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ON THE CITIES’ ROOFTOPS
BERLIN. How is life on the city’s roofs? This series scales new heights, exploring apartment buildings, towers and monuments to discover a world full of unsuspected treasures : our rooftops. By day and night, the population changes on these heights. There are people who work here, people who live here, and others who come here to relax. The world’s rooftops are a continual hive of activity…
WILD ONES
EP. 02. "The explosive sprinting Cheetah. The mighty bounding kangaroo…. The horned and leaping wildebeest. The powerful and sure footed horse…. Or the quick footed pronghorn… Which is the fastest over land? CHEETAH On the mighty expanse of the African savannahs a battle has been raging and evolving for millions of years. The race between predator/prey can reach astonishing speeds. PRONGHORN The fastest animal in the western hemisphere – the Pronghorn, flies across the prairies of North America. With its elegant loping run covering 6 meters with each stride the pronghorn can sustain speeds of 60 km/hr and can reach a top speed of almost one hundred. WILDEBEEST Wildebeest, the iconic roaming antelopes of the African plains, these bearded, shaggy maned and horned animals are among natures best endurance runners. Calves learn to walk within minutes of birth and can keep up with the herd within days. KANGAROO The diverse landscapes of Australia are home an alert, curious and enigmatic animal, the world's largest and fastest marsupial – the mighty kangaroo. BRUMBY Wild horses are truly a symbol of majestic power: strong , sleek elegant - the ultimate untamable free spirit, galloping unbridled across the land.
IN THE DARKNESS
An immersion in the heart of the biggest West-African prison: Abidjan. Located out of sight at the border of the Banco forest, this prison host 5,000 inmates but has capacity for 1,500. With the inmates’ help, life inside is organized, and a degree of stability exists.
RACE OF LIFE
EP. 05. Males and females of most species will fight viciously in self-defense. And females, can be even more aggressive than males when defending their young. In this episode we'll explore the Race of Life from the point of view of food, territory, social status, and mates. Though some fights occur between two different species, most battles are fought between members of the same species. Though the wildlife warriors in these battles usually are not trying to kill each other, the fighting can result in death. Why would members of the same species fight with such ferocity? Food is one reason. Animals that store and horde food for survival will aggressively protect their pantries. Animals are also willing to fight to protect their food indirectly. For example, predators will defend a territory that provides them with enough prey, or food, to survive. This territorial aggression serves to space out members of a species across their range in a way that maintains sufficient food within each territory. But it also may limit population size. For example, if a pack of wolves cannot find, defend, or take over a suitable territory, the members may starve to death. Though food, territory, social status, and mates may be won and kept by fighting, aggression takes its toll. Animal combatants face exhaustion, injuries, time away from resting and eating, and the ultimate cost of battle: death. Thus, just like human beings, it’s often in an animal’s interest to win a war before it ever begins - or to avoid confrontation altogether.
RACE OF LIFE
EP. 06. With predators practically always on the lookout for a meal, prey must constantly avoid being eaten. Any defensive adaptation that prey can utilize adds to the chances of survival for its species. Some adaptations are defense mechanisms which can give the prey an advantage against their enemies. The first is very direct and comes naturally. Animals can use speed as a very effective means of escaping predators. In the evolutionary history of big herbivores and the carnivores that prey upon them, the phrase “arms race”is only technically a metaphor. Antelope are literally born to run, and many of the things that chase them, such as the cheetah, are either masters of endurance or champion sprinters. The evolutionary story almost writes itself: over millions of years of chasing, and being chased, wherever predators evolved to move quickly, their prey were selected to run even faster. Except of course there’s more to life than running for your life. An antelope’s frame is under more demands than evading cheetahs—it also needs to travel long distances to follow food availability with the shifting rainy season. The ostrich meanwhile stands at one extreme of bird evolution, for although unable to fly, of all the birds the ostrich runs the fastest race of life. More peculiar still is the Golden Wheel spider, the only creature known to turn itself into a wheel in order to get away from trouble. There are many ways to win the race, when the goal is always survival.
JOURNEYS IN AFRICA
JOHANNESBURG: CITY OF MANY FACES. From the streets of Soweto to the colonial Union Building, the metro area of Joburg is a mix of architecture, people and traditions. Johannesburg is more than just a big city—it’s also home to one of the world’s best safari parks.
MUSIC VOYAGER - (38)
Music Voyager is a music and travel broadcast series (television/cable, broadband, in-flight and mobile) that invites viewers to discover the exciting sounds of the planet. The host is Jacob Edgar, an explorer who does not search for lost cities or ancient ruins. He's on the quest for a different kind of treasure…music. As an ethnomusicologist and world music record producer, Edgar travels the globe hunting for the best songs the world has to offer, and he suffers through some of the worst…so you don’t have to. Along the way, he's rewarded with a backstage pass to concert halls, street festivals, recording studios and rehearsal rooms. With local musicians as his guide, Edgar tastes exotic and occasionally ghastly food, visits off-the-beaten path attractions and parties the night away to amazing concerts at hidden venues that only the locals know. Join music voyager for unexpected adventures and surprising discoveries that unveil the magic, mystery and music of far off lands.
WOW, I NEVER KNEW THAT!
THERMOS, PEZ CANDY, MARK TWAIN. Learn the secrets behind THERMOS’ amazing technology! And they were the sweet candy pellets we loved as a kid, but did you know that PEZ was created to help people stop smoking? And find out how a steamboat inspired SAMUEL LANGHORNE CLEMENS to change his name to MARK TWAIN!
ORGANIC PANIC
FOOD. Food and agriculture are the front lines of the organic revolution. What you eat and how it’s grown affects not just your life, but the lives of every person on the planet. Trauma nurse Stew Granger grew up on a farm and wants to return to his roots, but has questions about food politics and safety. Sarah Elton, bestselling author and organic food activist, takes Stewart on a tour of a local organic market and explains how organic food is the only way to feed the planet and keep everyone from farm to table healthy and secure. Stewart meets economist and food geographer Professor Pierre Desrochers at the University of Toronto. The academic rejects the activist’s claims and insists that intense, technological, industrial farming is the only way to feed a global population. Stewart decides that organic food is the compassionate choice.
GALICIA'S DEATH COST
360°GEO - Report accompanies goose barnacle fishermen on a trip to the deadly cliffs. But even there, the goose barnacle population is declining rapidly.Their working district is the "Costa del Morte" - the "Coast of Death", where the oil tanker "Prestige" split apart in 2002. Here, the waves of the Atlantic are often lashed against the rocks by northwest gale force 8 winds.Their working district is the "Costa del Morte" - the "Coast of Death", where the oil tanker "Prestige" split apart in 2002. Here, the waves of the Atlantic are often lashed against the rocks by northwest gale force 8 winds.
WILD DOGS
CHASING TALES - EP. 3. Rosemary catches up with the conservancy’s rarest large carnivore, a coalition of 3 male cheetahs. The Pungwe pack get waist deep into their hunting as they pursue a wildebeest into a water pan. Denning season has begun. The pack are on the hunt for impala. Rosemary deals with a shocking snare removal. The splinters take on another herd of wildebeest.
RIP FILES
S01 EP. 07 - MASTERS AND SLAVES. Major Graham's Mansion, in the Virginia countryside, houses dark secrets that the team attempts to uncover.
RIP FILES
S01 EP. 08 - HIDDEN SECRETS. Long-hidden secrets are revealed through the R.I.P. team's talents and unique experiences, including those thought to be lost forever.
MUSIC VOYAGER - (27)
Music Voyager is a music and travel broadcast series (television/cable, broadband, in-flight and mobile) that invites viewers to discover the exciting sounds of the planet. The host is Jacob Edgar, an explorer who does not search for lost cities or ancient ruins. He's on the quest for a different kind of treasure…music. As an ethnomusicologist and world music record producer, Edgar travels the globe hunting for the best songs the world has to offer, and he suffers through some of the worst…so you don’t have to. Along the way, he's rewarded with a backstage pass to concert halls, street festivals, recording studios and rehearsal rooms. With local musicians as his guide, Edgar tastes exotic and occasionally ghastly food, visits off-the-beaten path attractions and parties the night away to amazing concerts at hidden venues that only the locals know. Join music voyager for unexpected adventures and surprising discoveries that unveil the magic, mystery and music of far off lands.
MUSIC VOYAGER - (28)
Music Voyager is a music and travel broadcast series (television/cable, broadband, in-flight and mobile) that invites viewers to discover the exciting sounds of the planet. The host is Jacob Edgar, an explorer who does not search for lost cities or ancient ruins. He's on the quest for a different kind of treasure…music. As an ethnomusicologist and world music record producer, Edgar travels the globe hunting for the best songs the world has to offer, and he suffers through some of the worst…so you don’t have to. Along the way, he's rewarded with a backstage pass to concert halls, street festivals, recording studios and rehearsal rooms. With local musicians as his guide, Edgar tastes exotic and occasionally ghastly food, visits off-the-beaten path attractions and parties the night away to amazing concerts at hidden venues that only the locals know. Join music voyager for unexpected adventures and surprising discoveries that unveil the magic, mystery and music of far off lands.
WHAT IN THE WORLD - (2)
For over 24 years, East Timor (now known as Timor Leste) endured a crushing occupation inflicted on them by neighbouring Indonesia on the pretext of the fight against communism. The war was brought to a controversial conclusion in 1999. However, trauma from that period lives on as evidenced by the testimonies of Nelson Belo, Gregorio Saldanha and Pascal Oliveira, survivors of the infamous 1991 Santa Cruz Massacre. This film recalls the trauma of Timor Leste in this the tenth anniversary of its independence.
TUNING 2 YOU: INDIA'S LOST MUSICIANS
NAGALAND. High in the eastern mountains in a remote corner of India, Soumik encounters the Naga tribes. They teach him about their mysterious customs, chicken dances and head-hunting traditions, part of a unique identity at the brink of extinction. The Nagas wish to preserve.
THE ARCTIC, A BOY BECOMES A HUNTER
On the North-Western tip of Greenland, fathers give their boys small dog sledges as soon as they can walk. The toy is meant to teach them hunting, a survival skill for Polar Inuits. Increasingly fewer boys, however, want to become hunters. 12-year-old Qaaqqukannguaq is an exception. During the spring holidays, he is going to accompany his father on a hunting trip for the first time. For several days, they will cross the ice desert on dog sledges, covering the 70 km from Savissivik, their tiny community, to Cape York.
INSIDE OUTER SPACE
ASTEROIDS, COMETS, VENUS, METEOROIDS, NEBULA, SPACE RACE. Come with us as we explore and unravel the mysteries of what lies beyond our planet Earth. This is a series packed with space stories and information about our universe covering what we can see, how we can live in space and what science tells us about the past and the future as we journey inside out of space.
INSIDE OUTER SPACE
BLACK HOLES, OLYMPUS MONS, JUPITER, INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION, LIGHTYEAR, FOOD IN SPACE. Come with us as we explore and unravel the mysteries of what lies beyond our planet Earth. This is a series packed with space stories and information about our universe covering what we can see, how we can live in space and what science tells us about the past and the future as we journey inside out of space.
THE ISLANDERS
KODIAK, ALASKA. Discovering some the world’s hidden treasures by revealing the hidden face of life and the inhabitants of the islands. Island folk are generally proud of their insularity and their distinct sense of identity. A rich cocktail of history, customs, cuisine and economic resources distinguishes the island people and the nature and beaches that surround them. Our documentaries explore the varied and often little known lifestyles and peculiarities on the twenty featured islands. The approach so effectively used during our series on beaches and coastal areas, is here recreated, each program a mix of stunning visuals and interviews, which together highlight the exotic and uncommon events of daily life with a backdrop of spectacular island scenery. The aim of this unique series is as always to surprise, amuse and inform the viewer.
FALKLAND ISLANDS PENGUINS ADVANCING FORWARD
360° GEO - Report captures the rough beauty of the Falkland Islands on camera, and plunges into the life of the penguin colonies at the far end of the world. The Falkland Islands is an archipelago in the South Atlantic, not far from the South American continent. In the 1980's, England and Argentina fought a cruel war for sovereignty. Altogether on both sides, about 1,000 people lost their lives before the Argentinians surrendered. Today, the roughly 700 islands of the British Overseas Territory are once again a natural paradise: thousands of penguins crowd the coast, while the almost 3,000 inhabitants lead a "British way of life" and try to do their best given their economic and territorial isolation, at 12,600 km from London.
WHAT IN THE WORLD - (12)
Presented by Peadar King, this series illustrates the human consequences of global economic inequalities and human rights violations, by focusing on how people encounter these issues on a daily basis. At the heart of Africa, the Congo for many people will always be associated with Joseph Conrad’s early twentieth-century novel the Heart of Darkness, a title that has become a by-word for the country. And for Benjamin and David, two former child soldiers, and Funaha held as a sex slave by one of the many militias that continue to terrorise the country, that metaphor remains a daily reality. The film explores how this seemingly never-ending conflict impacts on the people of North Kivu.
MUSIC VOYAGER - (37)
Music Voyager is a music and travel broadcast series (television/cable, broadband, in-flight and mobile) that invites viewers to discover the exciting sounds of the planet. The host is Jacob Edgar, an explorer who does not search for lost cities or ancient ruins. He's on the quest for a different kind of treasure…music. As an ethnomusicologist and world music record producer, Edgar travels the globe hunting for the best songs the world has to offer, and he suffers through some of the worst…so you don’t have to. Along the way, he's rewarded with a backstage pass to concert halls, street festivals, recording studios and rehearsal rooms. With local musicians as his guide, Edgar tastes exotic and occasionally ghastly food, visits off-the-beaten path attractions and parties the night away to amazing concerts at hidden venues that only the locals know. Join music voyager for unexpected adventures and surprising discoveries that unveil the magic, mystery and music of far off lands.
TRAVEL THRU HISTORY
OTTAWA. We visit Canada’s capital city on a hill in Ottawa, Ontario. We’ll sail down the famous Rideau Canal locks. We go deep into Ottawa’s cold war history at the Diefenbunker, as well as, explore Canada’s military history at the Canadian War Museum. Then we head up the Peace Tower and take a look at the library of Parliament. Finally, we learn about Canada’s first nation’s tribes at the Canadian History Museum.
ORGANIC PANIC
FASHION. Fashion isn’t just about adornment and style. What you wear can change the lives of people around the world, for better or worse. In this episode we look at how local designers and global chains respond to the growing demand for organic fashions. Furniture designer Lisa North is passionate about her personal style, but wonders if her clothes were made at the expense of garment workers’ health and safety. Kelly Drennan, founder of Fashion Takes Action, a group committed to reforming the fashion industry, explains how toxic materials and waste from conventional clothes pollute the earth and cost you money. Emily Scarlett, PR manager for H&M takes Lisa on a tour of their private showroom and makes the case for a corporate giant doing more to promote organic materials than anyone else. Lisa’s love of vintage clothes inspires her to simplify a complex problem.
WHAT IN THE WORLD - (1)
Presented by Peadar King, this series illustrates the human consequences of global economic inequalities and human rights violations, by focusing on how people encounter these issues on a daily basis. At the heart of Africa, the Congo for many people will always be associated with Joseph Conrad’s early twentieth-century novel the Heart of Darkness, a title that has become a by-word for the country. And for Benjamin and David, two former child soldiers, and Funaha held as a sex slave by one of the many militias that continue to terrorise the country, that metaphor remains a daily reality. The film explores how this seemingly never-ending conflict impacts on the people of North Kivu.
OTTERLY INCREDIBLE
The delightful story of the journey of an injured otter as she prepares to regain her independence and former ability. Naia (meaning water spirit) was bitten on her spine as a baby in the wild. The Tikki Hywood Trust, (a rescue center for small wild animals), took Naia in and found she had lost the use of her back legs and tail. Naia needed hydro therapy and needed a swimming partner for her rehabilitation. Enter Kirsty Coventry, multiple Olympic Zimbabwean gold medalist, the perfect companion for stimulation in the water! After just 2 months Naia’s progress was remarkable, gaining the use of one back foot and half of her tail. Her motor skills improved dramatically and Kirsty’s help was incredibly useful. The consistent hydro therapy over 18 months gave her the skills and power to begin hunting live fish on her own and we expect her to be released back into the wild in the near future.
TUNING 2 YOU: INDIA'S LOST MUSICIANS
GOA. On Christmas eve, Soumik arrives in the ex-Portuguese colony of Goa. A global party hub and Orthodox coastal state in one, Goa is a state in flux. An ambitious, young Fado singer, and a wise, old violinist, bring to life the struggle that many Goans feel between a colonial past and modern future, a laid back lifestyle challenged by tourist and consumer culture.
WONDER
PROBLEMS. Seg 1 Monty Hall problem. The Monty Hall Problem poses a counter-instinctive dilemma of picking a choice with a higher probability of winning. It has been calculated that switching from a player’s initial choice to the last option possible, after eliminating all empty choices, instead of sticking with the initial choice gives a bigger chance of winning. Seg 2 The Birthday Problem. The Birthday Problem presents a situation that addresses brains’ unintuitive response to exponents. We try to figure out why it’s possible for only 23 people to have a 50% chance of sharing a birthday when there are 365 unique birthdays. The dilemma usually comes in when we gloss over the fact that even small groups can form several pairings, and we actually compute the probability of sharing a birthday by subtracting the chances of not sharing a birthday by multiplying individual probabilities with each other. The answers can be quite surprising when the math to be done is not instinctive for people. Seg 3 Gambler’s ruin. Gambler’s Ruin closes in on how a gambler with the smaller amount will always be the loser in the long run in a game of 50-50 chance with an indefinite number of rounds playing. Gambler’s Ruin also debunks the ‘luck’ factor by emphasizing that each round played has its separate probability from previous rounds, thus maintaining chances of winning at 50%. Seg 4 The Infinite Hotel Paradox. The Infinite Hotel Paradox shows how infinity, for all its vastness, cannot be fully grasped, especially when it goes beyond the confines of the countable infinity. The paradoxical part comes in when the union of two sets with infinite elements will still be infinity; adding, subtracting, multiplying, or dividing infinity with infinity is still infinity. Seg 5 The Locker Riddle. The Locker Riddle stimulates how good and fast a person is at factorization. In the problem, the key is identifying which numbers from 1-100 are perfect squares, but the solution lies in the number of factors those particular numbers have. Perfect squares have odd numbered factors because one factor will be multiplied by itself and it only counts as one in the riddle’s context, leaving those locker numbers open in an alternating open-close pattern.
INSIDE OUTER SPACE
SPACE WALK, OORT CLOUD, MERCURY, SPACE SUIT, STAR CHART, PLUTO. Come with us as we explore and unravel the mysteries of what lies beyond our planet Earth. This is a series packed with space stories and information about our universe covering what we can see, how we can live in space and what science tells us about the past and the future as we journey inside out of space.
WILD ONES
EP. 03. Fanged Spiders with their scurrying bites. The Scorpion with its deadly sting... A sinister cold bloodied crocodile. The hypnotizing venomous snake. Or the King of Beasts, the Lion? Which one is the most dangerous? LION Giraffes are eternally majestic, buffalo formidable, but with their golden fur, regal mane and fearsome presence lions are known as the ‘King of Beasts’ SCORPIONS A barely habitable burnt corner of the earth, parched and sun drenched... Once the sun has set and temperatures drop, the night time wilderness becomes a very dangerous place. SPIDERS With long legs that weave inescapable snares, spiderlings that hatch in their hundreds….and fangs that inject lethal venom into their prey, spiders strike fear into many people. In Greek mythology the great weaving god Arachne, was turned into the first spider, while in Japanese mythology shape shifting demons often take a spider-like form. SNAKES Snakes have fascinated and terrified humans for thousands of years. In many parts of the world they are worshipped as protectors and creators. But some cultures fear snakes as devils and symbols of vengeance and death. CROCODILE Lurking in the worlds rivers, marshes and swamps lies one of the most prehistoric and dangerous predators on the planet. Stories, songs and legends have build up around them. People tremble in fear at their name.
MARS RISING
JOURNEY TO THE RED PLANET. The countdown has begun for the 21st century’s most heroic and potentially deadliest expedition - the first manned mission to Mars – and back. Produced by Galafilm Inc., Mars Rising offers a comprehensive six-part examination of the challenges, the obstacles, the fears and the successes of the mission. Over 300 experts with diverse backgrounds and nationalities contributed their knowledge to the series - experts in fields such as rocket fuel and lifeforms, crew selection and training, mission and space suit engineering, medicine, life support systems and robotics.
ORGANIC PANIC
BABIES AND TOYS. Every parent wants their child to be healthy and happy. Toys and baby products help make that happen. As a result, the global baby care and toy markets are worth over $150 billion annually. Popular mommy blogger Jenn van Huss (oneheartonefamily.com) is worried about the materials in her children’s toys and clothes. Are plastics safe for kids? Do flame –retardant pyjamas hide a toxic health threat? Jenn takes her kids to a toy fair to talk to multinational toy company Mattell about how they ensure their toys are safe. Researcher Dr. Miriam Diamond breaks down how the government and the toy industry may be failing, even harming kids. Finally, “Toycoon” George Irwin says some of his toys are even safe enough to eat.
ON THE CITIES’ ROOFTOPS
LONDON. How is life on the city’s roofs? This series scales new heights, exploring apartment buildings, towers and monuments to discover a world full of unsuspected treasures : our rooftops. By day and night, the population changes on these heights. There are people who work here, people who live here, and others who come here to relax. The world’s rooftops are a continual hive of activity…
CHEETAH: THE PRICE OF SPEED
The cheetah is a highly specialised animal. It excels at one thing alone, running down high-speed prey faster than any other mammal on earth.But this specialisation comes at a cost. The cheetah as a predatory model seems focussed on one single area of expertise. Outside of pursuing prey, how effective is this animal when compared to the other apex predators of the savannah?Alongside lions, leopards, vultures and hyenas how does the cheetah fit into the efficient cogs of the savannah system? Can it compete, or is it an outsider, cornered by it’s own specialisation?The primary character in the story is a cheetah mother, who goes about her daily life, hunting for her three cubs. Her trials and tribulations highlight the refined hunting system of the cheetah, but they also shed light on her weaknesses, and the lack of robustness in the species itself.
DESPERATE HOURS
EP. 01. In this episode we contemplate, from a safe distance, the lethal majesty of volcanoes. One of the planet's most destructive as well as spectacular natural forces. It is estimated there are up to 4,000 volcanoes on the Earth, of which annually about 50 are active volcanoes above sea level, emitting – in their eruptions – millions of tons of dust, ash and gases and endangering the lives and property of millions of people. Our trip around the earth and earthquakes takes us to some interesting places. Such as the famously hard to pronouce, Eyjafjnallajokull. This air traffic halting volcano is located in Iceland, which has long been known as the land of ice and fire! So far, a spectacular inconvenience, but for tomorrow who can say? Whether Iceland or that other volcanic hotspot Indonesia, Volcanoes are a potent reminder that at any moment old mother nature has the power to change everybody’s plans. Most especially with a so-called supervolcano, like the one at Yellowstone Park. Under Yellowstone lies the largest magma chamber in the world. Studies indicate the likelihood of the supervolcano erupting is five to ten times higher than the likelihood of Earth being hit by an asteroid.
DESPERATE HOURS
EP. 02. Earthquakes have always been with us, but it is really only in the last 50 years or so, that their devastating impact has been captured so vividly - not only in photographs but in moving images, broadcast around the world at first via television, and in the last 20 years or so over the internet. Some of the images that have been captured on film or tape go beyond human capacity to describe. So the earth really moves in this episode, as we take in scenes and stories from some of the most devastating of all natural cataclysms. The earthquake, in all its destructive power! Of all the natural disasters we look at in this episode, none releases more sheer destructive energy than an earthquake. After all, it takes a great deal of the Earth's energy, for two of its magnetic plates to grind against each long enough, that they go snap - and jolt the planet’s outer crust for hundreds of square miles! Most earthquakes take place within the so-called ‘Ring of Fire’ around the Pacific Ocean. At least once a year Alaska experiences a 7.0 earthquake. California alone gets about 10,000 quakes a year, but most go unnoticed except by seismographs.
OF BOATS AND MEN
EP. 07. Travelling by boat bears a priceless sense of Freedom and offers endless new vistas to all passengers. Across waterways around the world Boats are an essential tool of daily life whether they carry goods, serve as utilities or services in remote areas.
QUIRKY SCIENCE
Rubber comes from trees. South American tribes used it long before the world got to know about it. When Columbus witnessed Haitian natives playing ball he found himself mesmerized by the bouncing goo. The South American tribes also made ‘waterproof’ shoes. When Western ships and their sailors brought these back home, the rubber melted on people’s feet. And so did their profits. A stationer accidentally discovered the stuff made a pencil stripe disappear, by rubbing it, and suggested to call it ‘India Rubber’. It took decades for someone to discover how to prevent rubber from melting in heat or stiffening in cold. Charles Goodyear found out how, by dropping a lump of natural rubber on his wife’s stove. By now, chemists know that the vulcanization process links the rubber molecules like pearls on a string, making each piece of rubber one large molecule! Goodyear’s invention spurs the Industrial Revolution. Rubber becomes such a wanted good it instigated a rubber boom – turning Manaus, a remote Brazilian jungle town, into one of the richest cities on earth. This Brazilian monopoly of rubber ended with the theft of 70,000 seeds, by a British traveler named Henry Wickham. It takes decades for someone to discover synthetic rubber. While one researcher was looking for something to replace the rubber in tires – she ended up discovering a material that is so tough it can stop bullets: Kevlar, which also makes a nice vest!
WILD ONES
EP. 04. The charming kangaroo. The cuddly koala. The beautiful Butterfly. The cheerful clown fish. Or the endearing budgerigar – which is the cutest of them all? CLOWN FISH The warm tropical waters of the world's oceans are home to a dazzling array of beautiful marine life. KANGAROO Across Australia thousands upon thousands of kangaroos bound over the countryside. Their super powered legs are born to hop. MONACH BUTTERFLY The stunning Monarch butterflies that fill the skies are some of the most beautiful and delicate of all of the world's insects. BUDGERIGAR Wild budgerigars or "Budgies" are social nomadic little parrots that come together in their hundreds to fly in lively undulating flocks. KOALA he adorable soft-furred cuddly koala is one of the world's most well loved little creatures and one of Australia’s favorite residents.
TRAVEL QUEST
BRAZIL. Bill Ball breaks the rules and stereo types of travel shows as he ventures beyond the highlights. What do you do after you’ve lead groups to over 140 countries and all 7 continents? Welcome to Bill’s bucket list on steroids... Travel Quest. This new, fast-paced series chases Bill around the globe as he seeks out anything but the mundane and ordinary—coming face-to-face with the largest crocodiles in the world, snorkeling with thousands of jellyfish, walking on the rim of an exploding volcano, feeding a group of sharks without a cage, bicycling across the Serengeti... this is not your typical travel show!
TRAVEL QUEST
ANTARCTICA. Bill Ball breaks the rules and stereo types of travel shows as he ventures beyond the highlights. What do you do after you’ve lead groups to over 140 countries and all 7 continents? Welcome to Bill’s bucket list on steroids... Travel Quest. This new, fast-paced series chases Bill around the globe as he seeks out anything but the mundane and ordinary—coming face-to-face with the largest crocodiles in the world, snorkeling with thousands of jellyfish, walking on the rim of an exploding volcano, feeding a group of sharks without a cage, bicycling across the Serengeti... this is not your typical travel show!
THE SPECIES RETURN - (1)
With a little helping hand, Mother Nature possesses magnificent vital energy. It is up to us to understand that energy. This series examine various species that have made a comeback among our European landscapes, providing "close to home" examples. We are now fully aware that every coming year brings about a reduction in our planet's biodiversity. One in eight species of bird, one in four mammals, and one in three amphibians are threatened with extinction by the end of the 21st century. But this is not necessarily a lost cause. With a little helping hand, Mother Nature possesses magnificent vital energy. Even in our immediate surroundings, in a highly urbanised and industrialised Europe, some species of wildlife, which had been virtually wiped out, are reappearing. There are various reasons for this wildlife.
MINDWORKS
VISUAL PERCEPTION. Understanding how we think and see by playing games with our brains. This factual entertainment series explores the way we see and interpret the world around us with engaging tests, activities, demonstrations and explanations. In each episode we experience visual and audio illusions, sensory puzzles and brain tricks from the worlds of art, science, nature and psychology and learn why they baffle our senses.
MINDWORKS
VISUAL DECEPTIONS. Understanding how we think and see by playing games with our brains. This factual entertainment series explores the way we see and interpret the world around us with engaging tests, activities, demonstrations and explanations. In each episode we experience visual and audio illusions, sensory puzzles and brain tricks from the worlds of art, science, nature and psychology and learn why they baffle our senses.
NEW FRONTIER
CUBESATS. Cubesats the tiny Satellites are growing in main stream popularity, they have even been sent to Mars with the Insight Mission.
MUSIC VOYAGER - (29)
Music Voyager is a music and travel broadcast series (television/cable, broadband, in-flight and mobile) that invites viewers to discover the exciting sounds of the planet. The host is Jacob Edgar, an explorer who does not search for lost cities or ancient ruins. He's on the quest for a different kind of treasure…music. As an ethnomusicologist and world music record producer, Edgar travels the globe hunting for the best songs the world has to offer, and he suffers through some of the worst…so you don’t have to. Along the way, he's rewarded with a backstage pass to concert halls, street festivals, recording studios and rehearsal rooms. With local musicians as his guide, Edgar tastes exotic and occasionally ghastly food, visits off-the-beaten path attractions and parties the night away to amazing concerts at hidden venues that only the locals know. Join music voyager for unexpected adventures and surprising discoveries that unveil the magic, mystery and music of far off lands.
THE ISLANDERS
THE DOMINICAN REPUBLIC. Discovering some the world’s hidden treasures by revealing the hidden face of life and the inhabitants of the islands. Island folk are generally proud of their insularity and their distinct sense of identity. A rich cocktail of history, customs, cuisine and economic resources distinguishes the island people and the nature and beaches that surround them. Our documentaries explore the varied and often little known lifestyles and peculiarities on the twenty featured islands. The approach so effectively used during our series on beaches and coastal areas, is here recreated, each program a mix of stunning visuals and interviews, which together highlight the exotic and uncommon events of daily life with a backdrop of spectacular island scenery. The aim of this unique series is as always to surprise, amuse and inform the viewer.
RIP FILES
S02 EP. 08 - PRISONERS IN TIME. A former jail, complete with gallows, gives the team a scare.