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Diving WITH Crocodiles
In Africa’s waterways, one predator reigns supreme – the Nile crocodile. One of the biggest and most deadly reptiles on Earth, it commands a fearsome reputation and strikes terror those who share its domain. Countless attacks in which victims are ruthlessly taken from riverbanks or attacked in their canoes leave no doubt that the Nile crocodile may views humans as natural prey. In fact, the animal was recently reclassified as the number one killer of humans in Africa, overtaking the previous record holder, the hippo. In ‘Diving with Crocodiles’ cameraman and crocodile expert Brad Bestelink undertakes the unthinkable and dives into the waters of the Okavango Delta. Without a cage or any other protection, he gets up close and personal with these fearsome creatures in this groundbreaking film. Such a feat has never been recorded before. But Brad is well prepared – his decision to take the plunge is the result of many years spent studying crocodile behavior in his native Botswana. His window of opportunity to dive is small and dependent on the seasonal ebb and flow of the Okavango. There are only a couple of months each year when visibility in the delta allows for perfect filming conditions. This extraordinary film provides all the high drama associated with modern-day exploration, coupled with the exhilaration of interacting with wild animals. The underwater secrets of the Nile crocodile are revealed with unique and compelling footage in the pristine underwater environment of the Okavango delta.
Paraguay's NEW Houses
In Paraguay, the loofah plant is used to make vegetable sponges but nowadays, it can also used to build houses. 360°GEO - Report follows Elsa Zaldivar on her quest to free Paraguay from its housing shortage.Until recently, the loofah plant in Paraguay had fallen into oblivion. But over the past few years, it has experienced a successful comeback - as bath sponge. Today, loofah sponges are sold throughout the world.According to Elsa Zaldivar, loofah is now also being used in the construction of houses. The once densely wooded countryside has today been largely chopped down. Many people do not have access to affordable building materials. The idea of the loofah-cooperative is to compound loofah remains with plastic waste in order to create a a solid building material for house walls.
SARAH SHARK - EP. 04
Sarah travels to one of the top 10 dive destinations in Australia (Julian Rocks, Byron Bay, NSW) to dive with three species of Wobbegong Sharks within the Cape Byron Marine Park. She also conducts a street poll with members of the public to find out what they think about sharks.
SARAH SHARK - EP. 05
Sarah travels to one of the top 10 dive destinations in Australia (Julian Rocks, Byron Bay, NSW) to dive with three species of Wobbegong Sharks within the Cape Byron Marine Park. She also conducts a street poll with members of the public to find out what they think about sharks.
RACE OF LIFE - EP. 04
Deserts are dry. Deserts are extreme. True deserts get less than 18 cm of rain per year. True deserts have very few plants. Semi-desert habitats have enough rainfall to support more plant and animal life. Either way, deserts are not easy places for animals to live. Desert animals have evolved to handle the desert's heat and lack of water. They have adapted their bodies and behaviors to the desert climate. Most can survive on small amounts of water and many get all of their water from their food. Some drink maybe once a week and travel considerable distances to find isolated waterholes and springs. Large animals seek shade during the hottest part of the day. Some animals dig a hollow depression into the ground and lie in the cooler soil while others are nocturnal. Many reptiles and other animals protect themselves from the extreme temperature by spending their time in burrows. The scorpion is one of the most ancient creatures on earth, in existence since life first crawled out of the sea. One look and you can see why they’re born survivors. Not only are their bodies armoured against the desert heat – and other predators – but all scorpions have pincers at the front and a poisonous sting at the end of their tail. Rattlesnakes can be two meters long. They’re fast, tough and with a deadly venom, making them one of the most dangerous snakes in the world. But nobody seems to have told the Roadrunner, who regard rattlesnakes as quite suitable prey.
RACE OF LIFE - EP. 05
These are Nature’s own Battletanks, and (with the exception of the Indian Elephant), all endemic to the African continent. The African Savannah is the stage for thousands of battles every day. How do elephants, these large, cumbersome creatures survive and even prosper on a diet that even the strictest vegetarian would pass on! Well for one thing, most other animals get out of their way. But lions and hyenas are not always so easily moved – they prey on young, sick and old elephants in particular. This seemingly gentle giant has been revealed to have a darker side in the last few years too. They may survive on just plant life, but that doesn’t mean they don’t like a fight – to the death. Elephants have been observed attacking and killing Rhinos in the last 20 years. It’s a savage clash. Meanwhile, the Rhino, a tough looking customer if ever there was one, is an endangered species. When the great herds go on the search for food, predators go on the hunt for them. If ever there was an animal that seems destined to survive, it’s the Rhino, which has been around for over 6 million years. But it too has an enemy: mankind – the deadliest foe of all. Then there's the hippopotamus. An adult hippo is a huge, aggressive animal, and even the largest crocodiles tend to stay away from it. However, when baby hippos stray from their mothers, then crocodiles, lions and hyenas will have a go if they can get away without being attacked themselves by adults in the baby hippo’s herd. That’s why baby hippos must stay close to Mum
RACE OF LIFE - EP. 06
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. 07
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.
THE Leopards NEW SPOTS
The Leopard’s New Spots is a documentary film about one man’s mission to halt the alarming decline in southern Africa’s leopard populations due to a widespread skin trade. Traditionally, only the Zulu royals have been allowed to wear leopard skins. However, in the last three decades the Shembe Church, a four million strong religious group, has adopted the skins into their ceremonial costume. The demand for leopard skins is now astronomical. Because the use of skins is so wide spread and culturally entrenched, law enforcement seems helpless to police this trade in a protected species. It has become, in one researchers words, 'a major conservation blind spot’. Leopard researcher Tristan Dickerson believes that you can’t save the leopard without the support of the Shembe people. The film follows Dickerson as he travels from the heart of leopard country to the heart of Shembe and Zulu culture in an effort to discover a solution that benefits all parties. His best solution turns out to be fake fur. Bad fakes are commonly used by church members while they save for the expensive real thing. Dickerson believes that if he can produce a high quality, affordable fake fur, and gain the endorsement of the powerful leader of the Church he can turn the tables in favour of the leopard.
THE Mystery OF THE Disappearing BEES
An investigation into a worldwide ecological disaster that could endanger the whole of humanity. The future of our food resources depends on one small insect - the western honey bee, or Apis mellifera. Indeed, it is the most important agricultural pollinator on our planet given that one third of our food supply depends directly on pollination from bees. This documentary tells the story of a worldwide ecological disaster that has been waiting to happen for several generations. It was filmed over an 18-month period in France, Germany, the U.S., Canada and Scotland and retraces the various leads carried out by research scientists in order to try and understand and to stop the declining numbers of domestic and wild bees. Scientists are not the only professionals to figure at the centre of this drama. Beekeepers are in the front line, and striking contrasts exist among beekeepers' experiences in different countries, in various economic situations. The documentary seeks to understand how the long-enjoyed harmonious relationship between man and bee has now undergone such a radical change. It seeks to find a solution that goes beyond science. A solution that cannot be found without thoroughly re-examining our agricultural practice and our model of society. Can we rise to the challenge? Awards : 2011 : Star of the SCAM (France). 2012 : Jade Kunlun Awards
WHAT IN THE WORLD - EP 27
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.
WHAT IN THE WORLD - EP 24
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.
WHAT IN THE WORLD - EP 25
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.
Travel THRU History - SPACE COAST
Travel Thru History is an Emmy-nominated, un-hosted lifestyle/travel series designed to spark interest and enthusiasm in viewers about our world’s rich and fascinating history by traveling to diverse locales across the globe. Locations include New Orleans, Las Vegas, Oslo, Belize, Dublin and more. In this episode we visit the Kennedy Space Center located on Florida’s famous “Space Coast.” We’ll speak to NASA engineers about the past, present and future of American space travel, as well as take a look at the attractions KSC has to offer.
Travel THRU History - SALT LAKE CITY
Westward ho! We settle in Salt Lake City, where we learn about Bringham Young's settlement of the Utah territory and his monument at This is the Place Park. Then we dig in the dirt to find hundreds of perfectly preserved dinosaurs at the Utah Natural History museum. We'll take a look at some US aviation history at the Hill Air force Base museum, and see how life was like for the Utah pioneers at Frontier Homestead State Park.
Mindworks - Altered VIEWS
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 - Auditory Illusions
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 - Mercury OR BUST
The ESA - JAXA joint Bepi-Colombo Mission is moments away from launch. The target is Mercury which has been too long neglected; this mission will shed new light on this strange world of light and dark.
PAST Hunters - S1 EP 04: MILL Street Barracks
Built in 1861 Mill Street Barracks is steeped in rich history. It has accommodated many branches of the armed forces throughout its life. Like many other barracks it has also been used as a morgue making it a prime location for the supernatural.
PAST Hunters - S1 EP 05: HACK Green's Secret Nuclear Bunker
The Hack Green Secret Nuclear Bunker is a former government-owned nuclear bunker located at Hack Green, Cheshire, England. It Started as a decoy site for enemy bombers but later developed into a legitimate base. Now it is ripe with hauntings.
Travel THRU History - Denver
We head underground and visit the Hidee Gold Mine to see how this most precious material is obtained. Then we get a tour of the brand new History Colorado Center where we’ll explore Colorado’s past through first hand stories and interactive attractions.
Journeys IN INDIA - Mysore: THE REBEL Kingdom
Journeys explores the history and fables that surround the controversial rebel leader Tipu Sultan. Mysore was the center of an Empire strong enough to challenge the British. Tipu’s over-the-top personality is reflected in the architecture, gardens and stories that still permeate this metropolis.
Journeys IN INDIA - Calcutta: CITY OF Living History
There is no city in India that is more British than Calcutta. The former capital of British India, Calcutta has gardens, buildings and museums to prove it. Throw away any ideas you have of this giant city and discover the treasures it holds.
Journeys IN Africa - THE LAND OF THE ZULU
South Africa has many different tribal groups and ethnic people, but none have a more fascinating story than the Zulu. These were once the most feared warriors in all of Africa and they have fiercely held onto that culture. They’re also dedicated conservationists and we see first-hand the wildlife sanctuaries they’ve created. This is a proud people with a unique history, and we get to share that with them.
Journeys IN Africa - Kilimanjaro: THE ROOF OF Africa
Host Bill Ball begins the ascent of the highest mountain in Africa. Trouble almost immediately affects the team as the cameraman suffers from fatigue and altitude sickness. Just over halfway, the trip is in serious doubt as altitude, cold and wind force the team to evaluate their fitness to continue.
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.
RACE OF LIFE - EP. 01
We live in a world full of the most magnificent of animals. There are approximately eight point seven (8.7) million different species on earth. With this vast array of natural wonders how do we choose a favorite amongst all these spectacular creatures? The ethereal grace of the oceans whales, the might of the imposing hippo, the unequalled speed of the cheetah, the mesmerizing lure of the snake, the power of the elephant, the strength of the ant, the stealth of the scorpion, the extraordinary talents of the octopus, the force of the crocodile, the sheer grace of the wedge tailed eagle, or the regular commanding presence of the lion...
OUTTA TOWN Adventures - S2 EP 10
Outta Town Adventures travels both near and far to discover the best advenures the destinations have to offer. This TV series is dedicated to presenting history, culture and geography in a fun and pisitive way. It encourages people to explore this beautiful world - something that starts with simply getting out of town!
OUTTA TOWN Adventures - S2 EP 12
Outta Town Adventures travels both near and far to discover the best advenures the destinations have to offer. This TV series is dedicated to presenting history, culture and geography in a fun and pisitive way. It encourages people to explore this beautiful world - something that starts with simply getting out of town!
BIG COAST - BC Central COAST Salmon Safari
Running Southbound outside on Central Coast with a big Tyee Chinook Release finish North of Milbanke Sound!
BIG COAST - Whiskey COVE Chinook
Trolling cut plug herring from home base on Denny Island, BC!
WILD Australia WITH RAY MEARS - EP. 05
Ray takes the Great Ocean Road along the Antarctic facing coast of Australia – the longest South facing coastline in the world. He starts in Port Philp Bay the entrance to Melbourne Harbour where for the first time he sees a strange marine creature – the weedy sea dragon – a relative of the sea horse. He also swims with a unique species of dolphin – the Burrunan Dolphins.Crossing the Bay he heads off down the longest War Memorial in the world – the Great Ocean Road and meets 93 year old Doug Stirling who remembers the world war 1 veterans building the road.Ray visits the Penguin Colony on Middle Island where guard dogs protect the penguins from foxes and he watches the night time return of the penguins after a day spent at sea fishing.He takes to the seas and discovers the creatures of the deep waters – albatross, balls of krill and a pod of fast moving common dolphins.
WILD Australia WITH RAY MEARS - EP. 06
In this episode, Ray explores the Red Centre of the country and shows that the Australian desert is filled with life for those who know where to find water.He arrives in the Red Centre by chopper as he flies over the Uluru monolith or Ayres Rock. For his first stop, he goes to a red kangaroo sanctuary where he cuddles a joey, meets their carer Brolga and gets close to the usually wary adult red kangaroos. He pursues his journey deeper in the desert to meet a local aboriginal Sammy Wilson. They go to a traditional waterhole and chat over a camp fire about Sammy’s ancestral knowledge of the land. Ray spends the night out under the stars before driving more inland to rocky areas where water collects. There Ray comes face to face with a wild kangaroo and rock wallabies. He then follows tracks along a dry river bed that lead him to Australia’s wild dog: a dingo.
SHOW ME WHERE YOU LIVE - Austriavorarlbergthe GREEN Valley
Show me where you live is a documentary series that aims to answer the following question: How can human beings claim ownership to a space so that they can live safely within it, function as a society, and above all be in harmony with the environment around them?As we discover cultures and emblematic populations, we follow Philippe Simay who is at the heart of Inhabiting the World and represents its identity and originality. Philippe takes us on an epic adventure around the Human Habitat and sets the tone for the journey. As a humanist and philosopher, Philippe is a tireless surveyor of the city, and an explorer of living spaces. Determined to travel around the world, Philippe unveils how the populations that he encounters claim the space they occupy, shapes it and adjust to it.In this series of 20 films, of 26 minutes each, the habitat will be a major showcase revealing our capacity to adapt ourselves at a time where we need to find solutions in order to address immense changes.
SHOW ME WHERE YOU LIVE - Louisianabayousa LOST Paradise
Show me where you live is a documentary series that aims to answer the following question: How can human beings claim ownership to a space so that they can live safely within it, function as a society, and above all be in harmony with the environment around them?As we discover cultures and emblematic populations, we follow Philippe Simay who is at the heart of Inhabiting the World and represents its identity and originality. Philippe takes us on an epic adventure around the Human Habitat and sets the tone for the journey. As a humanist and philosopher, Philippe is a tireless surveyor of the city, and an explorer of living spaces. Determined to travel around the world, Philippe unveils how the populations that he encounters claim the space they occupy, shapes it and adjust to it.In this series of 20 films, of 26 minutes each, the habitat will be a major showcase revealing our capacity to adapt ourselves at a time where we need to find solutions in order to address immense changes.
Travel BY DART - Thailand - PART 2
The second part of the Thailand visit shows Sorin embracing adventure to the fullest. If you plan to visit this country one day, this is a show to watch. Going to Koh Samui island has its perks. Incredible experiences, from joining a safari trip to paying respects to cultural choices, are part of this visually stunning episode. Sorin tries to cook Thai food, even though he is not chef-material. James Bond-looking-like islands, elephants, and other adrenaline-rush activities complete the show and this season 1.
Travel BY DART - Uruguay
This episode is probably the most random travel show you will ever see but - at the same time - one of the most complete when it comes to Uruguay's traditions and customs. Sorin falls in love with this country, as it is one of the most developed nations in South America. A pleasant surprise is up for grabs.From learning about local wines to visiting the most extensive pencil collection in the Guinness Book of Records, Sorin gets to dive into the local dances and traditions - such as the Murga. Face painting and weird-looking behavior - here are some perfect ingredients for this episode's success.This is a must-see show, as the host takes you not only through Montevideo but the spectacular towns of Colonia and Punta del Este - the best-kept secrets of Uruguay. Click play.
Zenith - EP. 11
Zenith – Advances in Space Exploration reveals these latest developments and the implications they hold for all of us.
Zenith - EP. 13
Zenith – Advances in Space Exploration reveals these latest developments and the implications they hold for all of us.
OF BOATS AND MEN - EP. 09
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.
OF BOATS AND MEN - EP. 10
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.
PATHS OF Reading
How do our brains carry out the process of reading? A professor emeritus guides us through this fascinating exploration of a high-precision neural mechanism. The film structures itself around a central question we ask as an enigma: how to reconcile the cultural singularity that is reading, developed recently by our single species, with the slow pace of genetic evolution, and therefore with the fixity of brain biology?Stanislas Dehaene proposed an astonishing scientific hypothesis: neuronal recycling. In other words, our cultural inventions, such as reading, resulting in the diversion of pre-existing brain function.
A Counter History OF Internet
A look back at the emergence of Internet freedom defence movements that have sprung up in reaction to growing regulation of the Web by governments and multinationals. Internet was created by hippies while being funded by the military! This improbable culture shock gave birth to an area of freedom that was impossible to censor or control. Yet for years, that is precisely what a certain number of political leaders have sought to do, prompting hackers and defenders of freedom to enter the political arena.
Depleted Uranium
More than 50 countries now possess weapons based on depleted uranium (DU). Experimentation has been rife, and the consequences for civilians and the military alike have been dramatic. This investigation compares and contrasts the arguments of those who defend and attack a technology that is highly toxic. For 20 years, scientists, doctors, veterans and activists have denounced the use of DU. Against them are the arms industry lobbyists and nuclear authorities who continue to minimise the risks. Through archive documents, interviews and in situ investigations, accompanied by key witnesses (victims, experts...) we aim to present a clearer picture of the issues and stakes linked to the use of DU. Quick-paced, with a sense of urgency, the film underlines the essential background and conflicting viewpoints, enabling viewers to make up their own minds about a subject that concerns us all.
Quirky Science - EP. 7
Who came up with the idea of canned food? It began with a battle between French and British armies, two centuries ago. Napoleon Bonaparte faced many problems with his goal to dominate Europe, one of which was feeding a large and sprawling army. In 1809 Napoleon held a contest, with a prize of 12,000 francs for the person who could come up with the most innovative method of preserving food. The winner was Nicolas François Appert who submitted a method of boiling and sealing food in glass bottles. Well if the French were going to travel farther and farther, the British needed to invent something as well: canning. However, opening the cans was quite a challenge – soldiers worked with stones and bayonets and it was only 30 years later that someone designed the first can opener! Although cans travel much easier across a battlefield, for decades they would not only mysteriously explode, but would also cause the harshest diseases. But how could the scientists of those days know? It wasn't until 50 years after Appert that Louis Pasteur discovered why canning (generally) worked so well. By testing the influence of air on broths, he did away with the idea that things spoiled ‘spontaneously’ and launched his ‘germ theory’. Even though canned foods became safer, they didn’t taste any better. The ultra-lengthy boiling process was obviated with the help of pressure-cooking. And now, the future brings ‘zapped’ canned food, something called ‘raddaperization’. Does the name ring a bell?
Quirky Science - EP. 8
Throughout the history of mankind - the business of curing, of understanding and treating disease, has taken a rather peculiar path. Some procedures have proven to be very efficient while other methods could only have made things worse for the patient. Up to the 16th Century ‘treating’ someone could mean diminishing one of four bodily fluids, paving the way for bloodletting. As it turns out, modern science proves that bloodletting does help in rare cases. In fact, bloodsucking leeches are excellent helpers to cure wounds. We now know that one little creature is the cause for many diseases: bacteria. But until the mid-19th century, many felt that such tiny organisms such as germs could not possibly kill larger ones such as humans. After all, we can’t even see them with the naked eye! How then, did we discover them? Thanks to one doctor who decided to take a good look …between his teeth. Since then, we have found a cure for most bacterial infections in the form of Antibiotics. This was accidently discovered by Alexander Fleming - whilst leaving the office for a holiday, he left a culture plate smeared with his personal nasal mucus on his lab bench only to find that mould surrounding this mucus actually inhibited its growth. In the new millennium, this discovery of such a ‘Superdrug’ is threatened by the advent of the ‘Superbug’. Have these cures led to bacteria becoming more tolerant and harder to kill? What else will the future bring? A cure against the flu?
NEW Frontier - ORBIT
The International Space Station is undoubtedly the jewel in the crown of low Earth orbit; observation post, research lab and class room. Equally however there are many other assets orbiting Earth that are even more important to our everyday lives; delivering communications, weather observation, global positioning and resource management the list is growing with every year.
NEW Frontier - SHORE TO SHORE
Our seafaring nature has translated well to the space age, seeking to sail out into the unknown in search of riches of one kind or another. While Europe and Asia continue their interest in the resource rich Moon, The United States and NASA have set their sights on nothing less than manned missions to Mars. Can they manage to go shore to shore on the most dangerous of unknown seas, deep space.
NEW Frontier - MARS: ADAPT OR LEAVE
As the latest successes and failures come and go Mars continues to give up her secrets. Invisible clouds are revealed with ultraviolet light and the search for the source of methane continues with ExoMars. As we prepare to land humans on the red planet, getting there is one thing; staying long term is another, can we really conquor this planet?
NEW Frontier - Emissaries
Our solar system is vast, from our own star the Sun to Earth is nearly 150 million kilometers or 1 Astronomical Unit. Jupiter is 5.2 AU distant and Pluto up to 48AU, the solar system extends far beyond this intointerstellar space. We humans cannot yet travel that sort of distance, however w e can and do send our robots and probes in our place; and the results are astounding.
IN THE Starlight
In the Starlight is an intimate portrayal about the life of nature photographer Paul Zizka and his quest to capture the night skies.
THE Science OF MAGIC
Our film follows researchers who are bringing magicians’ tricks into the laboratory. With impossible magic, amazing facts, and opportunities for viewers to participate in the magic tricks, this extraordinary exploration peeks behind the curtain into a fascinating world where ancient magic meets modern science. Magician Julie Eng not only mystifies us with magic, she also takes us to Montreal’s McGill University to meet Jay Olson who is using card tricks to study consciousness. His research also includes an MRI machine that can apparently not only read minds, but also manipulate thoughts. In the US we meet with professor Anthony Barnhart. He’s a magician turned scientist who is using magic principles to investigate why we sometimes don’t see what’s right under our noses. We also meet Professor Amory Danek who is using the conjuror’s craft to study creativity and problem solving.Professor Ronald Rensink at the University of British Columbia discovered how small distractions can blind drivers to obvious dangers. These studies naturally led him to work with magicians to explore possible new experiments.In London England Gustav Kuhn conducts a study that tracks the eye movements of the magician’s audience. We see tricks that fool us despite nothing actually happening, as well as demonstrations that reveal we can be blind even to our own choices. Colourful and compelling, our film takes a critical and engaging look at the fascinating facts revealed when you see the human mind through the eyes of a magician.
MIND IN Motion
Our exploration will lead us into the depths of the brain and to the very sources of consciousness, for a fascinating glimpse into the process of thought. How can we decide whether a person in a coma is likely to return to consciousness? How can a person see with the tongue? Why do amputees experience phantom sensations in missing limbs? What do we have in common with the fruit fly? What are the effects of meditation on the brain? Scientific answers to these questions and others are now within our reach, thanks to stunning new research in the neurosciences. It focuses on the brain, our mental mechanisms, the connection between body and mind. Why we need to represent ourselves and others consciously in order to survive? In our quest for answers, we have met some remarkable scientists - high-ranking pioneers who are innovative yet modest. They share their discoveries and questions with us while stressing that it is vitally importance for our society to try and understand why we have conscious brains. The story of their search, across North America and Europe, will be vividly told through evocative visuals and original imagery from new brain exploration technology.
WHAT IN THE WORLD - EP 25
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.
WHAT IN THE WORLD - EP 27
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.
MY DUBAI EP. 3
Events - National Day, concerts starring Sting, James Blunt and Katy Perry, the world’s richest horse race the Dubai Cup, the Dubai Art Festival, the Dubai Literature Festival and Polo championships.