biologists and conservationists reveal these driving forces behind the drastic reduction of many shark populations.
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From the first agricultural settlements, to the industrial revolution, to agribusiness and widespread urbanization, humans have been transforming the environment for thousands of years. But now, with rain forests disappearing at an appalling rate, pollution on the rise, and the world's population reaching truly astronomical proportions, how will the Earth survive? In this program, Lester Brown, president of Worldwatch Institute; academic experts;...
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Explore humanity's relationship with nature and wildlife, as scientists and conservationists from all over the world examine ways that can restore the planet. The documentary series asks whether newfound awareness of nature could bring about a new chapter in the human story.
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Join Simon Garrod and Peter Clutterbuck as they embark on a sledge journey into remote, unexplored regions in the Antarctica and ascend 3 unclimbed peaks, 700 miles from the South Pole. The story begins with the plans and preparations for the expedition. The crew set six camps, climbed steep glaciers hauling heavy sledges to finally summit 3 unclimbed peaks. The documentary gives you a feel of travelling on ice, facing extreme conditions and unexpected...
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Changing climate probably played the decisive role in drawing hominids out of the trees, up on their hind legs, and off in search of food whose supply had been dispersed by the replacement of rainforests by grasslands. Migrations were motivated by the search for food; during ice ages, when sea levels dropped, new areas became accessible and populations spread. Links between climatic changes and emerging civilizations have also been postulated; the...
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This documentary tells the story of how Jim Brandenburg, one of the world's greatest nature photographers, immersed himself in a Zen-like exploration of his craft and the untamed landscape of the rugged Minnesota North Woods. A National Geographic cover story and book ensued.
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Aldabra is a World Heritage Site situated in the extreme south-west of the Seychelles archipelago. It represents one of the most pristine environments of the entire world and is the biggest raised atoll on Earth. This film documents the activities of the rangers and researchers involved in the conservation efforts of Aldabra's numerous species and its environment.
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This ABC News program begins with an overview of the controversial new type of crop hybridization known as genetic modification, exploring why the technology has panicked European consumers and has left many American farmers with mixed feelings. Then, correspondent John Donvan moderates a vigorous discussion between Secretary of Agriculture Dan Glickman; Val Giddings, Vice President of Food and Agriculture at the Biotechnology Industry Organization;...
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In this fascinating program, experts on the cutting edge of tissue engineering and regenerative medicine present the astounding results of their research. Academic experts from MIT, Johns Hopkins Medical Institute, Massachusetts General Hospital, Duke University, and the University of Toronto-plus representatives of Osiris Therapeutics and Geron, leading industry pioneers-explain how new organs, arteries, ligaments, tendons, and skin are being grown...
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Fast-tracked by the FDA, GMOs-genetically modified organisms-have already deeply penetrated America's food supply. Are they safe? In this program, NewsHour correspondent Paul Solman looks at both sides of the GMO controversy. Agricultural law professor Neil Hamilton, a nutrition consultant, and an independent corn farmer counsel a conservative approach, while economist Dermot Hayes, of Iowa State University, reacts to the unfairness of anti-GMO rhetoric,...
18) Colony
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An eye-opening account of a little-known, yet essential, subculture in America. COLONY brings to life the fascinating world of bees - and the frightening possibility of their disappearance.
19) From the East
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Chantal Akerman retraces a journey from the end of summer to deepest winter, from East Germany, across Poland and the Baltics, to Moscow. ** One of the 10 Best Films of the 1990s - J. Hoberman, Artforum.
20) Extinction
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Combining in-depth studio discussion with exploratory films and on-the-spot reports, Dara O Briain's Science Club takes a single subject each week and examines it from unexpected angles. In the third episode, comedian Mark Steel learns how to deflect an incoming asteroid, neuroscientist Tali Sharot tastes beef grown in the lab, Alok Jha examines whether it makes sense to conserve pandas, and Dr. Helen Czerski reports on experiments to bring back species...