Step into the frozen world of the Arctic and meet one of the planet’s most powerful, and vulnerable, predators: the polar bear. This BBC video playlist dives into the daily life of these majestic animals, from caring for playful cubs to navigating treacherous ice in search of food.
Through stunning footage and expert narration, learners will explore how polar bears adapt to extreme cold, hunt for seals, and survive in one of Earth’s harshest environments. Along the way, they’ll also discover how climate change is threatening the polar bear’s icy home, and why protecting it matters.
In The Theory of a Supercontinent and the Cold War Discovery That Proved It, narrator Michael Mosley shares how German meteorologist Alfred Wegener proposed a radical new theory — that all of the continents had once fit together as one supercontinent that he called Pangaea. It wasn’t until the Cold War that the oceans were mapped, and scientists discovered the interlocking plates of the seafloor that could provide evidence for Wegener’s theory. This video is excerpted from BBC's The Story of Science, in which Michael Mosley takes an informative and ambitious journey exploring how the evolution of scientific understanding is intimately interwoven with society's historical path.
Every winter, huge white swans called Bewick’s swans used to arrive at Slimbridge in big numbers. Back in the 1970s, more than 600 showed up. This year? Just 87.
So what changed? Scientists say warmer winters in places closer to Russia mean lakes and rivers aren’t freezing as much anymore. Instead of flying all the way to the UK to escape ice and cold, many swans are stopping earlier in countries like Germany and the Netherlands.
Now researchers are tracking the birds each year to figure out what these disappearing migrations could mean for the future of wildlife — and how climate change is quietly rewriting ancient animal journeys.
The article "Who Really Owns Greenland? A Land of Ice, Vikings, and Global Power Plays" from BBC's HistoryExtra explores Greenland’s long and complex history of ownership. It traces the island’s journey from early Inuit inhabitants to Viking explorers, Danish missionaries, and Cold War military bases — highlighting how Greenland has become a key player in global politics.
The article "The Manhattan Project: Building the First Atomic Bomb" from BBC's HistoryExtra explains how a top-secret U.S. military project developed the world’s first atomic bomb during World War II. It covers the project's origins, key figures like J. Robert Oppenheimer, and the devastating bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki that marked the start of the Atomic Age.
In Twisters in the Great Plains, learn how when warm air from the Gulf of Mexico meets cold air from the Arctic, it results in tornadoes that spin at speeds of over 300 miles an hour. Over a thousand tornadoes touch down in the Great Plains each year. This video is excerpted from BBC’s Seven Worlds, One Planet, a series featuring remarkable animal behavior from all seven continents.
In Snow Monkeys in the Mountains, narrator Sir David Attenborough introduces the blue-faced, golden-coated snow monkeys, who thrive in the coldest conditions. He explains how these large monkeys use their size to stay warm and rely on the group for survival in harsh, food-scarce winters. This video is excerpted from BBC’s Seven Worlds, One Planet, a series featuring remarkable animal behavior from all seven continents
In Spring in the Arctic Is a Changing Ice World, narrator Sir David Attenborough highlights the changing ice world as the Arctic transitions from winter to spring. While many birds migrate south for warmth, eider ducks endure the extreme cold, relying on a rare opening in the ice called a "polynya" for survival. These ducks dive beneath the ice to feed on mussel beds, but they must act quickly before the powerful ocean currents return. Meanwhile, the availability of food in these polynyas attracts predators, adding another challenge to survival in this harsh environment. This video is excerpted from BBC’s Planet Earth, a breathtaking documentary series that highlights the natural wonders of our planet.
In The Winter Survival Strategies of Male Emperor Penguins, narrator Sir David Attenborough details the incredible survival strategies of male emperor penguins during the harsh Antarctic winter. After the females leave, the males form tightly packed groups to protect their eggs from the extreme cold. Facing brutal conditions, the penguins huddle together, constantly shifting to ensure everyone has a chance to stay warm. This video is excerpted from BBC’s Planet Earth, a breathtaking documentary series that highlights the natural wonders of our planet.
In Why CO₂ Is Crucial for Our Planet's Survival, geologist Iain Stewart explains how carbon dioxide is essential for life on Earth. Without enough, planets like Mars are freezing cold, while Venus is scorching hot because it has too much. Early volcanoes released carbon dioxide that helped keep the planet warm enough for life to evolve. Yet, scientists have discovered evidence of a catastrophic "Snowball Earth" event 700 million years ago, where the planet may have been completely frozen, as shown by mysterious drop stones found in Namibia. This video is excerpted from BBC’s Earth: The Power of the Planet, a documentary series in which Dr. Iain Stewart discovers how Earth's forces can shape nature, species, and even the climate.
In Neil Armstrong's Giant Leap, host Dermot O'Leary explores the incredible journey to the Moon made by Neil Armstrong. Against the backdrop of the Cold War and an arms race that propelled space exploration, Armstrong's historic lunar landing reshaped humanity's perspective of our place in the Universe. This video is excerpted from BBC’s Icons: The Greatest Person of the 20th Century, a documentary series celebrating the achievements of the most influential figures of the era.
In Communism vs. Capitalism During the Cold War Years, host Andrew Marr describes the post-World War II world, in which the United States and Soviet Union were in competition, as each country sought supremacy. While the U.S. capitalized on economic prosperity, space exploration and the arms race defined the Cold War era. This video is excerpted from BBC’s Andrew Marr's History of the World, a story of human history that uses reenactments, modern footage, and storytelling to explain history’s greatest achievements.
Step into the frozen world of the Arctic and meet one of the planet’s most powerful, and vulnerable, predators: the polar bear. This BBC video playlist dives into the daily life of these majestic animals, from caring for playful cubs to navigating treacherous ice in search of food.
Through stunning footage and expert narration, learners will explore how polar bears adapt to extreme cold, hunt for seals, and survive in one of Earth’s harshest environments. Along the way, they’ll also discover how climate change is threatening the polar bear’s icy home, and why protecting it matters.
In The Theory of a Supercontinent and the Cold War Discovery That Proved It, narrator Michael Mosley shares how German meteorologist Alfred Wegener proposed a radical new theory — that all of the continents had once fit together as one supercontinent that he called Pangaea. It wasn’t until the Cold War that the oceans were mapped, and scientists discovered the interlocking plates of the seafloor that could provide evidence for Wegener’s theory. This video is excerpted from BBC's The Story of Science, in which Michael Mosley takes an informative and ambitious journey exploring how the evolution of scientific understanding is intimately interwoven with society's historical path.
Every winter, huge white swans called Bewick’s swans used to arrive at Slimbridge in big numbers. Back in the 1970s, more than 600 showed up. This year? Just 87.
So what changed? Scientists say warmer winters in places closer to Russia mean lakes and rivers aren’t freezing as much anymore. Instead of flying all the way to the UK to escape ice and cold, many swans are stopping earlier in countries like Germany and the Netherlands.
Now researchers are tracking the birds each year to figure out what these disappearing migrations could mean for the future of wildlife — and how climate change is quietly rewriting ancient animal journeys.
The article "Who Really Owns Greenland? A Land of Ice, Vikings, and Global Power Plays" from BBC's HistoryExtra explores Greenland’s long and complex history of ownership. It traces the island’s journey from early Inuit inhabitants to Viking explorers, Danish missionaries, and Cold War military bases — highlighting how Greenland has become a key player in global politics.
The article "The Manhattan Project: Building the First Atomic Bomb" from BBC's HistoryExtra explains how a top-secret U.S. military project developed the world’s first atomic bomb during World War II. It covers the project's origins, key figures like J. Robert Oppenheimer, and the devastating bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki that marked the start of the Atomic Age.
In Twisters in the Great Plains, learn how when warm air from the Gulf of Mexico meets cold air from the Arctic, it results in tornadoes that spin at speeds of over 300 miles an hour. Over a thousand tornadoes touch down in the Great Plains each year. This video is excerpted from BBC’s Seven Worlds, One Planet, a series featuring remarkable animal behavior from all seven continents.
In Snow Monkeys in the Mountains, narrator Sir David Attenborough introduces the blue-faced, golden-coated snow monkeys, who thrive in the coldest conditions. He explains how these large monkeys use their size to stay warm and rely on the group for survival in harsh, food-scarce winters. This video is excerpted from BBC’s Seven Worlds, One Planet, a series featuring remarkable animal behavior from all seven continents
In Spring in the Arctic Is a Changing Ice World, narrator Sir David Attenborough highlights the changing ice world as the Arctic transitions from winter to spring. While many birds migrate south for warmth, eider ducks endure the extreme cold, relying on a rare opening in the ice called a "polynya" for survival. These ducks dive beneath the ice to feed on mussel beds, but they must act quickly before the powerful ocean currents return. Meanwhile, the availability of food in these polynyas attracts predators, adding another challenge to survival in this harsh environment. This video is excerpted from BBC’s Planet Earth, a breathtaking documentary series that highlights the natural wonders of our planet.
In The Winter Survival Strategies of Male Emperor Penguins, narrator Sir David Attenborough details the incredible survival strategies of male emperor penguins during the harsh Antarctic winter. After the females leave, the males form tightly packed groups to protect their eggs from the extreme cold. Facing brutal conditions, the penguins huddle together, constantly shifting to ensure everyone has a chance to stay warm. This video is excerpted from BBC’s Planet Earth, a breathtaking documentary series that highlights the natural wonders of our planet.
In Why CO₂ Is Crucial for Our Planet's Survival, geologist Iain Stewart explains how carbon dioxide is essential for life on Earth. Without enough, planets like Mars are freezing cold, while Venus is scorching hot because it has too much. Early volcanoes released carbon dioxide that helped keep the planet warm enough for life to evolve. Yet, scientists have discovered evidence of a catastrophic "Snowball Earth" event 700 million years ago, where the planet may have been completely frozen, as shown by mysterious drop stones found in Namibia. This video is excerpted from BBC’s Earth: The Power of the Planet, a documentary series in which Dr. Iain Stewart discovers how Earth's forces can shape nature, species, and even the climate.
In Neil Armstrong's Giant Leap, host Dermot O'Leary explores the incredible journey to the Moon made by Neil Armstrong. Against the backdrop of the Cold War and an arms race that propelled space exploration, Armstrong's historic lunar landing reshaped humanity's perspective of our place in the Universe. This video is excerpted from BBC’s Icons: The Greatest Person of the 20th Century, a documentary series celebrating the achievements of the most influential figures of the era.
In Communism vs. Capitalism During the Cold War Years, host Andrew Marr describes the post-World War II world, in which the United States and Soviet Union were in competition, as each country sought supremacy. While the U.S. capitalized on economic prosperity, space exploration and the arms race defined the Cold War era. This video is excerpted from BBC’s Andrew Marr's History of the World, a story of human history that uses reenactments, modern footage, and storytelling to explain history’s greatest achievements.