Wed, Sep 16
S53E09 · The Battle to Breathe
Once a death sentence, cystic fibrosis now faces an apparent miracle cure. Follow the decades-long scientific quest, fueled by desperate parents, that led to this breakthrough with potential implications for the future of personalized medicine.
Wed, Sep 23
S53E10 · Knowledge Keepers
For millennia, Indigenous peoples in North America have practiced a unique form of science. From navigating the featureless Arctic to building energy-efficient homes in the desert, see how cultural traditions have led to remarkable innovations.
Wed, Sep 30
S53E11 · Stone Age Masterpiece
Hidden in the gorges of Southern France lies one of the most stunning decorated caves ever discovered: Chauvet, 'the Sistine Chapel of Paleolithic art.' For thousands of years, this geological wonder was visited only by animals. But around 37,000 years ago people arrived, and some covered its walls with drawings of exceptional beauty. Since its re-discovery in 1994, only a few scientists have been granted access to study it.
Wed, Oct 7
S53E12 · Space Wars
Exploring the technology and strategy of a rapidly developing arms race in which global military powers vie to weaponize space.
Wed, Oct 14
S53E13 · Evolution: Brain Power
Wed, Oct 21
S53E14 · Evolution: Need to Feed
Thu, Apr 30
S53E08 · Athens: Birth of Democracy
The United States has experimented with democracy for 250 years, but our system of government was once a radical idea, born in ancient Greece. Ravaged by civil war and tyranny 2,500 years ago, the city of Athens forged a revolutionary new system that gave power to the citizens. Witness the archaeological quest to unearth the ingenious tools and pivotal moments that shaped this unprecedented experiment in self-government. From mysterious fragments of ancient voting machines to mass graves and dramatic assassinations, discover the dark secrets and innovative solutions that defined the world's first direct democracy. What enduring lessons can this surprising historical journey offer us today?
Thu, Apr 23
S53E07 · Rain Bombs
An invisible, unpredictable atmospheric force is wreaking havoc across the globe, sinking superyachts and bringing down planes. Follow scientists as they race to understand these catastrophic weather events, exploring how they form, what causes their devastating impacts, and how we might someday learn to predict them. From high-tech simulations and drone expeditions into thunderclouds to possible links with climate change, join investigators on the cutting edge of research to discover what's truly behind these terrifying "rain bombs" and how we can protect ourselves from their growing power.
Thu, Apr 16
S53E06 · Return to the Moon
A half-century after American astronauts walked on the Moon, NASA and its international partners are taking the dream of Apollo a giant step further. In the coming years, the Artemis missions – named after Apollo's twin sister in Greek mythology – aim to bring astronauts back to the Moon and establish a lunar space station for scientific and commercial exploration. Follow the four members of the Artemis II crew as they embark on a perilous 10-day journey to orbit the Moon, venturing beyond Earth orbit for the first time since Apollo and farther into the Solar System than any humans have gone before. And get an inside look at the preparations needed to overcome the extreme engineering challenges of human-crewed spaceflight, all the way from launch to splashdown.Correction: This film previously stated that the four engines of the core stage generate 8.8 million pounds of thrust at liftoff. In fact, that much thrust is generated by the entire rocket including the boosters, not the core stage alone. The film has been updated accordingly.